The number of Oxfordshire infants in classes over 30 has been cut by 50 per cent, according to new figures.

A total of 869 five, six and seven year-olds are being taught in classes of 30 pupils or more this term, compared with 1,725 pupils last year.

Oxfordshire now has 94 per cent of infants in classes of no more than 30 and is well-placed to meet the government's target of cutting every infant class to below 30 by September 2001.

But Conservative county councillors warned that cutting class sizes in one area was leading to increases in others. Tory education spokesman Douglas Spencer said: "It is quite clear that the money the Government has focused on key stage one - five to seven year-olds - will reduce class sizes. However, the impact on children in other age ranges is very bad news indeed because they are being taught in classes of more than 30.

"The situation has worsened, despite what the government has said.

"I shall be looking at Oxfordshire's schools to see precisely which ones are suffering and I will be presenting these figures at the next education committee meeting in December. We have clear evidence in Oxfordshire that, although key stage one classes have reduced, other class sizes have increased." The average class size for pupils aged seven to 11 has risen slightly - from 29.0 in January 1998 to 29.2 in January 1999.

But recent figures show fewer seven to 11-year olds are being taught in classes of more than 30.

The survey showed that the number of pupils in below-30 classes had risen from 40.7 per cent to 48.4 per cent.

County Labour group spokesman Brian Hodgson said: "It has had a temporary blip on class sizes for older children, but with the increase in the education budget that the county council has agreed, this will even out.

"There is an intention to increase money for children aged seven to 11."

Story date: Thursday 28 October

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