Average class sizes in Cork fall for fourth year in a row

Average class sizes in Cork city and county’s 342 national schools fell for the fourth year in a row during the recent school year.

By Sean McCarthaigh

An analysis of figures on pupil and classroom numbers published by the Department of Education shows the average class size in primary schools in Cork has fallen from 25 students per class in 2014/15 to 24.4 in 2017/18 — just below the national average of 24.5.

However, the decrease has not been uniform with average class sizes still increasing in 44% of national schools in Cork this year.

Scoil Naomh Eltin in Kinsale had the largest single class among Cork schools with 38 students in one classroom. Picture: Larry Cummins

The most pronounced increase was in the 154-pupil national school in Knockraha where the average class size jumped from 23.8 students per class in 2016/17 to 30.8 students per class this year — the highest class size in any school in Cork just ahead of Banteer National School with 29.7.

Clogagh National School near Timoleague, which has 45 students, saw its average class size increase from 15.7 to 22.5.

A spokesperson for Richard Bruton, the Minister for Education, said that nearly 2,250 extra teachers had been hired in the primary sector in the last two years, including 278 last year bringing the total number to 22,430 which has helped to reduce overall class sizes in schools.

“The central aim of the Action Plan for Education is to make the Irish education and training service the best in Europe within a decade,” the spokesperson said.

Another 643 primary teaching posts are being created for the forthcoming 2018/19 school year — which is when the number of students in primary schools is expected to peak at almost 568,000.

Just over 563,400 students were enrolled in all national schools in the 2017/18 school year including 62,171 in Cork — the highest level ever in the county — spread over 2,546 classrooms.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation said Ireland remained well above the EU average class size of 20 pupils per classroom.

“We know that children do better with smaller class sizes, particularly at younger ages. It’s an import issue for child education and welfare,” said an INTO spokesperson.

She claimed demographic changes, which will result in fewer numbers attending primary schools from 2019/20 onwards, presented “a great opportunity” to further lower average class sizes “if they hold on to existing teachers.”

“The average class size will come down if the Government maintains the current level of teachers into the future,” the spokesperson said.

The school with the highest average class size in the country is Scoil Mobhi in the Dublin suburb of Glasnevin which has almost 260 pupils enrolled with an average of 32.4 students per class.

Scoil Naomh Eltin in Kinsale had the largest single class among Cork schools with 38 students in one classroom.