Commenting on data published today by the Department for Education including pupil projections through to 2030, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The forecast that there will be almost 400,000 fewer pupils in schools by 2030 will understandably cause concern among parents and educators about implications for their schools.
“However, it is not a given that falling pupil numbers means widespread school closures. Primary classes in England are the largest in Europe on the most recent available data, while secondary class sizes are the largest since at least the 1970s.
“Using falling rolls to reduce class sizes would improve schools for pupils and staff, helping reduce workload and improve teacher retention, allowing more contact time with each pupil to improve educational outcomes and allowing for greater integration of pupils with SEND into mainstream classrooms.
“Schools with 30 pupils per class cost the same amount to run as schools with fewer per class, but the current funding model allocates money to schools on a per-pupil basis, leaving those with smaller classes out of pocket.
“To take advantage of the slowing birthrate and improved outcomes, the government must protect schools with falling rolls from funding shortfalls and avoid schools in this situation making cuts that harm educational provision.”