THE number of children being taught in outsized classes has almost doubled in the last decade.

Data collated by the National Education Union has revealed that classes in St Helens with 31 or more pupils have risen by 46 per cent since 2010-11.

In the 2018-19 academic year, 3,824 pupils were taught in classes of 31 or more, up from 2,617 in 2010-11.

The vast majority of these were primary school children.

Last year, 2,190 primary school children were taught in classes of 31 or more compared to 1,666 in 2010-11, a 31 per cent rise.

Additionally, 230 primary school pupils were taught in supersized classes of more than 36, a small rise from the 222 in 2010-11.

In secondary schools, 1,634 children were taught in classes of 31 or more in 2018-19 compared to 951 in 2010-11, a 72 per cent rise.

Patrick White, secretary of the St Helens National Education Union, said the increased class sizes are a direct result of government funding cuts over the last decade.

Mr White said: “These figures show the terrible impact of government cuts on education.

“Outsized classes mean that pupils do not receive enough individual attention and stops them reaching their full potential.

“The government must fully reverse the funding cuts for schools in St Helens.”

Nationally, 961,127 pupils in England were taught in classes of 31 or more in 2018-19, a 29 per cent rise from 2010-11, according to the education union.

A total of 63,566 pupils were taught in classes of 36 or more in the 2018-19 academic year, a 44 per cent rise.

In secondary schools, 21,843 were sitting in classes of 36 or more in 2018-19, a massive 258 per cent increase since 2010.

On average, class sizes in primary and secondary schools increased in 474 out of 533 constituencies and fell in just 59.

Back in October, following reports in the national press about supersized classes, the DfE said average class sizes remain low, despite an increased demand for school places.

A spokesman for the DfE said: “We have more children in our education system than ever before, yet average class sizes have remained stable.

“At primary level, this is 27.1 pupils, despite an increase of almost 540,000 pupils since 2010. At secondary, average class size remains low at only 21.7 pupils.

“Around 920,000 additional school places have been created between 2010 and 2018, and we are on track to create one million places this decade, the largest increase in school capacity in at least two generations.

“This government has announced the biggest funding rise for schools in a decade which will give every school more money for every child.

“We are investing a total of over £14bn more in schools over the next three years to 2022-23.”