UK primary school applications are just closing, in preparation for entry in September 2026. Many parents will seek schools with smaller class sizes, under the impression that this promotes better learning.
A new study identifies which regions have the slowest and fastest-growing class sizes.
The research was conducted by online tutoring platform called TutorSpace, which examined GOV.UK data to determine which regions in England have experienced the most significant changes in class sizes between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 academic years.
In the UK, children’s knowledge, skills and understanding of these subjects is measured and graded as Attainment Levels which range from 1 to 5 at primary school.
KS1
England’s KS1 classes, including Reception and primary school, have decreased by 1.5% over the last five academic years, going from an average class size of 26.6 pupils in 2020/21 to 26.2 pupils in 2024/25.
England’s regions with the fastest-decreasing KS1 class sizes
| Rank | UK region | Class size (2020/21) | Class size (2024/25) | Class size decrease (2020-2025) |
| 1 | East Midlands | 26.1 | 25.5 | 2.30% |
| 2 | South West | 26.3 | 25.7 | 2.28% |
| 3 | North West | 26.5 | 25.9 | 2.26% |
| 4 | North East | 25.1 | 24.7 | 1.59% |
| 5 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 26.4 | 26 | 1.52% |
| 6 | West Midlands | 27.1 | 26.7 | 1.48% |
| 7 | East of England | 26.7 | 26.4 | 1.12% |
| 8 | South East | 27.1 | 26.8 | 1.11% |
| 9 | London | 27 | 26.8 | 0.74% |
From the above table, the East Midlands recorded the highest reduction at 2.30%, bringing the average class size down from 26.1 pupils in 2020/21 to 25.5 pupils in 2024/25.
In second place, the South West saw a 2.28% reduction. On average, KS1 class sizes fell from 26.3 pupils in 2020/21 to 25.7 pupils in 2024/25.
The North West saw the third-largest decrease at 2.26%. The North East and Yorkshire and the Humber follow in fourth and fifth, with class sizes reducing by 1.59% and 1.52% on average, respectively.
KS2
England’s regions with the fastest-growing KS2 classes
| Rank | UK region | Class size (2020/21) | Class size (2024/25) | Class size increase (2020-2025) |
| 1 | London | 27.2 | 27.5 | 1.1% |
| 1 | South East | 28.1 | 28.4 | 1.1% |
| 2 | East Midlands | 27.5 | 27.7 | 0.7% |
| 2 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 27.6 | 27.8 | 0.7% |
| 2 | East of England | 27.7 | 27.9 | 0.7% |
| 2 | North West | 27.8 | 28 | 0.7% |
| 2 | West Midlands | 28.2 | 28.4 | 0.7% |
| 3 | North East | 26 | 26.1 | 0.4% |
| 3 | South West | 27.7 | 27.8 | 0.4% |
In comparison, average KS2 class sizes increased by 1.1% between 2020/21 and 2024/25. England’s average KS2 school class sizes rose from 27.6 pupils to 27.9 pupils on average, according to the new study.
London and the South East have the highest increase at 1.1% in the last five academic years. London’s average class size rose from 27.2 pupils to 27.5 pupils, whereas the South East saw a slightly higher rise from 28.1 pupils to 28.4 pupils.
The East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East of England, the North West, and the West Midlands saw the second-highest increase in average class sizes at 0.7%.
The North East and the South West show the smallest increase, with class sizes rising by 0.4% or 0.1 pupils on average in the last five years.
