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Statistical Publication: Edn/G5/2005/2: Teachers in Scotland, 2004

DescriptionFull results from the latest annual census of teachers and support staff
ISBN0 7559 39999
Official Print Publication Date
Website Publication DateApril 26, 2005

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26 April, 2005

ISBN 0 7559 3999 9

ISSN 0 143 599 X

A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication

This document is also available in pdf format (524k)
The tables are also available in Excel Format (532k)

1 Introduction

1.1 This bulletin contains the latest data on teachers and support staff in publicly funded schools in Scotland, mainly derived from the latest annual staff census which took place in September 2004.

1.2 This is the second full annual staff census. Comparison of figures from these full censuses with data prior to 2002 may therefore be affected by the change in collection method.

1.3 Unless clearly stated as headcount, figures are always full-time equivalent.

2 Main Points

2.1 The total number of teachers based in primary, secondary and special schools was 49,554, which is 324 more than in 2003. Numbers may also be affected by a change in local authority reporting procedure this year.

2.2 There were also an estimated 1,733 teachers in the pre-school sector in the January 2004 census, making a total of 51,287 teachers based in schools and pre-schools.

2.3 Changes in local authority recording practices makes it difficult to distinguish between increases in teachers who are based in schools and those who are centrally employed. There were a further 2,165 centrally employed visiting specialists and peripatetic teachers involved in similar roles but not based in schools. This is an increase of 138 from 2003.

2.4 Overall there has been an increase of 463 teachers from 2003. This reflects changes in class contact time under the Teachers' Agreement. Most of the additional teachers being trained to meet the Executive's commitment of 53,000 teachers by 2007 had yet to enter the workforce.

2.5 There were a further 21,488 school based staff and 2,278 centrally employed staff identified in the staff census as providing support to the education system.

2.6 There were 22,577 teachers in primary schools (22,321 in 2003), giving a pupil teacher ratio of 17.6 (18.2 in 2003). 93 per cent of teachers were female. Twelve per cent were part time.

2.7 There were 24,984 teachers in secondary schools (24,881 in 2003), giving a pupil teacher ratio of 12.7 (12.8 in 2003). 58 per cent of teachers were female. Seven per cent were part time.

2.8 There were 1,993 teachers in special schools (2,027 in 2003), giving a pupil teacher ratio of 3.7 (3.8 in 2003). 82 per cent of teachers were female. Eleven per cent were part time.

2.9 The average (mean) age of teachers remained at 44. The age profile shows a major peak in the late forties/early fifties, but with level numbers in the twenties and thirties. 16 per cent of teachers were aged 55 or over (15 per cent in 2003).

2.10 The proportion of teachers who were male has dropped from 30 per cent in 1996 to 25 per cent in 2004. In promoted posts the proportion who were male was 39 per cent (down from 42 per cent in 2003), with the figure being 31 per cent for head teachers and deputes (down from 32 per cent in 2003).

2.11 In primary schools there were 142 teachers whose main subject was physical education, 108 whose main subject was music and 60 whose main subject was art & design. There were 532 who gave learning support as their main subject, and 281 gave SEN related subjects.

2.12 In secondary schools, the largest numbers of teachers were in English (2,510) and maths (2,382). Technical education was the subject with the highest proportion of male teachers (91 per cent), with home economics being nearly all female teachers. Music, drama and physical education teachers had the youngest age profiles, with special needs teachers being on average the oldest.

2.13 Where ethnic background data was given, 0.7 per cent of teachers were from minority ethnic groups, which was lower than in the population. However, for teachers registered since 2001 this percentage is 1.5 per cent, which is more comparable with the rate in the general population. This analysis may also be affected by the five per cent of teachers for whom ethnic background was not reported.

2.14 There was a higher proportion of teachers from minority ethnic groups in secondary and special schools (1.0 per cent in both) than in primary (0.3 per cent). In promoted posts the proportion was 0.3 per cent, though the ethnic minority teachers have not, on average, been in the workforce for as long as white teachers.

2.15 There were 104 teachers currently teaching Gaelic language, 203 providing Gaelic medium education (178 in 2003), and 365 teachers reported being able to teach through the medium of Gaelic (333 in 2003).

2.16 There were 2,074 teachers in the probation induction scheme (1,837 in 2003), of which 1,079 were in primary schools and 995 were in secondary schools.

2.17 There were 2,285 students who graduated from initial teacher training in 2004 (compared to 2,060 in 2003). In primary, the proportion graduating through PGCE has increased from 33 per cent in 1996 to 57 per cent in 2004.

Contents

Scotland
Summary
1.1 Schools, pupils and teachers by school sector, 2003 & 2004
1.2 Teachers by gender, all sectors, 1990-2004
1.3 Teachers by mode of working, all sectors, 1996-2004

Primary
2.1 Teachers by gender, and pupil teacher ratios, 1990-2004
2.2 …………… age and gender, 2004
2.3 …………… grade, mode of working and gender, 2004
2.4 …………… status and gender, 2004
2.5 …………… employment type and gender, 2004
2.6 …………… ethnicity and grade, 2004
2.7 …………… main subject taught, 2004
2.8 …………… qualification, 2004
2.9 …………… ability to teach through Gaelic and age, 2004
2.10 Teachers with Roman Catholic approval, by age, 2004
2.11 Continuing professional development, by grade and gender, 2004
2.12 Supply teachers by age and gender, 2004
2.13 Teachers not currently in school, 2004
2.14 School Support Staff

Secondary
3.1 Teachers by gender, and pupil teacher ratios, 1990-2004
3.2 …………… age and gender, 2004
3.3 …………… grade, mode of working and gender, 2004
3.4 …………… status and gender, 2004
3.5 …………… employment type and gender, 2004
3.6 …………… ethnicity and grade, 2004
3.7 …………… ability to teach through Gaelic and age, 2004
3.8 …………… main subject taught 1990, 1994, 1998
3.9 …………… main subject taught, gender, 2003, 2004
3.10 …………… GTC registered subject, Gaelic ability, 2004
3.11 …………… main subject taught and age, 2004
3.12 …………… qualification, 2004
3.13 Continuing professional development, by grade and gender, 2004
3.14 Teachers with Roman Catholic approval, by age, 2004
3.15 Supply teachers by main subject taught and gender, 2004
3.16 Teachers not currently in school, 2004
3.17 School Support Staff, 2004

Special
4.1 Teachers by gender, and pupil teacher ratios, 1988-2004
4.2 …………… age and gender, 2004
4.3 …………… grade, mode of working and gender, 2004
4.4 …………… status and gender, 2004
4.5 …………… employment type and gender, 2004
4.6 …………… ethnicity and grade, 2004
4.7 …………… main subject taught, 2004
4.8 …………… qualification, 2004
4.9 Continuing professional development, by grade and gender, 2004
4.10 Teachers with Roman Catholic approval, by age, 2004
4.11 Supply teachers by age and gender, 2004
4.12 Teachers not currently in school, 2004
4.13 School Support Staff, 2004

Local Authority
Primary
5.1 Teachers in publicly funded primary schools, 1996-2004
5.2 Pupil teacher ratios in publicly funded primary schools, 1996-2004
5.3 Teachers by age, 2004
5.4 …………… grade, 2004
5.5 …………… mode of working and gender, 2004
5.6 …………… employment type, 2004
5.7 …………… ethnicity, 2004
5.8 …………… main subject taught, 2004
5.9 …………… ability to teach through and use of Gaelic, 2004
5.10 Support Staff

Secondary
6.1 Teachers in publicly funded secondary schools, 1996-2004
6.2 Pupil teacher ratios in publicly funded secondary schools, 1996-2004
6.3 Teachers by age, 2004
6.4 …………… grade, 2004
6.5 …………… mode of working and gender, 2004
6.6 …………… employment type, 2004
6.7 …………… ethnicity, 2004
6.8 …………… main subject taught
6.9 …………… ability to teach through and use of Gaelic, 2004
6.10 Support Staff

Special
7.1 Teachers in publicly funded secondary schools, 1996-2004
7.2 Pupil teacher ratios in publicly funded special schools, 1996-2004
7.3 …………… grade, 2004
7.4 …………… mode of working and gender, 2004
7.5 …………… employment type, 2004
7.6 …………… ethnicity, 2004
7.7 …………… main subject, 2004
7.8 Support Staff

Centrally employed staff
8.1 Pupil teacher ratios including centrally employed teachers
8.2 Numbers of centrally employed staff

Teacher Training
9.1 Number of students graduating from Teacher Training Institutes
9.2 Students Graduating from Teacher Training by subject 1996-2004
9.3 Students entering teacher training at the start of the academic Session, 1995/96 to 2003/04

Local Authorities Map

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE STATISTICAL SERVICES

BACKGROUND NOTES

1. The information in this publication for 2004 is derived from the September 2004 staff census of all publicly funded primary, secondary and special schools. Information about centrally employed staff was also collected from local authorities.

2. Information relating to previous years is derived either from previous staff censuses (the last being in 1998), or from the annual school census, which until 2003 contained summary information on teacher numbers.

3. Information from the census is used to inform policy making, particularly in modelling the teacher workforce to ensure adequate future supply of newly trained teachers, and for monitoring current policies and equality issues.

Coverage

4. The staff census covers all publicly funded schools in Scotland (local authority and grant-aided). Where a school has more than one department, for example a secondary school with a primary department, these are counted as separate schools. The census of independent schools is published separately, and is available on the Scottish Executive website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00414

5. From 2003 separate staff and pupil censuses have taken place. Results of the pupil census were published in "Pupils in Scotland, 2004", available on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00412

Census content

6. The content of the staff census is considered in consultation with the School Education Information Advisory Group ( SEIAG). This group includes representatives from local authorities, teaching unions and headteachers associations, as well as staff from the Scottish Executive. The committee operates in the light of National Statistics guidelines, which restricts the department to collecting only the information that is required, at a level which is fit for purpose, whilst always trying to minimise the burden on data providers. Recommendations for changes to the census are made to SEIAG through the Scottish Exchange of Educational Data (ScotXed) network.

Collection methods

7. The information required to complete the September 2004 staff census was collected electronically, through local authorities, from nearly all publicly funded primary, secondary and special schools, as part of the ScotXed programme. The information is generally that stored on schools' management information systems, thus reducing the burden on schools.

8. ScotXed supports and promotes effective and secure data exchanges so that key partners in school education in Scotland can benefit from access to information to monitor and improve education services. Partners include: Local authorities, schools, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, HM Inspectorate of Education, Learning and Teaching Scotland and Scottish Executive Education Department. Further information, including specifications of the data exchanges, can be found at www.scotxed.net.

Definitions and Data quality

9. Tables in this publication cover publicly funded schools only, i.e. local authority and grant-aided schools.

10. Unless clearly stated as headcount, figures are always full-time equivalents. Where a teacher works in more than one school, this is counted as one person in the headcount. In years prior to 2003 (though not for the 1998 teacher census) the teacher would have been counted once from each school.

11. Due to the change in method of collection from 2003 onwards, and the various difficulties experienced with the first electronic census in 2003, caution must be taken in making comparisons with previous years. Past publications contain contradictory figures for some years. We have published here figures which we believe to be the most accurate.

12. Figures for the special school sector are compiled from special schools and special units, but not integrated special units. There would appear to be inconsistency between school and between local authorities in the reporting of special schools and special units, as well as changes over the past few years. We therefore advise caution when comparing results with previous years and across local authorities.

A few authorities do not have special schools, and may fund places in neighbouring authorities for their pupils. Special schools includes those where there were no pupils based, but which received pupils based in other schools.

13. At September 2004 there was one grant-aided mainstream school, with primary and secondary departments, and seven grant-aided special schools. These were:

Mainstream

  • Glasgow City: Jordanhill

Special

  • City of Edinburgh: Donaldson's College; Royal Blind School; Harmeny School;
  • North Lanarkshire: The Scottish Centre for Children with Motor Impairment;
  • Glasgow City: East Park;
  • South Lanarkshire: Stanmore House School;
  • Renfrewshire: Corseford Residential School;

Only partial information is collected from grant aided special schools.

These schools are included in national totals, but are identified separately in the local authority level tables. In previous years they have been included within the local authority of their location.

14. New job grades were introduced in August 2003, which are used in this census. About 194 teachers in the census reported being chartered teachers. However, data from the General Teaching Council showed that in September 2004 there were 37 teachers who had gained chartered teacher status. It is therefore assumed that the other teachers had only embarked on the course, or were being paid on the chartered teacher pay scale. All chartered teachers have been included in this publication as teacher grade.

15. The Teacher Induction Scheme, for newly qualified probationer teachers, was introduced in 2002. Probationers on the scheme have 0.7 of the normal class contact time without this affecting their full time equivalence. Probationers are allocated to local authorities by the General Teaching Council for Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Executive, so numbers are held centrally. Census data identifying teachers on the probationer induction scheme fell far short of these numbers, so in this publication only the centrally held figures are shown.

16. For 2004 the maximum class contact time ( CCT) was set as 23.5 hours in primary and secondary schools, and 22.5 hrs in special schools. CCT data was generally found to have been incorrectly reported for 2004, so has not been published this year.

17. Some local authorities continued to experienced difficulties in returning data on subjects taught and where necessary these have been included as "other". The problem was not as widespread as in 2003, which may explain some of the increase in many of the subjects, and the large drop in "other".

18. Some local authorities experienced difficulties in returning data on qualifications, though the problem is not as widespread as in 2003. Data has therefore been scaled up from those individuals who returned details of qualifications with at least one teaching qualification. Scaling factors were 1.06 in primary, 1.21 in secondary, and 1.13 in special. Qualifications data does not include supply teachers. Changes from 2003 however are likely to be mainly due to improved information.

19. Information on GTC registration for secondary teachers is published this year for the first time. Figures shown are the total FTE for teachers registered to teach in each subject, and so will sum to a greater total than the number of teachers. 339 teachers did not return this data, so the results have been scaled.

20. Information on ability to teach through Gaelic and continuing professional development ( CPD) for about 150 FTE teachers was not recorded and has been assumed to be a negative response.

21. The ethnicity and national identity categories were based broadly on those collected in the 2001 population census and were agreed following consultation. In choosing them it was necessary to balance the competing needs of not grouping different peoples together too much, while having large enough groups for valid analysis. Teachers were given the option of not disclosing their ethnicity. About 95 per cent of teachers disclosed their ethnic background. Where "minority ethnic groups" are referred to, this includes all categories of ethnic background other than white- UK and white-other. Information was received for mainstream grant aided schools but has not been published here for disclosure reasons.

22. Roman Catholic approval means teachers have been approved as to their religious belief and character by a representatives of the Roman Catholic church.

23. Supply teachers were separately identified as either covering a vacancy (and hence included in the total) or covering absence (and so not included to avoid double counting). In practice some schools may not have included the shorter term, sick absence cover staff in their returns, so figures for these may be an undercount.

24. There were some differences in the way in which authorities deal with peripatetic teachers. In some cases these are considered as allocated to the schools where they teach, and have been included, with relevant partial FTE, in the school-level data. In other cases they are included in the centrally employed staff table. It is possible that a small amount of undercounting or double-counting has occurred. We are also aware that local authorities have changed procedures for reporting since 2003, so figures are not necessarily comparable.

25. Some local authorities have indicated inaccuracies in the support staff data supplied in 2003. Comparisons with 2004 data are therefore not always valid. Other classroom staff includes laboratory assistants, music instructors, sports coaches, etc. Non-classroom staff includes administrative and clerical staff, bursars, library staff, playground supervisors, school nurse or other medical, technicians, swimming pool managers, child care workers, etc.

Disclosive data

26. For certain types of information, numbers less than five are deemed to be disclosive, and hence not published. Where figures have been removed they are replaced by a *. Other figures in the table may also be removed to stop a disclosive figure from being calculated from the total. Occasionally data swapping has taken place to avoid disclosure.

Rounding

27. All percentages and FTEs are rounded separately and breakdowns may consequently not sum to Scotland figures.

Symbols

28. The following symbols are used:

. . = not available
- = nil or rounds to nil
# = not applicable
* = disclosive data

Other data

29. Some further data, for example some schools level data, will be made available on the Scottish Executive website www.scotland.gov.uk/stats . Ad-hoc tables are available on request.

30. Analysis on a more local level (e.g. postcode sector, social inclusion partnership area, parliamentary constituency, etc) may also become available via the Neighbourhood Statistics website - http://www.sns.gov.uk .

General

31. All tables are available on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00416

32. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference

33. The team responsible for producing this document was: Mal Cooke, Matt Flanagan, Marc Goodfellow, Debbie Hall and Colin Gallacher.

Enquiries or comments

34. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this bulletin should be addressed to:

Mal Cooke, Pupil, Teacher and School Statistics, Scottish Executive Education Department, Area 1B-South, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh. EH6 6QQ.

Telephone 0131 244 1689
or email school.stats@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

35. Media enquiries about the information in this bulletin should be addressed to:

Marion MacKay : 0131 244 3070
26 April, 2005

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Page updated: Tuesday, June 21, 2005