Readers' letters - April 13

Beware of the creeping rise in school class sizes
Has there been an increase in the number of pupils in classes?Has there been an increase in the number of pupils in classes?
Has there been an increase in the number of pupils in classes?

A recent analysis of official figures by education unions suggests that two-thirds of secondary schools in England have increased the size of their classes in the past two years. This causes me great concern.

It is really important to have small class sizes for children as the one-to-one support and feedback gives them a much greater benefit in their education.

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Small class sizes allow staff to truly understand the needs of every pupil and support them in the best way for everyone.

Having fewer pupils in classrooms also allows teachers to get to know pupils on a more personal level and it brings a real sense of community to the school.

Small class sizes allow teachers to nurture pupils’ talents and help them to reach their full potential.

If school class sizes continue to grow, it will become increasingly more difficult for teachers to monitor pupils’ personal progress and give them the individual attention they require.

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The analysis, which looked at figures between 2014-15 and 2016-17, found that, in some areas, secondary schools have had average rises of three more students per class.

If the average class size is 20, then that is almost a 25 per cent increase!

It is important to note that the Department of Education has said the figures in this analysis are flawed and states that the average class sizes have seen little change since 2010.

I think it is crucial that we keep an eye on our pupils’ class sizes and ensure they are getting the support they need

Jackie Griffiths

via email

Another way to get cash from us

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Re: Drivers could soon be fined for parking on pavements under plans being considered by the Department for Transport (DfT).

If everyone started parking on the road, it would block emergency services and buses from getting past.

That’s the whole reason I do have to sometimes edge on to the pavement.

I’m thinking about the narrow roads that already are havoc for cars to try and squeeze through and that’s even when people park on the pavement.

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It’s just another way of getting more money out of us, never mind the £300 a year in road tax, almost £2,000 in insurance every year plus MOT, petrol and everything else I have to pay to have my own car... so a £70 fine for not obstructing buses and emergency services.

People will soon change their mind on this when it’s taking emergency services twice as long to get to people.

Sally Mills

Address supplied

Narrow road conundrum

If you live on a long road which consists of terraced houses, which were built before many households could afford one car, let alone two, then are those homeowners to be fined every single night their car has to be parked on the pavement?

Removing that facility would deem most roads unusable because it would make them too narrow to drive down.

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All well and good bringing in new rules to force drivers to do this but, in the same move, they will penalise some who have no other option other than to partially block a pavement just so they can park at home.

Or they block a road up and be fined anyway for blocking the road.

Lisa Mitchell

via email

Are you a EU or British patriot?

It is rather difficult, to put it mildly, to be a patriot of a country that ceases to exist.

The purpose of the EU is to eliminate the European nation states, accruing all significant power to itself.

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That’s what the EU treaties mean in the preambles instructing “ever closer

union”. It is not possible to be a British patriot and an EU patriot. One must choose one or the other.

That’s because if we had remained in the EU, sooner or later, the UK – or even England – would cease to exist as a nation in its own right, completely subsumed in the developing EU empire.

I am not prepared to see that happen.

The existence of the

nation is critical in providing the “demos” necessary for democracy.

Nick Martinek

Address supplied

Games coverage

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Why does the BBC think it is entertaining for former swimming champion Rebecca Adlington to offer views on track cycling at the Commonwealth Games?

The Corporation’s coverage has, at times, been infantile and Clare Balding seems more irritating with each passing day.

Sam Townend

via email