Are large schools better — or worse — than small ones? We have divided 1573 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) | 74 | 184.9 | 55.9% | 7.1 |
| Medium (100–299) | 579 | 224.0 | 67.4% | 11.0 |
| Large (300–499) | 537 | 227.4 | 71.9% | 12.2 |
| Very large (500+) | 383 | 241.5 | 76.2% | 13.3 |
Small schools (<100)
185
Avg merit score
74 schools • 64% independent
Large schools (500+)
242
Avg merit score
383 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.