Pupil teacher ratio for Norfolk

Dear Alex Redston

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request, received by us today,
February 16. We have forwarded your request to an FOI Officer within
Children's Services.

Our twenty working day deadline for your request is March 16 and we aim to
respond as soon as possible within the time period.

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Should you have any queries regarding your request, please feel free to
contact us at [Norfolk County Council request email] .

Yours sincerely,

Deirdre Sharp

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Redston,
Freedom of Information Act 2000
I refer to your request for information dated 16 February 2010.
In accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000,
I have now processed your request.
As requested, I respond to your questions below.
Q. Is there a minimum ratio of the number of children per teacher in
Norfolk? Is it twenty children per teacher?
A. There is no minimum. For infant classes legislation sets a maximum
ratio of 1:30. The number of pupils per teacher will be determined by the
school budget, which in turn is related to the number of pupils.
Therefore it is possible, depending on the school budget, to have fewer
than 20 pupils per teacher. A few very small schools have fewer than 20
pupils altogether. Funding is given per 1.6 FTE to a school. In allocating
budgets Norfolk County Council assumes a minimum school size of 23
pupils at first/infant school level and 36 for primary schools.

Q. If so what is the minimum number of children a primary school must have
in order to employ at least one qualified teacher per class.

A. There are no Statutory limits.
You have the right of appeal against this response. If you wish to appeal
or if you are unhappy with the way in which this matter has been handled
in general, you have the right to make use of the Authority's complaints
procedure by setting out the grounds of your complaint in writing in the
first instance to the:

Corporate Freedom of Information Officer, Room 1.20, The Archive Centre,
Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DQ.
If, after pursuing the internal complaints procedure, you remain
dissatisfied, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner
for a decision whether your request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Contact details for the Information Commissioner are as follows:
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone 01625 545 700, [1]www.ico.gov.uk
Should you have any queries regarding the information provided, please do
not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Melanie Waite
Senior Data Protection & Freedom of Information Officer
Room 37, County Hall
Martineau Lane
Norwich NR1 2DL
Telephone: 01603 222449
Fax: 01603 223838

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