❓ A member of parliament questions the Minister for Education about class size reduction commitments, funding, and a specific instance of overcrowding at Winthrop Primary School. The Minister confirms the commitment and funding, and explains the situation at the school.
AnsweredQoN 525Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In the government report “Investing in Government Schools : Putting Children First” emphasis is given to class sizes in the early years of schooling and it states - That, in light of the substantial international research showing that the benefits of small class sizes to student learning in the early years flow on through the other years of schooling, the Department’s priority for literacy and numeracy be underpinned by: a firm commitment to reducing class sizes in the P-3 years; specific targets for class size reduction for P-3 from 28 to 24 by 2003 and a further reduction to 21 at the rate of one student per class per year; I ask - (1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
That, in light of the substantial international research showing that the benefits of small class sizes to student learning in the early years flow on through the other years of schooling, the Department’s priority for literacy and numeracy be underpinned by: a firm commitment to reducing class sizes in the P-3 years; specific targets for class size reduction for P-3 from 28 to 24 by 2003 and a further reduction to 21 at the rate of one student per class per year; I ask - (1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
a firm commitment to reducing class sizes in the P-3 years; specific targets for class size reduction for P-3 from 28 to 24 by 2003 and a further reduction to 21 at the rate of one student per class per year; I ask - (1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
specific targets for class size reduction for P-3 from 28 to 24 by 2003 and a further reduction to 21 at the rate of one student per class per year; I ask - (1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
I ask - (1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
That, in light of the substantial international research showing that the benefits of small class sizes to student learning in the early years flow on through the other years of schooling, the Department’s priority for literacy and numeracy be underpinned by: a firm commitment to reducing class sizes in the P-3 years; specific targets for class size reduction for P-3 from 28 to 24 by 2003 and a further reduction to 21 at the rate of one student per class per year; I ask - (1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
a firm commitment to reducing class sizes in the P-3 years; specific targets for class size reduction for P-3 from 28 to 24 by 2003 and a further reduction to 21 at the rate of one student per class per year; I ask - (1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
specific targets for class size reduction for P-3 from 28 to 24 by 2003 and a further reduction to 21 at the rate of one student per class per year; I ask - (1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
I ask - (1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(1) Does the minister agree with these commitments? (2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(2) Has the minister allocated funding in the budget to enable this target to be met? (3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(3) If the minister agrees with the commitment why are there 31 children in year 1 at Winthrop Primary School? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(1)-(2) The government commitment is to reduce maximum class sizes in years 1 to 3 to 24 children from 2003. Funds have been provided in the forward estimates for this purpose. (3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
(3) There are three year 1 classes at Winthrop Primary School. Sufficient teacher time is allocated to the school to allow them to form classes in years 1, 2 and 3 with an average of no more than 28 children per class. All classes in years 1, 2 and 3 at the school were established for 2001 with fewer than 28 children. As additional children have enrolled in year 1 during the year the school administration, with the support of the teachers and parents, decided to provide additional support to all year 1 classes rather than re-organise the entire school to create an additional class. Additional education assistant time has been allocated to all year 1 classes and up to 14 identified children are being provided with a specialist literacy program independently of the usual classroom activities.
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