Class Size Policy

1. What is this policy about?
   1. This policy sets out the class size requirements across all school sectors within the ACT Public School system.
2. Policy Statement
   1. This policy supports the implementation of Clause P4 – Class Sizes of the ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2018-2022 (Agreement).
3. Who does this policy apply to?
   1. This policy applies to all ACT Public Schools.
4. Context
   1. The Directorate recognises the fundamental contribution of class size to the learning outcomes for students, quality of teaching and the health and wellbeing of teachers.
   2. This policy recognises that there are different ways to structure teaching and learning environments that optimise learning opportunities. The organisation of teaching should provide and maintain, so far as is practicable, a safe and healthy workplace.
   3. This policy must be implemented in conjunction with the Directorate’s Education Participation (Enrolment and Attendance) Policy.
   4. Schools should plan, determine and manage class sizes that ensure sustainable management of workload.
5. Class size requirements
   1. For the purposes of this Policy, a class is defined as a group of students for which the classroom teacher has responsibility for instruction, assessment and reporting.
   2. Class sizes should not exceed the following number of students:
      1. Preschools                             22
      2. K to Year 3                              21
      3. Years 4 to 6                            30
      4. Years 7 to 9                            32
      5. Year 10                                    30
      6. Year 11 and 12                     25
      7. Learning Support Units      8
      8. Learning Support Units Autism 6
      9. Introductory English Centres  15
   3. Multi-age classes should not exceed, as far as is practicable, the average of the number of students based on the relevant year groups. For Year 3 and 4 classes, where the average of the year groups is 25.5, the class should not exceed 26 students.
   4. Potentially Hazardous (PH) classes should not exceed 24 students or the number of students that the teaching space and equipment will safely cater for, whichever is lesser:
      1. PH classes are practical classes which directly involve the use of dangerous equipment e.g. industrial arts heavy machinery, hospitality settings or weights gyms that may potentially pose significant risk to the health and safety of students and teacher; and
      2. PH class sizes should be determined having regard to available facilities, the nature of the activities, the nature of the equipment used, the maturity and competence of the students and the capabilities of the teacher.
   5. Consistent with the above, planning for all class sizes need to take into account space and safety considerations relevant to the activities being undertaken.
   6. This policy and the procedures document, identified in section 10.2, will support all schools in the implementation and management of class sizes.
6. Monitoring and Review
   1. The Policy Owner monitors the policy. This includes an annual scan of operation and review. A full review of the policy will be conducted within a three year period.
   2. Include reference to an evaluation plan if relevant.
7. Monitoring and Review
   1. The Policy Owner monitors the policy. This includes an annual scan of operation and review. A full review of the policy will be conducted within a three year period.
8. Contact
   1. For support contact School Operations on or email.
9. Complaints
   1. Any concerns about the application of this policy or the policy itself, should be raised with:
      • the school principal in the first instance;
      • contact the Directorate’s Liaison Unit on (02) 6205 5429.
      • online at http://www.education.act.gov.au/contact_us.
      • see also the Complaints Policy on the Directorate’s website.
10. References
    1. Legislation
       • ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2018-2022
    2. Implementation Documents
       • EDU Class Sizes Procedures (1.4Mb)
    3. Related Policies and Information  
       • The Enrolment in ACT Public Schools (Preschool-Year 12) Procedure

is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is the current and complete version of the document, available on the Directorate’s website at http://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/school_and_corporate_policies/A-Z/.