HEAD teachers today cranked up the controversy in education over class sizes, unveiling research findings at their annual conference that large numbers in the classroom do have a bad impact on standards.

Most would agree.

Plain logic says that the more pupils there are per class, the less time individuals get attention from the teacher and the more opportunity there is for disruption.

However, despite the merits of smaller classes - which, obsessed by the need for tax-cutting spending curbs, the government seems intent on denying - it is not the case that increasing class sizes provide a blanket explanation for falling standards. The quality of teaching and teaching methods are also an important factor.

This is shown by better performances of children taught in large classes overseas and by the recollections of earlier generations here who were generally better equipped with basics despite having been taught in classes of 40 or more pupils.

The heads are right, then, to point to the drawbacks of big classes, but they must not be used as a cover-up for poor teaching.

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