Two thirds of countries have introduced regulations establishing a maximum number of students per class for primary and secondary education. In about half of these, the regulations also include a minimum number of students. The remaining countries do not have central regulations on class size. Over the past decade, there have been no significant alterations to the official maximum number of students per class. In the general European context, class size limits have remained between 25 and 35 students. The highest upper class size limits are found in the United Kingdom (Scotland) for primary and lower secondary education with a maximum number of 33, and Spain and Hungary for upper secondary with 35 students respectively. The minimum number of students required for a class to be established, can be seen in the Czech Republic and Romania, where only 10 students are required for the establishment of a class at both primary and secondary level.
Since the 2007/08 school year, in Austria, the number of students per class has been reduced at primary schools, general secondary schools, academic secondary schools and pre-vocational schools. At academic secondary schools (AHS), the limit has been raised by 20 % since students who qualify for the AHS can no longer be rejected on the grounds of insufficient capacity.
Countries tend to increase the upper class size limit with the age of students. In the majority of education systems, the maximum number of students per class is higher at secondary level than at primary level.
In general, class size regulations apply to all grades and subjects in the curriculum. However, different arrangements exist in some countries. For example, class size regulations do not apply to the subject of religion and non-denominational ethics in Belgium (French Community) at lower secondary education. In Poland, although no official regulations on class size exist, some limits to the number of students per class have been established for specific subjects. These are subjects for which the number of students has an influence on learning performance (for example, compulsory ICT classes where the number of available personal computers is limited, compulsory foreign language classes, laboratory and practical classes, and classes on ‘Preparation for family life’).
E D U C A T I O N A L P R O C E S S E S
Figure F8: Class size limits in primary and general (lower and upper) secondary education according to official regulations (ISCED 1, 2 and 3), 2010/2011
Maximum Minimum 9 No regulations ISCED levels: BE fr BE de BE nl BG CZ DK DE EE IE EL ES FR IT CY LV LT LU HU ISCED 1 min 9 9 9 16 10 9 17 9 9 9 9 9 15 12 9 9 9 9 max 9 9 9 22 30 28 29 24 9 25 25 9 26 25 9 24 26 26 ISCED 2 min 9 9 9 18 10 9 26 9 9 9 9 9 18 12 9 9 18 9 max 24 9 9 26 30 28 30 24 9 30 30 9 27 25 9 30 28 30 ISCED 3 min 9 9 9 18 9 9 19 9 9 9 9 9 27 12 9 9 18 9 max 9 9 9 26 30 9 19 9 9 30 35 9 30 25 9 30 28 35 MT NL AT PL PT RO SI SK FI SE UK (1) UK- SCT IS LI NO HR TR ISCED 1 min 9 9 10 9 24 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 12 9 14 15 max 30 9 25 9 28 25 28 25 9 9 9 33 9 24 9 28 30 ISCED 2 min 9 9 20 9 24 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 12 9 14 15 max 30 9 25 9 28 30 28 28 9 9 9 33 9 24 9 28 30 ISCED 3 min 9 9 20 9 24 10 16 9 9 9 9 9 9 12 9 20 15 max 25 9 30 9 28 30 32 30 9 9 9 30 9 24 9 28 30 Source: Eurydice. Explanatory note
Although several countries adjust the maximum number of students per class when students with special needs are present, this is not reflected in the figure.
Country specific notes
Belgium (BE fr): The regulations stipulate an average class size but not maximum values.
Bulgaria and Malta: Data refer to 2006/07 and are available only for primary education.
Czech Republic: According to official regulations, the maximum class size is reduced to 24 in the case of foreign language lessons.
S E C T I O N I I – G R O U P I N G O F P U P I L S
Estonia: The upper limit at ISCED 1 and 2 may be exceeded by a maximum of two students per class by the owner of the school with the agreement of the head teacher and the school board. Similarly, the minimum number of students necessary to form a class may be reduced.
Ireland: Although there are no official recommendations on class size, in practice a cap of 24 students has been adopted for laboratory and practical classes in most secondary schools.
Spain: Although the minimum number of students per class is not established at national level, it is usually set by each Autonomous Community.
Luxembourg: Class size is calculated on the basis of the amount of weekly lessons per student in each commune.
Hungary: According to official regulations, the maximum number of students per class can be raised by 30 % in certain cases.
Malta: In primary and lower secondary education, in classes having students with a statement of Individual Educational Needs, the number of students must not exceed 26. In upper secondary education (grades 9 to 11), in classes having students with a statement of Individual Educational Needs, the number of students must not exceed 21.
Slovenia: In bilingual schools (Slovenian/Hungarian) and in schools where Italian is the language of instruction, class sizes at all levels of compulsory education are smaller than that the limits set in general regulations
Slovakia:A minimum number 8 pupils is stipulated only as a condition for establishment of zero grade designed for children who attained by 1 September the age of six, but have not achieved the school maturity or they come from socially disadvantaged background and may not master the educational programme of the first grade of primary school.
United Kingdom (ENG/WLS/NIR): A maximum class size of 30 applies only to pupils aged 5-7 (England and Wales) or 4-8 (Northern Ireland).
United Kingdom (SCT): For primary grade 1, the maximum number of pupils per class is 25, and for primary grades 2- 3, it is 30. The number indicated in the table refers to grades 4-7.
Liechtenstein: Reported figures apply to Realschule and Gymnasium (ISCED 2). For Oberschule, (ISCED 2), classes are formed as follows: up to 30 students, a maximum of two classes; up to 48 pupils, a maximum of three classes; up to 49 pupils, a maximum of four classes.