The growing number of smaller class sizes within British schools has sparked a lot of debates on their efficiency for pupils in contrast with larger classes. Many people consider this new type of education as a waste of money since they do not believe that smaller classes may be more efficient than the larger ones.
However, studies on the efficiency of smaller classes show that such type of education has a number of benefits which are not proper to larger classes. According to the studies carried out by the Institute of Education of the London University in 2003, smaller classes have strong positive effects not only on pupils’ learning process but also on teaching quality. The scholars state that smaller classes are very effective with younger pupils of the first year of education because such educational method helps them to better focusing on active learning and get involved therein (Blatchford, et al., 2003, p. 19).
First, the time within a small class is distributed much more effictively than in a larger class where much time is taken by procedural discussions and arrangements. This time is mainly devoted to pupil-teacher interactions whereas in large classes pupils communicate more to their peers than to their teacher: “The results from the two more obviously quantitative components therefore showed that children in small classes were more likely to interact with their teachers, there was more teaching on a one-to-one basis, more times when children were the focus of a teacher's attention, and more teaching overall” (Blatchford, et al., 2003, p. 12). Such time distribution ensures an individual approach to each pupil which has a definite positive impact on their grades, their attainment and their academic progress.
Moreover, the same studies have shown that in smaller classes pupils are less involved in an off-task activity and more focused on active learning which is very important to their progress, whereas in large classes, according to the teachers themselves, it is more difficult to pupils to be concentrated on the subject and the distraction level is higher (Blatchford, et al., 2003, p. 13).
In a smaller class pupils have a unique opportunity of immediate feedback from their teacher so that their questions never remain without answers, and these answers are always correct since they are provided by their teacher. So smaller classes prevent pupils from forming wrong concepts on the subject.
Smaller classes are more efficient for the teaching process as well since the teaching load is well-distributed and according to the teachers, it is easier to work in a smaller group of pupils than to try to embracing all children’s attention in a large class: “The detrimental effects of increasing class size (and also school size) on pupil behaviour seemed to be related to overcrowding, either pupils getting ‘lost in the crowd’ and teachers ability to focus on less motivated pupils.” (Class Size and education in England evidence report, 2011, p.49).
It is evident that being efficient for normal children, smaller classes have a huge positive impact on the children with learning disabilities and handicapped pupils who always require much more attention than normal kids.
In summary, it should be noted that despite of fierce debates which have been recently sparkling in relation to whether smaller class sizes are justified and worthwhile, the efficiency of such type of education has been proved by the above-mentioned and many other studies. Smaller classes are better than larger ones because they distribute time properly, ensure individual approach to each pupil, make the teaching process easier and more efficient, reduce the off-task behavior of children and are very useful for children with learning disabilities.
References
Blatchford, P., Bassett, P., Goldstein, H., and Martin. C. (2003) Are class size
differences related to pupils’ educational progress and classroom processes? Findings
Educational Research Journal, 29, 5. Special Issue ‘In Praise of Educational
Research’, Guest Editors: S. Gorrard, C. Taylor and K. Roberts.
