WE are rightly proud of the high standards achieved by York and North Yorkshire's schools. There are many reasons for this success: quality teaching, hard working pupils, attentive local education authorities and good socio-economic conditions among them.

Another advantage of local schooling is the class sizes. Figures released today show that they are below average in both primary and secondary schools.

Proving a direct correlation between smaller class sizes and better results is difficult. But teachers and parents both know that it exists. To its credit, so does the Government. Its policy to cut class sizes.

Updated: 11:46 Wednesday, June 27, 2001