Are large schools better — or worse — than small ones? We have divided 1542 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) | 52 | 191.0 | 59.2% | 7.7 |
| Medium (100–299) | 575 | 224.8 | 67.7% | 11.0 |
| Large (300–499) | 537 | 225.4 | 72.1% | 12.2 |
| Very large (500+) | 378 | 240.2 | 76.3% | 13.3 |
Small schools (<100)
191
Avg merit score
52 schools • 69% independent
Large schools (500+)
240
Avg merit score
378 schools • 23% 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.