The Scottish Government Class Sizes, Staffing and Resources Working Group designed a pilot investigation of the effects of class size on pupil outcomes at Standard Grade. For one local authority class size information for three subjects (mathematics, chemistry and modern studies) was linked to pupil level data from examination records.

The purposes of this study were to:
• provide a critique on the rationale and methodology adopted for the pilot;
• identify and implement methods for analysing and presenting the data from the pilot;
• set out any apparent conclusions from the findings;
• make recommendations on the desirability and feasibility of mounting a larger scale and definitive exercise in 2007, and
• if recommended as desirable and feasible, prepare an outline specification for the larger scale exercise.