So first it's the uproar over last year's SATs marking and now it seems some schools in the UK are literally bursting at the seams when it comes to class sizes. In a report out today, it appears some infant children in England's schools are being taught in classes above the legal limit of 30.

Figures released by the government show the proportion of infant classes with more than 30 pupils is 1.7% - up from 1.5% in January last year and the number of five to seven-year-olds being taught in "unlawfully large classes" has more than doubled in two years, to more than 10,000. As if the job of teaching and now disciplining children was tough in class sizes of 30, the role of the teacher must now be at breaking point in some schools.

When Labour came to power in 1997, it pledged to keep infant class sizes to fewer than 30 children. Back then, it says, one third of children were taught in classes of more than 30. Now, only 2.1% of children are in such classes however,this proportion appears to have been growing in the past few years, up from 1.5% of pupils in 2005.

The average class size for infants (five to seven year olds) rose from 25.7 pupils in January 2008, to 26.2 pupils last January. It had been stable at 25.6 for the three years previous.

For junior children in primary schools (eight to 11-year-olds), the average class size has been falling in recent years.

In January, the average class size was 26.8, down from 27.0 last year and 27.3 in 2005.

What the politicians say:-

Liberal Democrat children, schools and families spokesman, David Laws, said: "The number of five to seven-year-olds in unacceptably large classes has rocketed over recent years. These huge classes make it difficult for teachers to give our youngest children the individual attention they need when they start school. With so many children in a single class, it can be difficult to maintain order and teach effectively.

"The situation risks being even worse next year given the shortage of school places in many parts of the country, particularly in London. We know that smaller infant classes can make a real difference and we need to be cutting them to private school levels of only 15."

England's Schools Minister, Jim Knight said, "Infant class sizes were a national disgrace in 1997 - and it was a scandal that almost a third of children were in oversized classes. We now have strong legal measures to ensure that almost all infant classes are below 30. The less than 1% that are unlawfully large must take immediate steps to comply with the law.

"All of the unlawfully large sized classes last year were brought within acceptable limits and I expect for prompt action to be taken again to ensure compliance."

The Conservatives say the figures underline concerns on school places expressed to them by some local authorities. Schools spokesman Nick Gibb said, "The huge rise in unlawfully large class sizes underlines concern that there will not be enough primary provision to cover the likely number of children needing a place in September. It would be a tragedy if the government's short term policy of reducing surplus places led to children missing their first few weeks of school."

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