The Current Do class sizes matter?
Feb 25, 2026
Peter Blatchford, Professor Emeritus studying class size and classroom processes, and Michael Holden, assistant professor researching class size, practice, and policy. They discuss when smaller classes matter most. They cover early grades, how teachers change instruction by size, the tradeoffs of assistants, and why curriculum narrowing and resources can matter more than headcount.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Parent Story Of A 52 Student Combined Class
- A parent reported her child was placed into a combined class of 52 students with two teachers, which aggravated her child's anxiety.
- The parent said convincing the child to attend school became a major struggle after that placement.
Big Gains Only In Very Small Early Classes
- Research shows class size benefits are strongest when classes are very small, around 15 to 18 students.
- Michael Holden cites decades of studies finding clear gains at early elementary sizes but diminishing returns when comparing 30 vs 31 students.
Early Years Are Most Sensitive To Class Size
- Class size effects are strongest in kindergarten to grade two and weaken by upper elementary and vanish by grade eight.
- Holden emphasizes early years show measurable benefits while later grades see those advantages wash out.