Primary schools - Teaching assistant to class size rules

Summary

The requester asked for Isle of Man government policy on primary school class sizes and teaching assistant support, along with specific Year 2 teacher and teaching assistant to pupil ratios for all schools. The Department of Education disclosed that staffing is managed by individual head teachers under the Education Act 2001 and provided a detailed breakdown of ratios for each school, noting that some classes have no teaching assistants.

Key Facts

• Head teachers control internal organization and staff management under Article 4(1) of the Articles of Government made under the Education Act 2001.
• There is significant variation in teaching assistant support across Year 2 classes, with some schools having zero assistants.
• The response explicitly excluded additional needs assistants from the teaching assistant counts as requested.
• Some schools operate mixed-age classes (e.g., Reception, Y1, and Y2 combined), affecting the specific Year 2 pupil counts.
• Teaching assistant allocations are often part-time (FTE), such as 0.25 or 0.5, rather than full-time positions.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-10-06
• 2025-10-16
• 4978924
• 14:1
• 29
• 31
• 27
• 14
• 22
• 21
• 19
• 25
• 56
• 33
• 24
• 32
• 52
• 13
• 23
• 20
• 0.5 FTE
• 0.25 FTE
• 0.6 FTE
• 1.5
• 0.9

Original Request

Hello, It has become clear there are significant inequalities between schools and year groups when it comes to the amount of teaching support available. Some schools have teaching assistants to support the teacher and others do not. The OECD reports an average student-teacher ratio of 14:1 for primary education across member countries, with lower ratios often linked to more individualised attention for students and a better situation to foster a supportive learning environment. My child's class is running significantly higher than this. I believe teaching assistants are an essential part of the classroom, especially with big class sizes, yet it appears only some schools and classes are receiving this benefit. Please can you explain what the Isle of Man Government policy is for school class sizes and teaching assistant support. In addition, for each year 2 class on the Isle of Man, what are the: 1) Teacher to pupil ratios 2) Teaching assistant to pupil ratios Please do not include additional needs assistants in these numbers. I do not believe a child who has additional needs and requires their own personal support assistant as support for all, these individuals are specifically assigned to a child on a one to one basis based on their needs and not for the full time support of the rest of the children in the class.

Data Tables (4)

Full Response Text

assistance, please be advised that the Articles of Government of each primary school (which are made under section 5(3) of the Education Act 2001) state in Article 4(1):
“The head teacher shall control the internal organisation of the school and manage the staff of the school.” A link to these documents which are available on the Isle of Man Government website can be found here Articles and Instruments (2) Teacher to pupil ratios for each Year 2 class on the Isle of Man Please see the attached document for details of the information that is held. (3) Teaching assistant to pupil ratios for each Year 2 class on the Isle of Man Please see the attached document for details of the information that is held.

Please quote the reference number 4978924 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Officer

School Name: Year 2 Class structure Number of Pupils Number of Teachers Number of Teaching Assistants (not including additional needs assistants)

Anagh Coar School – mixed Y1 & Y2 class

29 (x12 Y2 pupils) 1 0

Andreas - single Y2 class

14 1 0.5 FTE

Arbory School – single Y2 class

31 1 0.25 FTE

Ashley Hill School – single Y2 class

27 1 0.6 FTE (1 person for 3 days)

Ballacottier School – single Y2 class

14 1 0

Ballasalla School – mixed Y2 & Y3 class

22 (x14 Y2 pupils) 1 0

Ballaugh School – mixed Reception, Y1 & Y2 class

21 (x1 Reception, x15 Y1, x6 Y2 pupils) 1 1

Braddan School – single Y2 class

19 (joined by x11 Y1 pupils in the pm) 1 1 (x2 mornings per week) 1 (5 afternoons per week)

Bunscoill Ghaelgagh – mixed Y1 & Y2 class

25 (x13 Y2 pupils) 1 0.5 FTE

Bunscoill Rhumsaa – x3 Y2 classes

56 3 0.4 FTE

Cronk y Berry School – single Y2 class

33 1.5 1

Dhoon School – mixed Y1 & Y2 class

24 (x11 Y2 pupils) 1 0.5 FTE

Foxdale School – mixed Reception, Y1 & Y2 class

32 (x9 Y2 pupils) 2 1

Henry Bloom Noble Primary School – x2 Y2 classes

52 2 0

Jurby - mixed Reception, Y1 and Y2 class

13 (x2 Y2 pupils) 1 1

Kewaigue School – mixed Y2 & Y3 class

23 (x13 Y2 pupils) 1 0

Laxey School – single Y2 class

32 1 1

Manor Park School – mixed Reception, Y1 & Y2 class

20 (x12 Y2 pupils) 1 1

Marown School – single Y2 class

22 1 0.9 FTE

Michael School – mixed Y2 & Y3 class

17 (x6 Y2 pupils) 1 0

Onchan School – x2 Y2 classes

46 2 1.2 FTE

Peel Clothworkers’ School – x3 Y2 classes

59 2 (full time) 2 (part time) 0

Rushen Primary School – single Y2 class

23 1 1

Scoill Phurt le Moirrey – single Y2 class

22 1 1

Scoill Vallajeelt – single Y2 class

15 1 0

Scoill yn Jubilee – x2 Y2 classes

36 2 1

St Johns – mixed Y1 & Y2 class

21 (x9 Y1 pupils) 1 1 (mornings only)

St Mary’s Roman Catholic School – x2 Y2 classes

53 2 0

St Thomas’ Church of England School – mixed Y2 & Y3 class

22 (x10 Y2 pupils) 1 0

Sulby School – single Y2 class

20 1 0

Victoria Road – single Y2 class

16 1 0

Willaston – single Y2 class

18 1 1