Class Size Reduction Program

On 9 March 2003, the NSW Government announced its commitment to reduce class sizes in Kindergarten to Year 2 to a statewide average of:

• 20 students in Kindergarten classes
• 22 students in Year 1 classes
• 24 students in Year 2 classes

Approximately 1,800 teachers were needed to achieve this goal.
New funding of $710 million over four years was provided for the program.
This includes additional capital funding of $107 million to build and install additional classrooms and $603 million to provide additional teaching positions.
The program to reduce class sizes was led by the General Manager, Learning and Development.
The Class Size Reduction Unit was established to implement the program.
The unit utilised enrolment data collected by Human Resources Directorate and information from surveys of available accommodation conducted by Assets Management Directorate.
The Advisory Committee included representation from the Primary Principals' Association, the NSW Teachers Federation, the Early Childhood Education Council the Federation of Parents and Citizens’ Associations of NSW, the Public School Principals' Forum, and the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.

The Program, was delivered in stages, and started in 2004 with the reduction in the size of classes for Kindergarten students in priority schools.
Class Size Reduction Program Evaluation 2005 Interim Report
This report presents the analysis of survey data collected in 2005 from principals, teachers and parents of children in 15 randomly selected schools without Priority Schools Funding Program (PSFP) status.

This report presents the analysis of survey data collected in 2004 by principals, teachers and parents of children in 15 schools in the Priority Schools Funding Program (PSFP).
Evaluation of the 2003 Class Size Pilot
In 2002, the NSW Government announced that sizes would be reduced in the earliest years at selected schools under a $5 million size pilot.

In 2002, the NSW Government announced that sizes would be reduced in the earliest years at selected schools under a $5 million size pilot.

The NSW Government announced a new classroom design to support the Class Size Reduction Program in primary schools.
The new classroom building contains two classrooms. Each classroom has a Practical Activities Area and Shared Withdrawal Area, classroom store, and IT cabling infrastructure.
The classrooms are in the order of 90 square meters and the new building design provides appropriate levels of lighting, cross ventilation and insulation to ensure comfort for students and teachers.