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The Relative Importance of Class Size to Infant Teachers in England
Author(s) -
Hall Kathy,
Nuttall Wendy
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british educational research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.171
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1469-3518
pISSN - 0141-1926
DOI - 10.1080/0141192990250207
Subject(s) - class size , class (philosophy) , mathematics education , psychology , theme (computing) , computer science , artificial intelligence , operating system
Abstract This paper examines and compares the beliefs and attitudes of teachers of large and small infant classes in the north of England regarding class size with particular reference to its relative importance. Following an introduction which contex‐tualises the empirical study the details of the telephone and postal surveys are presented. The findings are analysed in relation to class size preferences, preferential treatment for some children and teachers, and the importance of class size relative to other factors, the latter being the main theme of the study. It seems that class size is not seen to be unidimensional in its influence on classroom events but that it interacts in complex ways with a range of other variables.