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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Conference backs Cardiff in class warfare
October 14, 2006 12:00 AM
Welsh Liberal Democrats have called for class sizes for primary schools to be capped at 25 to improve discipline, and give children a better chance in life.
At their autumn conference in Aberystwyth today, members voted unanimously to support a motion by the Cardiff Central local party calling for the cut. Labour Ministers have failed to reduce class sizes in this Assembly, despite a pledge to do so made in Partnership with the Welsh Lib Dems prior to 2003.
Rodney Berman, leader of Cardiff Council, said: "Smaller class sizes are beneficial to pupils' education, particularly as they allow more individual learning time between each student and the teacher.
"Many local authorities would like to reduce class sizes, but the Labour Assembly Government's funding arrangements make it impossible for us to afford it.
"Using the Assembly's new powers to change legislation, and change the way schools are funded, would be a way of putting our trust in teachers, and allowing them to give our children the education."
Peter Black AM, Education spokesperson, said: "A high quality education is the finest investment we can make in the next generation. Nothing sets a child free to achieve his or her potential like education. Reducing class sizes will help teachers to focus on teaching, and children to focus on learning. It's a win-win situation."
The changes would also make a contribution to reducing the number of spare places in schools across Wales. There are currently over 70,000 such places.
Notes:
The approved motion reads as follows
Conference resolves that:
1. Legislation should be brought in the National Assembly to lower the legal
limit on class sizes to 25
2. WAG should alter funding arrangements so that schools across Wales are
not short-changed from this decision
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