The SSTUWA has outlined its proposal for smaller class sizes in WA public schools.

The union is calling for a reduction in the maximum number of students allowed in classrooms across all years from pre-primary to Year 12.

WA currently has some of the largest maximum class sizes in Australia, with the maximum number of students in Years 4 to 10 set at 32. This is in contrast with Victoria, which is set at 26 students, Queensland at 28, Northern Territory at 27 and NSW
at 30.

SSTUWA President Matt Jarman said: “The composition of classrooms in WA has changed considerably since these maximum class sizes were determined 40 years ago.

“On top of increasing workloads, teachers are now expected to manage increasingly challenging issues involving students who are often disrupting the learning of others. This is particularly unmanageable in a class of 32 students.

“In some year groups, WA has the biggest maximum class sizes in Australia, which is a disadvantage to our students.

“We believe smaller classes will make them more manageable, enable teachers to concentrate on quality teaching, reduce stress and lead to better educational outcomes for all students in a class.

“Smaller classes allows more individual attention for students, which means better results for those students.”

Class size limits have been included in the SSTUWA’s draft log of claims which will be voted on by all union members as part of the next General Agreement.