Larger class sizes in Dundee would have a negative impact on education, according to one expert.
Professor of education Allen Thurston said research showed children taught in larger classes run a risk of lower incomes, lower attainment and even a higher risk of incarceration.
Commenting on the council’s proposal to increase S1 and S2 class sizes in English and maths at five Dundee schools, Prof Thurston said: “The best estimate would be that, rather than it saving money, it will have a negative impact on student attainment.”
The council plans to increase S1 and S2 classes from 20 to 33 children at Grove Academy, Harris Academy, Morgan Academy, Menzieshill High School and St John’s RC High School as part of its bid to cut £14m from the budget over the next two years.
Prof Thurston, a former chairman of the Grove Academy Parent Council, said research points to long-term problems.
He said: “There was a study in Denmark of 400,000 students and they found increases in class sizes had a negative impact on student attainment.
“Students didn’t reach the same levels. It also cost the Government more money because students in larger class sizes ended up having to enrol in more post-compulsory classes to get literacy and numeracy up.
“This factor has certainly been picked up by the department of education in England. It also has an impact on the individuals in a larger class. Their lifetime income is likely to reduce by 0.2%.”
Prof Thurston also pointed to a five-decade body of research in the USA.
“It found that, with a larger student-to-teacher ratio, the end result of a larger class size, you significantly increase the risk of incarceration.”
He added: “In the short-term, it may well balance the budget but in the long-term it could cost Scotland more.”
He also questioned whether new school buildings, like Grove, could cope with larger lasses in the classrooms.
Education convener Stewart Hunter defended the proposals, saying they gave head teachers greater freedom.
He said: “It’s giving head teachers flexibility to do what they feel will benefit the kids.
“I appreciate there’s some research but I’m not sure we can say putting up our class sizes could see more kids going to jail.
“I’m not denying the reseach but I find that demeaning to our pupils and parents. It’s taking it to extremes to say this would happen.”
Mr Hunter said he was confident the schools would cope with the proposed changes.
“We are where we are,” he said. “This isn’t where we want to be but its because of the Westminster Government’s austerity cuts being passed down. I’m quite confident we will be able to get through this.”