Are large schools better — or worse — than small ones? We have divided 1522 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) | 51 | 190.8 | 59.3% | 7.5 |
| Medium (100–299) | 562 | 224.9 | 67.6% | 11.0 |
| Large (300–499) | 533 | 225.4 | 72.0% | 12.2 |
| Very large (500+) | 376 | 240.2 | 76.3% | 13.3 |
Small schools (<100)
191
Avg merit score
51 schools • 69% independent
Large schools (500+)
240
Avg merit score
376 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.