Group size.

The primary school

How large the groups at primary school can be depends on the school’s policy. There are no national rules for this. The school plan states how many students can be at the school and in each class. The plan also includes policy about the number of students and the class composition. The ministry of education studies the average group size every year. In recent years, the average group size at primary school has been around 23 students. The bigger the school, the more larger classes there are.

The secondary school

At secondary school, students have different subjects with different teachers. The group size can vary per lesson. Most schools include the maximum class size in the school plan. In 2016, the ministry of education researched class size at secondary schools. Havo and vwo classes are the largest (26 and 25 students). Vmbo-tl classes have an average of 24 students, which is smaller but bigger than the practical vmbo paths (19 to 21 students). The practical education track has the smallest classes with an average of 13 students per class.

Special education

Special primary education, special education, and secondary special education have smaller groups. Students get more time and individual help to learn. Most classes have 12 to 18 students.

Size of a classroom

There are no rules on the size of a classroom. Schools have a minimum number of square meters of floor space per student. All spaces count, including toilets and hallways. The needed space differs per type of school and grade. Read more about the size of a classroom.

Quality of education

Group size should not affect the quality of education. Every school must offer good education and consider differences between students. The way quality is guaranteed is in the school plan. The school participation council has agreement on this plan.