This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Budgeted school running costs: 2000-2001
29/03/2001
A Statistical Bulletin on budgeted running costs in Scottish schools has been published today by the Scottish Executive Education Department.
The bulletin is available in printed form on request and can also be found on the Scottish Executive website at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00073-00.asp
The main points are:
- The average budgeted running cost per pupil is significantly higher in secondary schools than in primary. In 2000-2001, the average cost per pupil in primary schools was £2,042, as compared with £3,098 in secondary schools.
- The primary school budgeted running cost per pupil rose by just over 5 per cent in cash terms between 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, while the secondary figure rose by just under 3 per cent.
- Shetland Islands, Eilean Siar and Orkney Islands have easily the highest average running costs per pupil, in both primary and secondary schools. The lowest costs per pupil are in East Renfrewshire, Moray, Scottish Borders and Falkirk in primary schools and in East Renfrewshire, Fife, Perth & Kinross and South Ayrshire in secondary schools.
- The size of the school is an important factor in the budgeted running cost per pupil; in general, the smaller the school, the higher the cost per pupil. The influence of size on running cost is less marked among larger schools.
BACKGROUND
1. The bulletin makes available information relating to budgeted running costs for primary and secondary schools in Scotland, including grant-aided and self-governing schools. Summary information for education authorities and for Scotland is also shown. It does not provide information on costs in special schools, independent schools or pre-school establishments.
2. Annual budgeted running cost information is provided to The Scottish Executive by the education authorities, and managers of grant-aided and self-governing schools.
3. The budgeted school running costs referred to relate to the period 1 April to 31 March and are defined in the School Boards (Financial Information) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. Specifically, the figures represent the budgeted costs at the start of the period in question, rather than actual expenditure. They include staff costs, premises costs, supplies costs, transport costs (but not home to school transport for pupils), examination entry fees, school board related costs and other school running costs. They do not include the additional resources for schools made available during 2000-01, after school budgets were set, following Budget statements by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, nor do they include capital costs.
4. In previous years, the information was provided in a report entitled 'Scottish Schools: Costs' which was issued by the former Audit Unit of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools.
Enquiries
5. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to Dave Sorensen, Statistician, Scottish Executive Education Department, Area 1A-West, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0322 or e-mail dave.sorensen@scotland.gsi.gov.uk .
News Release: SE0848/2001
29 Mar 2001