“That ICPA Qld lobbies the Department of Education to cap upper primary school multi-age class size numbers (i.e. Years 4, 5 and 6) to 25 students to bring in line with maximum class numbers for Years Prep to 3 in rural and remote schools.”
Queensland Government schools implement strict class sizes as follows: 25 students per class in Prep year to Year 3. 28 students per class in upper primary school Years 4, 5 and 6. 28 students per class in junior high school Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. In addition, classes can have up to, but not more than, 2 additional students in the setting.
What this means is that any time throughout a year, in particular after day 8, students in years 4-10 in rural areas can be in a classroom of up to 30 students, and in many cases under the direction of a graduate or early service teacher.
To alleviate this, a consistent class size capped at 25 students total, would ensure teachers of all experience levels provide delivery of quality educational services to students in rural and remote schools and to cater for the varying needs of isolated students.
In line with the Department’s latest vision of Equity and Excellence and its acknowledgement of schools making an impact, a consistent class size of 25 students, in particular for students in year 4 to 6 – would assist the department’s vision of better outcomes for students across their schooling journey. Consistent class sizes would support the wellbeing of students as they transition from primary to junior secondary, keeping them engaged in learning as they move onto their senior schooling years.
Through equity and excellence in all our learning settings, such as consistent classroom sizes, this means every student will be given the same opportunity at every age/ learning level – with the same student teacher ratio - to succeed and remove barriers to help realise the potential of every student.
