Guernsey class size increases due to ‘bump of students’

According to US government figures, the average size of maths and English classes in Guernsey secondary schools has increased by around 1.5 students over the past two years.

Information about class sizes in Guernsey was released by the Commission for Education, Sport and Culture after a Written question by Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez.

The figures showed that Les Beaucamps High – which has the largest number of pupils in the bailiwick – had an average Year 11 maths class of 26.8, up from 24.3, and an average English class of 27, an increase of 24.3.

Vice President of Education Andrea Dudley-Owen said the increase reflects a greater number of students entering the school system.

She said: “It reflects the high volume of students currently flowing through our system, which we expect to experience in 2029-2030.

‘Also the reorganization of post-16 and secondary schools, where we have a large number of students spread across three of our schools.

‘The numbers reflect that change.

“Within those classes there is extra support in the form of learning assistants.”

The committee said it had carried out targeted work through her strategy to improve standards and technology in schools, including rollout of new IT systems.

Owen said she did not believe the larger class sizes had an effect on staff morale.

“We ask our staff to be patient with us, to stay with us, to focus on the bigger priorities within the education strategy and to move with us,” she said.

“We recognize that it has been quite a challenge and we are starting to see some evidence that the work is now paying off in terms of the output for our students.”

She acknowledged there would be “pockets of dissatisfaction” but improving the system “takes time”.

“We are changing the culture to create trust and a more collaborative work environment,” she said.

“We have a very large staff… but we try to support each individual and collectively as a staff group.”