IT is easier for pupils to gain the attention of their teacher in Bury's infant schools than anywhere else in Greater Manchester.

Only two per cent of children in the borough's schools now have 30 or more classmates - the lowest in Greater Manchester - compared to seven per cent in January.

It means youngsters have a much better chance of quality education than elsewhere in the country.

The figures, published by education secretary David Blunkett on Wednesday, make Bury a leading example of the Government's pledge that no primary school should have classes of more than 30 pupils by 2002.

The reduction has been made possible by £1.08 million in revenue funding to Bury from the government.

It was used for additional teachers and staff maintenance and two additional classrooms at Christ Church CE Primary School in Walshaw and St Joseph's RC Primary School in Ramsbottom. Bury came first out of Greater Manchester's ten LEAs. Some 6,327 pupils are in classes of 30 or fewer pupils. Just 127 are in classes of more than 30.

And Bury is joint 12th out of England's 150 LEAs. The borough is just two per cent behind the top LEAs of North Lincolnshire, Hartlepool, Isles of Scilly and City of London who all achieved 100 per cent.

Bury's school standards spokesman, Coun Andrea Hughes, said she was delighted by the news.

"Educational professionals agree that smaller class sizes in the early years of a child's schooling really do make a difference and it is pleasing to see that the LEA has embraced the Government's policies to reduce infant class sizes."

The town's success reflects a national trend which has seen the percentage of infants in classes of over 30 halved in a single year. The figures show that 181,000 infants are now being taught in classes of over 30 - a reduction of 173,000 since 1998.

Commenting on the figures, Mr Blunkett, said: " We are spending more than £600 million to reduce that figure to zero by September 2001.

"Indeed, working closely with our local education authority partners, we are confident that as early as September 2000, virtually all infants will be in classes of 30 or below."

Bury South MP Ivan Lewis said: "The people of Bury can be proud of a local council that delivers one of the best education services in the country."

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