THE AVERAGE
Smaller than it used to be
Infant classes averaged 25.9 pupils in January 2026, the lowest since 2008/09. Primary classes averaged 26.1 and secondary classes 22.6.
Check a year groupWHAT THE FIGURES SAY
How many
in the class?
Only one stage of school has a legal size limit.
Check a year group
30 PER TEACHERin infant classes
In England, reception, year 1 and year 2 classes are limited to 30 pupils per teacher. Older classes have no formal limit. Government statistics show how big classes really are, and education research shows when size makes a difference.
At a glance
- Infants: 30 per teacher
- Juniors: no legal cap
- Teaching matters most
- Class size in three lines
18.8%
Junior pupils in classes of over 30
413,900 pupils in years 3 to 6 were in classes of more than 30, down from 439,000 the year before. The average junior class was 27.6.
KEY STAGE 2 · DfE 2025/26
+1 month
Average gain from reducing class size
About one month's extra progress over a school year, from 63 studies in 27 countries. The EEF rates the evidence as very limited and the cost as very high.
IMPACT · EEF TOOLKIT
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Big junior classes,
small average gains.
One figure on how many juniors sit in big classes,
one on what cutting class size achieves.
The EEF says most studies looked at cutting classes by 8 to 10 pupils, and that clear benefits appear hard to achieve until classes are smaller than about 20.
A QUICK CLASS CHECK
How big are classes
at this stage?
Pick a stage of school to see the average class size in England and the rule that applies. The bar shows the average size.
Averages from the January 2026 school census for state-funded schools in England (DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics 2025/26).
THE SHORT ANSWER
A cap for infants,
averages for the rest.
The law limits infant classes only.
Every other class size is up to the school.
THE LIMIT
30 per teacher, with exceptions
Regulations limit an infant class to 30 pupils per teacher. Some pupils, such as twins or children of armed forces families admitted mid-year, can be lawful exceptions.
Who counts as an exception
THE EVIDENCE
Smaller helps if teaching changes
The Education Endowment Foundation finds a small average gain of +1 month, mostly when classes get small enough for teachers to teach differently.
See the numbers
WHO CAN TAKE A CLASS OVER 30
Lawful exceptions
to the infant limit.
The School Admissions (Infant Class Sizes) (England) Regulations 2012 let some children join an infant class without counting towards the limit. A class of 32 can be lawful if two of them are exceptions.
Twins and multiple births
A twin or other sibling from a multiple birth can be admitted alongside a brother or sister who got a place in the normal way.
Looked-after children
Children looked after by a local authority, or previously looked after and since adopted, admitted outside the normal admission round.
Armed forces families
Children of armed forces personnel admitted outside the normal admission round, for example after a posting.
Appeals and errors
Children given a place by an admission appeal panel, or because the school accepts it made a mistake in applying its admission arrangements.
WHY SIZE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
Fewer pupils,
different teaching.
The EEF says smaller classes only improve learning if the lower numbers let teachers teach differently, with better quality interaction and feedback. Small cuts, such as from 30 to 25 pupils, are unlikely to be cost-effective.
Impact is higher in maths (+2 months) than reading (+1 month), and some UK evidence suggests younger pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds may benefit most. An alternative is to deploy teachers and assistants so teachers can work intensively with small groups.
Questions
Questions people ask
What is the maximum class size in England?
Only infant classes (reception, year 1 and year 2) have a legal limit: 30 pupils per school teacher during an ordinary teaching session. There are no formal policy limits on other class sizes.
Can an infant class have more than 30 pupils?
Yes, lawfully, if the extra pupils are excepted pupils, such as twins from a multiple birth, looked-after children or armed forces children admitted outside the normal round. A class of 32 is lawful if two of its pupils are exceptions.
How big is the average class?
In January 2026 the average infant class was 25.9 pupils, key stage 2 27.6, all primary classes 26.1 and secondary classes 22.6, according to the Department for Education.
Do smaller classes improve results?
On average only a little. The Education Endowment Foundation estimates about one month's extra progress a year, with clearer benefits when classes drop below about 20 and teaching changes.
Can I appeal for a place in a full infant class?
Yes. GOV.UK says a school can turn down an application if all its infant classes already have 30 children, but an appeal could succeed if a place would not take the class over the limit, or if the admission arrangements were not properly followed or do not comply with the code.
Sources
Where the facts come from
- Department for Education: Schools, pupils and their characteristics, academic year 2025/26
- legislation.gov.uk: The School Admissions (Infant Class Sizes) (England) Regulations 2012
- Education Endowment Foundation: Teaching and Learning Toolkit, Reducing class size
- GOV.UK: School admissions, appealing a school's decision (infant classes)
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