The National Education Union (NEU) in England is advocating for smaller class sizes, asserting that falling pupil numbers should be leveraged for this purpose instead of reducing teacher recruitment. Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the NEU, stated that approximately one million pupils are currently in classes exceeding 31 children.
Government figures from the Department for Education indicate that primary school pupil numbers are projected to decrease by 6.8% between 2023 and 2029, while secondary school numbers are expected to remain stable. Despite a modest overall fall in the number of school teachers in 2025, the government has made progress toward its target of hiring 6,500 additional teachers for secondary schools, special schools, and further education colleges. As of April 2026, statistics show 4,654 teachers have been recruited in these settings.
The government's manifesto promise for additional teachers does not encompass primary schools or early years education. Consequently, with declining primary pupil numbers, the government has reduced its teacher recruitment target for the upcoming school year by 23%.
Kebede argued that this reduction in teacher recruitment is a missed opportunity. He characterized the current situation as a "historic opportunity" to reduce class sizes, noting that England has "the largest class sizes in Europe." The union also highlighted the need for teachers to support government plans aimed at integrating more children with special educational needs into mainstream schools by 2030.