Are large schools better — or worse — than small ones? We have divided 1570 primary schools with merit scores into four size classes and compared the results.
Results by size class
| Size class | Schools | Avg merit | Certified teachers | Pupils/teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<100 pupils) | 69 | 191.3 | 53.2% | 7.2 |
| Medium (100–299) | 578 | 224.6 | 66.4% | 11.2 |
| Large (300–499) | 534 | 225.6 | 71.5% | 12.4 |
| Very large (500+) | 389 | 239.9 | 75.7% | 13.5 |
Small schools (<100)
191
Avg merit score
69 schools • 70% independent
Large schools (500+)
240
Avg merit score
389 schools • 22% independent
What explains the differences?
School size co-varies with other factors: small schools are more often found in rural areas with more difficult recruitment, while large schools are often located in metropolitan areas with different pupil populations. The pupil-teacher ratio is relatively even regardless of size, but teacher certification varies more.
The conclusion? Size in itself is not decisive — it is the context that matters. See the story about income and school results for more on how demographics affect results.