Statistical Bulletin - Summary Results of the September 1998 School Census

5. Publicly funded primary schools

Pupils

5.1 At September 1998, there were 2,291 publicly funded primary schools in Scotland. Just over 437,000 pupils were attending these schools, around 3,500 fewer than in 1997, due largely to a 3.6 per cent fall in the number of P1 pupils. The 1998 total includes 1,300 pupils based in special units attached to primary schools (see Annex note 2.1.2).

5.2 The average school roll in 1998 was 191, almost unchanged from 1997. The number of teachers (FTE) increased from 22,188 in 1997 to 22,508 in 1998 (1.4 per cent). The pupil/teacher ratio was 19.4 in 1998, compared to 19.9 in 1997, due to the increase in the number of teachers and the fall in pupil numbers.

Publicly funded primary schools,summary information
Table 2

5.3 In 1998, 14 primary schools had a behavioural support unit and 149 a special unit. In many schools, the special unit catered for pupils with a variety of impairments. Schools did not necessarily have pupils with these impairments in the unit at the time of the 1998 School Census. Of the special units, 74 catered for pupils with language and communication disorders and 60 for pupils with moderate learning difficulty. Forty-three units catered for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder.

Special units attached to publicly funded mainstream primary schools
Table 3

⁽¹⁾ Some units catered for more than one impairment; therefore, the total is not the sum of the breakdown.
⁽²⁾ Previously included in the category ‘Language and communication disorder’.

5.4 At September 1998, 2,319 pupils were attending special units attached to publicly funded primary schools for some proportion of their education. Of these pupils, 1,324 (57 per cent) had a Record of Needs. Overall, there were marginally fewer pupils attending special units in 1998 than in 1997; there was a 2.3 per cent increase in the number of pupils with a Record of Needs, but a decrease of 5.5 per cent of those without a Record of Needs.

5.5 The split of time between the special unit and mainstream classes varied widely. Of those with a Record of Needs, the majority spent at least one third of their time in the special unit. Of those without a Record of Needs, the majority spent less than one third of their time in the special unit.

5.6 At September 1998, in addition to those attending special units, 2,537 pupils in full-time attendance at mainstream primary schools had a Record of Needs. This figure was slightly lower than the figure in 1997.

Integration of pupils with special educational needs into publicly funded primary schools
Table 4

⁽¹⁾ The number of pupils with special educational needs, but without a Record of Needs, spending all of their time in mainstream classes was not collected prior to 1998.

Staffing: Teachers

5.7 At September 1998, there were 27,492 teachers, with a full-time equivalent of just over 22,500, employed in publicly funded primary schools. Nearly 93 per cent of primary teachers (FTE) were female. There was little variation by grade in the percentage of teachers who were female, except at Headteacher, where the percentage was just over 77 per cent .

5.8 Overall, more than a quarter of primary teachers were working part-time. The mode of working of teachers is recorded on a school-by-school basis. Thus staff who work full-time, but in more than one school, will be recorded as working part-time in each of these schools. Similarly, that will include those staff who work in the, primary/ secondary or primary/special departments of a school serving more than one sector. Part-time working occurred more frequently amongst unpromoted teachers, just over a third of whom were working part-time. One in nine senior teachers were also working part-time. Part-time working was uncommon for Headteachers, Depute Headteachers and Assistant Headteachers.

Teachers (FTE) in publicly funded primary schools, by sex and grade: September 1998
Table 5

⁽¹⁾ Including other promoted posts.

Teachers (number) in publicly funded primary schools, by mode of working: September 1998
Table 6

⁽¹⁾ For definition of part-time working, see §5.8 above.
⁽²⁾ Including other promoted posts.
⁽³⁾ Some of these part-time primary headteachers are also part-time headteachers of the secondary departments attached to their schools.