Education Workforce Modelling and Research Report information: FOI release
- Published
- 16 January 2025
- Directorate
- Learning Directorate
- Topic
- Education, Public sector
- FOI reference
- FOI/202400440242
- Date received
- 9 November 2024
- Date responded
- 5 December 2024
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Information requested
Question 1: Why has there been a departure from a protocol that has been used for years?
Question 2: Can you advise why you had to seek an independent contractor to undertake this work, when your Group has this remit?
Question 3: Can you also advise of the costs associated with this exercise.
Response
Question 1: Why has there been a departure from a protocol that has been used for years?
There has not been a departure to the normal teacher workforce planning process. The independent report by WPI was commissioned by the Scottish Government to look at the impacts of population projections over the next ten years on the education workforce .
Separately, the Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group (TWPAG) submitted their recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills for the 2024-25 intake targets. The Scottish Government, on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, then wrote to the Scottish Funding Council and this followed the normal planning process.
Question 2: Can you advise why you had to seek an independent contractor to undertake this work, when your Group has this remit?
The Scottish Government commissioned WPI Economics to consider the potential impact of demographic change in Scotland over the next decade, and the implications for pupil projections and the corresponding teacher resourcing needs, as well as to compare Scotland with the rest of the UK and internationally in terms of pupil teacher ratios and teacher class contact time. This goes beyond the remit of the TWPAG, who produce recommendations for Initial Teacher Education intake targets for the forthcoming academic year.
Question 3: Can you also advise of the costs associated with this exercise.
The contract value was for £24,926.25 (exclusive of VAT).
About FOI
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Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
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