Liberal Democrats have pledged an extra £2.5bn to our schools.

3.59.00pm GMT Sun 7th Mar 2010

Peter Tyzack explains "Pupils in South Gloucestershire tell us that they would like more help from teachers, more fun/interesting lessons, a quieter / better behaved class, smaller classes / groups and fewer bullies (TellUs Survey).

"Smaller class sizes will help deliver the aspirations of our young people. While South Glos achieves slightly better than the national average at primary and slightly below at secondary, there is huge room for improvement. The Lib Dem Pupil Premium announced today will mean smaller class sizes in South Glos schools to deliver better outcomes for our schools, teachers and pupils."

The data:

2009 South Glos average primary class size is 26.7 (secondary 20.2)

2009 Key Stage 2 Results: Percentage of Pupils achieving Level 4 or above

South Gloucestershire LA Eng 83 Ma 81 Sci 90

England Eng 80 Ma 79 Sci 88

2009 GCSE and equivalent results, percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C

South Gloucestershire LA 68.7

England 70

"The Liberal Democrats have today pledged an extra £2.5bn to our schools. Head teachers will be able to use that money on a whole range of measures to help pupils. From recruiting the best teachers in the toughest schools, to providing lessons outside of the normal school day, to more catch up classes, more one to one tuition, and head teachers will be able to cut class sizes too. The difference smaller class sizes can make is so important that our Pupil Premium is one of only two substantial and immediate proposals for new investment the Liberal Democrats are making at this election (the other is a major investment programme in green infrastructure to create jobs and boost the economy). The Pupil Premium will be paid for by taking above-average earners out of the means-tested tax credit system, by scrapping unnecessary government databases, like the Contact Point children's database. And by cutting the vast sums currently spent on central government, including halving the size of the Children Schools and Families Whitehall department."

Peter adds "whilst Mr Cameron was in a school class of 13, I was in a class of 31. For those in the State sector, despite what Labour and Tory parties have promised over the years, little has changed. Liberal Democrats are determined to acheive smaller class sizes as a key to a better education for every child".