Chapter 1: Introduction
This annual statistical publication provides information on:
- The annual census of pupils and teachers in publicly funded schools in Scotland, conducted on 19 September 2018
- Early learning and childcare provision in Scotland, collected in the week commencing 17 September 2018
- School estate survey data for financial year 2017-18, for all schools open on 1 April 2018
The statistics in this bulletin supersede all previously published statistics
Supplementary data tables can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/Datasets
Requests for additional analysis can be e-mailed to: school.stats@gov.scot
This publication brings together a wide range of information on early learning and childcare provision, pupils, teachers and school buildings.
| Early learning and childcare |
- Local authorities have a duty to secure a part-time funded place (currently 600 hours a year) for 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds
- Places are provided by local authority services, or secured through partnership arrangements with private or third sector services
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| Primary schools |
- Children usually start school between 4. and 5. years old
- There are seven stages from primary 1 (P1) to primary 7 (P7)
- There is no streaming of pupils by ability at primary school and pupils are automatically promoted from one class to the next each year
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| Secondary schools |
- Pupils attend for up to 6 years (S1-S6)
- Qualifications are usually taken in S4 to S6 starting at age 15-16
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| Special schools |
- Most children with additional support needs are educated in mainstream schools but some with complex or specific needs are educated in special schools
- Specials schools cover primary and secondary education
- In these statistics pupils attending special schools are not assigned to primary or secondary or to a stage
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| Teachers |
- School teachers have either a 4 year degree including or concurrent with a teaching qualification, or have completed a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) following a degree
- Students graduating with a teaching qualification from a Scottish university are guaranteed a one year probationary teaching post in a local authority school and are referred to as probationers in these statistics
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| School estates |
- The school estates core facts survey is conducted annually and covers schools open on 1 April
- This collects information on schools newly built or substantially refurbished and local authorities’ assessment of the condition and suitability of their school estate
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