Well, what a surprise. Yet another study has found absolutely no connection between smaller class sizes and higher education standards. As the Times reports:

'Levels of literacy among children aged 11 in classes of fewer than 25 pupils were lower than those who were in groups of more than 30 children. Academics at London University’s Institute of Education, who carried out the research, also concluded: "No evidence was found that children in smaller classes made more progress in mathematics, English or science."'

So some standards were actually lower in small classes. A few years ago, the fuss made about small classes forced the government into a meaningless promise to reduce class size. Many parents believe unshakeably that small classes lead to higher standards. They look at the smaller classes in many independent schools, observe the higher standards and put two and two together and make five. Most reputable research has always shown, however, that this connection is an illusion. The real driver behind education standards is the quality of both the teaching and what is actually being taught. That's why children who were taught in huge classes in Victorian times, or currently in large (and primitive) classes in many parts of the third world, knew -- and know -- a great deal more than British schoolchildren today.

It's the ideology, stupid.

Posted by melanie at January 6, 2005