2003 Class Size Pilot

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

The pilot was conducted in 2003, and 63 schools from across the range of socioeconomic communities received extra teachers to reduce class sizes.

The Hon. Dr Andrew Refshauge, the former Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs tabled the Class Size Pilot Evaluation Report in NSW Parliament on 3 December, 2003. The report was developed by Professor Bob Meyenn, Dean of Education, Charles Sturt University.

Principals and teachers involved in the pilot reported that smaller classes had an effect on teaching practices including:

• Increased provision of individual instruction
• More support to students who needed assistance
• More frequent and immediate feedback
• Increased use of groupwork

Principals and teachers strongly agreed that as a result of being in a smaller class students had made substantially more progress in their achievement of literacy and numeracy outcomes.

The overwhelming success of the pilot as judged by parents, teachers and principals suggests that the reduction of class sizes is a very positive initiative for public education.

Teachers and principals involved in the pilot were asked to give advice for others implementing class size reduction. Their comments are available below.