EDUCATION bosses are facing problems a bid to meet government targets to have 30 or less pupils in primary school classes.

The Government has told councils all over the country that they have a deadline of September 2001 to make sure all children aged from five to seven are taught in classrooms containing 30 or less children.

It is thought the education of pupils suffer when they are placed in large classes.

However, at several schools in Blackburn, government funds to build new classrooms have not been forthcoming as quickly as education chiefs wanted.

Some areas have slipped behind the schedule to meet the September 2001 deadline.

The council is considering employing two teachers per classroom at some schools where there are more than 30 pupils in one class.

In a report presented to councillors St Michael with St John CE School, Edgworth Primary School, St Luke's and St Phillip's CE Primary School and Wensley Fold CE Primary School are singled out as the schools were the amount of pupils likely to be accepted in September this year will exceed targets set to prepare the way to meet the 2001 deadline. The other 46 schools with reception intakes have offered places in line with their planned admission limits.

Education officers Anthony Mugan and Peter Morgan said in their report: "The class size limit can be compiled within a number of ways.

"In some circumstances new classrooms are being built for classes no larger than 30 pupils and taught by one teacher.

"In addition, however, it is often necessary to have classes with more than 30 pupils but taught by more than one teacher.

"Circumstances in which this strategy is appropriate include school sites that are relatively restricted making new building impractical."

Members of Blackburn with Darwen Council's school standards sub committee will discuss the issues at a town hall meeting on Thursday.

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