This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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200 new primary teachers
25/06/2003
An additional 200 primary school teachers are to be
trained next year, it was announced today.
The new trainees - funded through an extra £2 million -
represent the Executive's first step towards delivering its
commitment of more teachers and smaller class sizes.
The Partnership Agreement, endorsed by
coalition partners following the May election,
promises:
- An increase in teacher numbers to 53,000 by
2007
- A cut in P1 class sizes to 25
- Class sizes of 20 in S1 and S2 for Maths and
English
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"I want to ensure pupils get the extra attention they
need in the early years of primary and secondary school and
in those subjects where attainment is most important, as
part of raising standards in schools.
"We have a clear commitment to reducing class sizes and
today's announcement puts our actions to achieve this
firmly on track. The additional £2 million being made
available today represents the first step towards achieving
our goal.
"Cuts in class sizes at key stages will allow teachers
to focus more attention on pupils' individual learning and
development needs. This will help improve attainment,
particularly in literacy and numeracy, and help close the
unacceptable divide between those who succeed and those who
fall behind."
Deputy Education Minister Euan Robson said:
"The 200 extra primary teachers to be trained in the
coming academic year will help meet our target of reducing
P1 class sizes to 25. Further increases in teacher training
places will be phased in over years to come."
In 2001 there were 50,900 full time equivalent teachers
in publicly funded schools. This number is currently
projected to rise to 51,200 in 2004 and then decline to
50,000 by 2007 due to falling school rolls.
Today's announcement will allow Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) to train an extra 200 primary teachers
in 2003/04 - increasing the number of trainee primary
teachers from 475 to 675. The additional students will be
split between teacher training institutions at the
following universities:
Aberdeen (up from 53 to 75 - an extra 22)
Dundee (up from 56 to 80 - an extra 24)
Edinburgh (up from 89 to 127 - an extra 38)
Glasgow (up from 96 to 136 - an extra 40)
Paisley - Ayr campus (up from 42 to 60 - an extra
18)
Strathclyde (up from 139 to 197 - an extra 58)
These figures are based on a pro rata distribution and
are therefore estimates only. The exact distribution will
be a matter for the Scottish Higher Eduction Funding
Council (SHEFC).
The extra £2 million has been made available from end
year flexibility in the 2002/03 education budget.
Further increases in teacher training places will be
phased in following further discussions with education
authorities, HEIs and SHEFC.