Classics and Classical Studies statistics across Scottish schools: FOI release

Information requested

1. In the last academic year (2020-2021), how many Scottish state school pupils attended Scottish universities to study:
a. Classics
b. Classical Studies

2. In the last academic year (2020-2021), how many Scottish independent school pupils attended Scottish universities to study:
a. Classics
b. Classical Studies

3. In the last academic year (2020-2021), how many Scottish state school pupils sat Higher examinations in:
a. Classical Studies
b. Latin

4. In the last academic year (2020-2021), how many Scottish independent school pupils sat Higher examinations in:
a. Classical Studies
b. Latin

5. In the last academic year (2020-2021), how many Scottish independent school pupils sat A-Level examinations in:
a. Classical Civilisation
b. Latin
c. Classical Greek

Response

Please find the latest data that we have with regards to Scottish students studying classics and classical studies at Scottish universities. (Questions 1 & 2)

Scottish domiciled full-time undergraduate students enrolled at Scottish HEI's 2019/20
	State School	Independent School	Total
Classical Studies	45	80	135
Classics	45	90	145

Source: HESA Student data, SG Analysis

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. Total includes those where previous institution type unknown.

Classics where CAH03 = "CAH19-03-09" as based on the HECOS. More information on HECOS is available; www.hesa.ac.uk/collection/c19051/derived/xcah03.

Please find the latest data that we have with regards to how many Scottish state school pupils sat Higher examinations. (Question 3)

Higher entries, publicly funded schools in Scotland, 2015-2020.

Higher entries
	Classical Studies	Latin
2015	230	110
2016	223	123
2017	286	101
2018	259	74
2019	296	94
2020	287	85

Source: SG analysis of SQA data

Unfortunately we don’t hold data on the qualifications studied by independent school pupils. However, SQA publish ‘Attainment Statistics by Education Authority National Qualifications’ (halfway down this page: SQA Statistical qualification reports 2020 - SQA) which includes figures for independent schools. It shows that, in 2019/20, there were 164 entries to Higher Classical Studies and 181 entries to Higher Latin amongst pupils at independent schools.

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