Union Calls for Reduced Class Sizes Amidst Declining Enrollment

The National Education Union (NEU), the UK’s largest education union, is urging the government to leverage decreasing student enrollment to reduce class sizes. Daniel Kebede, the union’s general secretary, highlighted to the BBC that approximately one million pupils are currently educated in classes exceeding 31 students.

According to Department for Education projections, primary school enrollment in England is anticipated to drop by 6.8% between 2023 and 2029, while secondary school numbers remain relatively stable. Despite these demographic shifts, recent government data reveals a slight overall decline in the teaching workforce, with 1,900 fewer full-time teachers recorded in 2025. However, the Department noted progress toward its goal of hiring 6,500 additional teachers across secondary, special needs schools, and further education colleges, with 4,654 positions currently filled.

In April 2026, the government clarified that its pledge for additional staff does not extend to early years or primary education. Consequently, as primary enrollment declines, the recruitment target for new primary teachers for the upcoming academic year has been reduced by 23%.

Kebede criticized this approach, arguing that the government should view the drop in student numbers as a "historic opportunity" to shrink class sizes rather than cutting recruitment. "Currently, we have the largest class sizes in Europe, with a million children taught in classes of 31 or more," Kebede stated. He pointed out that under the previous Labour administration, the decline in teacher numbers lagged behind the decline in pupil numbers. Furthermore, he emphasized that sufficient staffing is essential to meet the 2030 government targets for integrating more children with special educational needs into mainstream classrooms.

The impact of these trends is felt acutely at institutions like North Mead Primary Academy in Leicester. Nearly half of the student body qualifies for free school meals, and many students have special educational needs. Principal Ben Burpitt noted that securing specialized staff for vulnerable students remains a significant hurdle. "We have had particular trouble trying to find a special trained teacher for our group of most vulnerable children," he explained.

With enrollment shrinking, the academy’s budget is also decreasing, as funding is allocated on a per-pupil basis. Burpitt is currently navigating the complex task of balancing teacher and support staff ratios. Meanwhile, the pay increase for support staff for the 2026–27 period has been set at 3.3%, a cost that school leaders must absorb from their existing budgets.

To address staffing challenges, some academies are focusing on internal training. Sara McAdam, who oversees the training institute for the academy trust, explained their strategy to adapt to the falling birth rate. "We're going to have to look at that and make sure that we're not recruiting too many primary trainees so that they aren't then able to be employed by the end of the year," she said.

Joseph Brown, a new teacher at the primary school, exemplifies this internal recruitment strategy. After working as a teaching assistant, he trained through the academy trust’s scheme. He has moved to the bottom of the teacher pay scale, earning approximately £32,000, a salary he accepts willingly. "It's not necessarily something that you do for money. You do the job because you enjoy it," Brown said.

These developments occur against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations regarding teacher compensation, with a potential strike ballot looming in the autumn. The government is expected to reveal its latest pay award within weeks. The NEU has indicated it will proceed with a ballot if the offer is not accompanied by dedicated funding, rather than being funded from school budgets.

In response, a Department for Education spokesperson stated: "We have already made significant progress on our promise to recruit and retain an additional 6,500 teachers so every child has access to the expert teachers they need." The spokesperson added that the government is working to restore teaching as a "highly valued profession," noting that pay has increased by nearly 10% over the past two years.

Additional reporting by Hope Rhodes

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 09:56:22 UTC