NEW government figures have identified Bolton as a blackspot for oversized primary school classes.

Department of Education statistics show that the county has more than 500 pupils in classes of 41 or more.

This unwelcome distinction is shared by Dudley, Manchester, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Manchester saw an increase of 228.8 per cent in the number of pupils in classes of 41 or more and Salford topped the national league for such increases with a 234 per cent rise.

One in 10 local education authorities experienced rising numbers of pupils in classes of 41 or more.

The figures were revealed by Liberal Democrat Education spokesman Don Foster and showed that in January there were 78,500 primary school pupils in England in classes of 37 or more.

This was a 20 per cent rise on the same time in 1995.

The figures also showed that 68 out of England's 108 local education authorities experienced a rise in the number of pupils in classes of 37 or more.

Lancashire has more than 3,000 pupils in classes of 37 or more. Between January 1993 and January this year the average primary school class size has risen by one per cent from 26.6 to 27.3 pupils.

Mr Foster said:"While Ministers tinker with selection and grant-maintained status class sizes continue to rise."

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