Class sizes to teacher allocation

Summary

The requester asked for Year 5 and 6 class sizes and teacher allocations for primary schools for the 2024-25 academic year. The Department of Education provided data for the upcoming 2025-26 year but noted that some 2024-25 figures could not be obtained until September 2025 due to the summer holidays.

Key Facts

• The response covers the 2025-26 academic year rather than the requested 2024-25 year for some data.
• Bunscoill Ghaelgagh did not provide any information regarding class sizes or teacher numbers.
• Several schools operate mixed-age classes (e.g., Year 5/6 or Year 4/5) rather than single-year cohorts.
• Teacher allocations vary significantly, with some schools using part-time staff or fractional Full Time Equivalent (FTE) numbers.
• The authority stated that remaining figures for the requested period would be available after schools reopen in September 2025.

Data Disclosed

• 2024-25
• 2025-26
• 2025-07-11
• 2025-07-23
• September 2025
• 4788582
• 18
• 21
• 30
• 43
• 36
• 1.6 FTE
• 28
• 20
• 17
• 22
• 23
• 27
• 26
• 25
• 24
• 14
• 15
• 19
• 13
• 11
• 10
• 38
• 0.6
• 0.4
• 0.8
• 0.2

Original Request

I would like to know class sizes for year 5 or 6 for each primary school (2024-25). Also the number of teachers (not senior education support officers) assigned to each of those classes.

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

School Year 5 Class Size Number of Teachers Year 6 Class Size Number Of Teachers Anagh Coar 18 Year 5 will have 2 x classes Year5/6 & Year 4/5 1 teacher per class 15 1 teacher Andreas Mixed Year5/6 Class with 21 pupils 1 Arbory 30 Two teachers working part time - 1 x 0.6 and 1 x 0.4 22 1 Ashley Hill 43 pupils in 2 x classes 2 36 pupils 2 x classes for 3 days of the week and 1 class for 2 days of the week. 1.6 FTE* Ballacottier 28 1 2 classes (2 x 18) 1 teacher per class Ballasalla 21 1 16 1 Ballaugh Mixed Year 5/6 Class of 20 pupils 1 Braddan 17 1 18 1 Bunscoill Ghaelgagh Information not provided Information not provided Information not provided Information not provided Bunscoill Rhumsaa 2 classes 1 x 22 & 1 x 23 1 teacher per class 3 x classes 1 x 26, 1 x 25, 1 x 24 1 teacher per class Cronk-Y-Berry 2 classes 2 x 27 1 teacher per class 2 classes 2 x 26 1 teacher per class Dhoon Mixed Year 5/6 Class 1 Foxdale Mixed Year5/6 class 18 1 Henry Bloom Noble 3 x classes 1 x 25, 1 x 25 and 1 x 23 1 teacher per class 3 x classes 1 x 23, 1x 23 & 1x 20 1 teacher per class Jurby Mixed Year 5/6 14 pupils 1 Kewaigue 15 1 19 1 Laxey 1 Class 1 1 Class 1 Manor Park 8 Year 5 pupils in a Mixed Year 4/5 class 1 13 1 Marown 22 1 24 1 Michael 1 class of 19 1 1 class of 11 1 Onchan 2 x classes 1 x 24 & 1 x 23 1 teacher per class 2 x classes of 23 1 teacher per class Peel Clothworkers 3 x classes 1 x 22,1 x 21 and 1x 20 1 teacher per class 3 x classes 1 x 20,1 x 21 and 1 x 22 1 teacher per class Rushen Year 5 and 6 total - 38 3 teachers (operating as 3 mixed age classes) Scoill Phurt Le Moirrey 13 1 20 1 Scoill Vallajeelt 30 1 2 classes 1 x 10 & 1 x 11 1 teacher per class Scoill yn Jubilee 2 classes 1 x 26 1 x 27 1 teacher per class 2 classes 1 x 20 1 x 18 1 teacher per class St John's 15 year 5 pupils Mixed Classes Year5/6 23 (including yr 6 pupils) Year 4/5 19 (including year 4 pupils) 1 teacher per class 15 year 6 pupils in a Mixed Year5/6 of 23 (including yr 5 pupils) 1 teacher St Mary's RC 2 x classes 1 x 18 and 1 x 17 1 teacher per class 2 x classes 16 in each 1 teacher per class St Thomas's C of E 10 Year 5 pupils in a Mixed year 4/5 class of 19 1 15 1 Sulby 18 1 FTE 20 1 FTE Victoria Road 1 Class of 23 1 2 classes 2 x 16 1 teacher full time 1 teacher 4 days and 1 teacher 1 day Willaston 1 Class 1 1 Class 2 teachers assigned, both working part time. (1 Teacher 0.8 and 1 Teacher 0.2) * FTE is Full time equivalent

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 4788582 23rd July 2025

Dear ###,

We write further to your request, received 11 July 2025, which states:

"I would like to know class sizes for year 5 or 6 for each primary school. Also the number of teachers (not senior education support officers) assigned to each of those classes."

Our response to your request is as follows: Please find enclosed a copy of the information held in respect of the upcoming academic year - 2025-26.

We apologise, we were unable to obtain some of the information prior to the end of the summer term. As the schools are currently closed for the summer holidays, we will be unable to obtain this information until September 2025 at the earliest.

Should you wish to receive the remaining figures please advise and we will provide this information to you as soon as possible when the schools re-open in September 2025.

Please quote the reference number 4788582 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.