The difference between a class size of 20 and 40 probably depends on the ability of the teacher to maintain discipline in a class, until it comes to one on one tutoring. That will depend on the students...not on the class size.
In my understanding class size matters depending on the background of the students more that the ability of the teachers. If the kids have discipline or behavioral issues, come from broken homes or have insufficient nutrition than the class sizes should be smaller. In these situations there needs to be more one on one tuition and teachers aids in class. For classes without such situations the educational outcomes between class of 20 and 30 is minimal and above that outcomes start to deteriorate. The problem with Australia is that the schools with the most disadvantaged students who need more one on one work and smaller class sizes are not as well resourced as the schools with the most advantaged students. http://www.saveourschools.com.au/equity-in-education/disadvantaged-schools-h... Also the new liberal government has sabotaged the Labour Gonski model that was trying to redress this and has changed the funding arrangements to guarantee future funding increases to private/catholic schools and not public schools which enroll pretty much all disadvantaged students. http://www.saveourschools.com.au/funding/the-coalition-has-sabotaged-gonksi Tim.