What is the latest information on class sizes in New South Wales and related matters?
Mr WATKINS: In August this year, the most comprehensive audit ever of class sizes in kindergarten to year 6 by the Department of Education and Training commenced. Honourable members will know that this was the first step in planning a smaller class size pilot, which will begin next year. The audit collected detailed information about teaching and learning arrangements in New South Wales primary schools. This included measuring class sizes, counting classroom teachers, finding out what available classrooms space we have, and looking at how, and where, specialist teaching staff are being used. Today I released the results of that audit as well as details of where the pilot will run in 2003. I will address my remarks first to the audit. On 21 August this year, a total of 16,686 classes with a 442,194 students were counted. It was a massive task and I thank everyone involved. The audit reveals an interesting picture. It shows that classes in this State’s 1,714 government primary schools ha
