We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience.

Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies.

Set cookie preferences

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Publication - Statistics

Summary statistics for schools in Scotland no. 9: 2018 edition

Published
11 December 2018
Directorate
Learning Directorate
ISBN
9781787814394

Results of the annual pupil census, annual teacher census, early learning and childcare provision and school estate survey data.

This document is part of 2 collections

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Chapter 2: Overview

96,549 registrations in 2,544 early learning & childcare centres

693,251 pupils in 2,502 schools

51,959 teachers (full-time equivalent, including ELC)

13.6 pupil teacher ratio in schools

The number of pupils and teachers have both increased this year and the pupil teacher ratio (PTR) in publicly funded schools has remained the same as 2017 at 13.6. The numbers of teachers has increased across primary, secondary and special schools whilst the numbers of early years & childcare and centrally employed teachers has reduced. The number of pupils in primary has remained constant, meaning the increase in teachers has resulted in a reduction in PTR to 16.1. In secondary schools the number of pupils has grown at a faster rate to the number of teachers, meaning the PTR has increased to 12.3.

Table 2.1: Schools, pupils, teachers and PTR

Pupils - Headcount; Teachers - Full Time Equivalents (FTE)
  2012 2013 2014 2015(1) 2016 2017 2018
Schools
ELC(2) 2,551 2,504 2,449 2,492 2,514 2,532 2,544
Primary 2,064 2,056 2,048 2,039 2,031 2,019 2,012
Secondary 365 364 362 361 359 360 357
Special 155 149 145 144 141 135 133
Pupils
ELC(2) 98,195 102,871 101,463 97,262 96,961 95,893 96,549
Primary 370,680 377,382 385,212 391,148 396,697 400,312 400,276
Secondary 293,562 289,164 284,762 281,939 280,983 281,993 286,152
Special(3) 6,953 6,956 6,940 6,871 6,668 6,654 6,823
Total (excluding ELC)(3) 671,195 673,502 676,914 679,958 684,348 688,959 693,251
Teachers
ELC(2) 1,386 1,288 1,200 1,038 985 921 821
School based 48,691 48,620 48,335 48,395 48,746 49,463 50,099
Primary 22,685 22,905 22,960 23,425 23,920 24,477 24,899
Secondary 23,980 23,695 23,401 23,059 22,957 23,150 23,317
Special 2,026 2,020 1,974 1,911 1,869 1,836 1,883
Centrally employed (school) 1,176 1,170 1,186 1,283 1,239 1,129 1,039
Total school (excluding ELC) 49,867 49,790 49,521 49,679 49,985 50,592 51,138
Total (including ELC) 51,253 51,078 50,720 50,717 50,970 51,513 51,959
Pupil Teacher Ratios
Publicly funded schools(4) 13.5 13.5 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.6 13.6
Total based in schools(5) 13.8 13.9 14.0 14.0 14.0 13.9 13.8
Primary 16.3 16.5 16.8 16.7 16.6 16.4 16.1
Secondary 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.3
Special 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6

(1) The pupil teacher ratio for Total based in schools in 2015 was amended in October 2017. See background notes for details.

(2) ELC centre count includes local authority and partnership centres, and ELC teacher figures include ELC home visiting.

(3) Special pupils and total pupils headcount were updated for 2011-2016 in October 2017. See background notes for details.

(4) Includes all school-based and centrally employed teachers. Includes grant-aided pupils and teachers.

(5) Excludes centrally employed teachers.

Back to top