Summary statistics for schools in Scotland no. 10: 2019 edition

Results of the annual pupil and teacher census and early learning and childcare provision conducted in September 2019 and attendance, absence and exclusions for the 2018 to 2019 school year.

This document is part of 2 collections


Chapter 3: School teachers

51,449 teachers in schools compared to 51,138 in 2018 (excludes ELC)

13.6 pupil teacher ratio in local authority schools

84% of teachers on the 2018/19 Teacher Induction Scheme were in employment the following school year (September 2019)

Table 3.1: Teachers

Full Time Equivalents (FTE)

Local Authority Primary School Secondary School Special School Centrally employed Total
Aberdeen City 870 722 35 48 1,675
Aberdeenshire 1,405 1,212 43 36 2,696
Angus 586 560 # 26 1,172
Argyll and Bute 417 402 8 7 834
City of Edinburgh 1,674 1,535 163 80 3,452
Clackmannanshire 272 221 24 3 520
Dumfries and Galloway 667 679 17 73 1,436
Dundee City 633 590 59 34 1,316
East Ayrshire 574 541 70 21 1,205
East Dunbartonshire 549 632 51 38 1,269
East Lothian 475 471 # 27 973
East Renfrewshire 597 677 29 3 1,306
Falkirk 776 775 72 6 1,629
Fife 1,785 1,574 85 86 3,530
Glasgow City 2,667 2,231 323 132 5,352
Highland 1,067 1,138 44 51 2,300
Inverclyde 331 358 40 1 730
Midlothian 467 416 29 29 941
Moray 431 405 # 30 866
Na h-Eileanan Siar 153 151 # 9 313
North Ayrshire 666 625 40 45 1,376
North Lanarkshire 1,714 1,597 227 52 3,590
Orkney Islands 118 125 # 8 251
Perth and Kinross 674 621 18 16 1,329
Renfrewshire 791 768 91 23 1,674
Scottish Borders 491 491 45 12 1,038
Shetland Islands 158 153 # 10 320
South Ayrshire 512 492 27 34 1,065
South Lanarkshire 1,628 1,562 149 2 3,341
Stirling 434 464 21 20 938
West Dunbartonshire 468 450 49 13 980
West Lothian 955 837 116 0 1,909
All local authorities 25,006 23,474 1,875 972 51,327
Grant aided 22 48 52 # 122
Scotland 25,027 23,522 1,927 972 51,449

Table 3.2 shows that total teacher numbers (including primary, secondary, special and centrally employed teachers) across all schools has risen consistently from 2014 to 2019. Although the total FTE for 2019 has increased since 2018, this was not the case for each local authority. In 19 local authorities the number of teachers has either been maintained or increased, with the largest increases of 3% in Edinburgh and West Dunbartonshire. Thirteen local authorities saw a decrease this year, with the largest decreases being 4% in Highland and Na h-Eileanan Siar.

Table 3.2: Teachers (all sectors excluding ELC)(1)

Full Time Equivalents (FTE)

Local Authority 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Aberdeen City 1,606 1,623 1,632 1,603 1,624 1,636 1,675
Aberdeenshire 2,594 2,593 2,650 2,655 2,675 2,650 2,696
Angus 1,153 1,140 1,136 1,125 1,133 1,160 1,172
Argyll and Bute 859 866 844 841 825 861 834
City of Edinburgh 3,213 3,159 3,193 3,213 3,281 3,346 3,452
Clackmannanshire 493 495 490 528 513 512 520
Dumfries and Galloway 1,488 1,481 1,479 1,466 1,470 1,436 1,436
Dundee City 1,393 1,372 1,375 1,367 1,330 1,321 1,316
East Ayrshire 1,139 1,139 1,151 1,149 1,189 1,185 1,205
East Dunbartonshire 1,184 1,191 1,204 1,217 1,245 1,248 1,269
East Lothian 903 902 920 913 935 960 973
East Renfrewshire 1,207 1,201 1,213 1,227 1,265 1,277 1,306
Falkirk 1,568 1,578 1,581 1,605 1,620 1,634 1,629
Fife 3,507 3,469 3,476 3,494 3,498 3,503 3,530
Glasgow City 4,813 4,803 4,779 4,869 5,020 5,263 5,352
Highland 2,340 2,331 2,357 2,355 2,365 2,388 2,300
Inverclyde 733 725 734 735 738 745 730
Midlothian 832 847 866 873 892 930 941
Moray 877 881 874 848 856 868 866
Na h-Eileanan Siar 340 323 324 321 327 327 313
North Ayrshire 1,333 1,325 1,332 1,371 1,396 1,393 1,376
North Lanarkshire 3,503 3,452 3,406 3,474 3,502 3,545 3,590
Orkney Islands 250 254 255 260 253 250 251
Perth and Kinross 1,339 1,337 1,337 1,329 1,329 1,346 1,329
Renfrewshire 1,582 1,576 1,596 1,633 1,656 1,676 1,674
Scottish Borders 1,098 1,063 1,049 1,052 1,055 1,070 1,038
Shetland Islands 332 322 323 318 323 322 320
South Ayrshire 1,082 1,062 1,063 1,043 1,056 1,048 1,065
South Lanarkshire 3,174 3,147 3,176 3,202 3,282 3,298 3,341
Stirling 934 932 921 942 925 934 938
West Dunbartonshire 909 911 921 928 961 956 980
West Lothian 1,868 1,868 1,880 1,899 1,924 1,924 1,909
All local authorities 49,645 49,368 49,538 49,858 50,464 51,012 51,327
Grant aided 145 153 141 127 127 126 122
Scotland 49,790 49,521 49,679 49,985 50,592 51,138 51,449

(1) Includes teachers based in schools and centrally employed teachers.

Table 3.3 shows pupil teacher ratios (PTRs) in schools, giving a measure of the size of the teaching workforce relative to the pupil population. The national PTR increased between 2013 and 2014 from 13.5 pupils per teacher to 13.7. It then decreased to 13.6 in 2017 and has remained stable for the last three years.

Across Scotland, 19 local authorities have decreased or maintained their PTR from 2018. Since 2013 West Dunbartonshire had the largest decrease in PTR of 0.8. The largest increase in PTR since 2013 was in Dundee City at 1.3.

Table 3.3: Pupil teacher ratio (PTR) (all sectors excluding ELC)(1)

Pupils per teacher

Local Authority 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Aberdeen City 13.5 13.6 13.6 14.0 14.0 14.1 13.8
Aberdeenshire 13.3 13.5 13.3 13.4 13.3 13.5 13.3
Angus 13.1 13.3 13.2 13.3 13.3 13.1 13.0
Argyll and Bute 12.4 12.2 12.4 12.3 12.5 12.0 12.2
City of Edinburgh 14.3 14.9 14.9 15.1 15.1 15.1 14.9
Clackmannanshire 13.5 13.3 13.4 12.5 12.9 13.0 12.8
Dumfries and Galloway 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.8 13.1 13.1
Dundee City 12.6 12.9 13.0 13.2 13.7 13.8 13.9
East Ayrshire 14.0 14.0 13.9 13.9 13.3 13.5 13.4
East Dunbartonshire 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.5 13.4 13.6 13.5
East Lothian 15.1 15.2 15.1 15.4 15.2 15.1 15.1
East Renfrewshire 13.4 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.5 13.5 13.2
Falkirk 13.4 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.5 13.4 13.5
Fife 13.7 14.0 14.0 14.1 14.1 14.2 14.2
Glasgow City 13.6 13.6 13.8 13.8 13.5 13.1 13.0
Highland 13.2 13.2 13.1 13.1 13.0 12.9 13.5
Inverclyde 13.8 13.8 13.5 13.5 13.4 13.2 13.6
Midlothian 14.2 14.2 14.2 14.2 14.2 13.8 14.0
Moray 13.7 13.7 13.7 14.1 13.9 13.7 13.8
Na h-Eileanan Siar 10.1 10.4 10.3 10.5 10.3 10.2 10.6
North Ayrshire 13.7 13.7 13.6 13.3 13.1 13.1 13.1
North Lanarkshire 13.9 14.2 14.4 14.1 14.0 13.8 13.7
Orkney Islands 10.6 10.5 10.5 10.4 10.8 11.1 11.1
Perth and Kinross 13.1 13.3 13.3 13.6 13.5 13.3 13.6
Renfrewshire 14.8 14.7 14.6 14.3 14.2 14.1 14.2
Scottish Borders 13.3 13.7 13.8 13.8 13.8 13.6 14.0
Shetland Islands 9.7 10.0 10.0 10.2 10.0 10.1 10.2
South Ayrshire 13.1 13.2 13.2 13.4 13.3 13.3 13.2
South Lanarkshire 13.6 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.4 13.4 13.4
Stirling 13.1 13.2 13.4 13.2 13.5 13.5 13.5
West Dunbartonshire 13.6 13.6 13.5 13.4 13.1 13.1 12.8
West Lothian 14.0 14.1 14.1 14.1 14.0 14.1 14.3
All local authorities 13.5 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.6 13.6 13.6
Grant aided(2) 8.7 8.1 8.6 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.6
Scotland 13.5 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.6 13.6 13.6

(1) Includes teachers based in schools and centrally employed teachers.

(2) The pupil teacher ratio for grant aided schools in 2011-2016 was amended in October 2017. See background notes for details.

Information on teachers funded through the Attainment Scotland Fund can be found in the background notes.

One of the most important uses of the data collected in the school staff census is in modelling future changes in the workforce to provide guidance on the number of new teachers to train. Chart 1 shows that the age profile of teachers has changed much over the past 10 years. The prominent peak of teachers aged in their fifties, as seen in 2009, no longer exists. In 2019, the majority of teachers were in the 25 to 40 age range.

The average (mean) age of primary, secondary and special school teachers was 40 in 2019, compared to 43 in 2009, so teachers were, on average, younger in 2019 than in 2009.

Chart 1: Age profile of school based teachers

Chart 1: Age profile of school based teachers

Table 3.4 shows that in both primary and secondary sectors the proportion of teachers who were female falls at each level of seniority. In primary schools, 89% of teachers at all grades were female compared to 85% of head teachers. In secondary schools 64% of teachers at all grades were female compared to 42% of head teachers. However the number increases in special schools, where 76% of teachers at all grades were female compared to 79% of head teachers.

Teaching posts were classified into three employment types for the purposes of the school staff census: Permanent, Temporary and Techer Induction Scheme. Teachers may be employed on a permanent contract but be working in a post classified as a temporary employment type, for example while covering a vacancy. The proportion of teachers in temporary posts was 11% (compared with 12% last year). In 2019 17% of teachers were working part-time, with the rate higher amongst females (20%) than males (7%).

Table 3.4: Teacher characteristics

Percentage of Full Time Equivalents (FTE)

School Type Total
Characteristic Primary Secondary Special Centrally Employed
Sex
Female 89 64 76 84 77
Male 11 36 24 16 23
Age (years)
Under 25 7 5 1 0 6
25 to 34 32 29 17 9 29
35 to 44 27 28 31 23 27
45 to 54 23 23 30 35 24
55 or over 11 15 21 33 14
Average Age 39 41 45 49 40
Ethnicity
White - Scottish 68 61 64 53 64
White - other British 23 26 24 25 25
White - other 2 4 5 5 3
Minority ethnic group 1 2 2 5 2
Not known 4 4 3 8 4
Not disclosed 1 3 1 3 2
Post employment type
Permanent 81 85 88 85 83
Temporary 12 9 12 15 11
Teacher Induction Scheme 7 6 0 0 6
Grade
Head teacher 7 1 5 3 4
Percentage female 85 42 79 82 78
Depute head teacher 6 5 7 2 5
Percentage female 87 57 76 91 74
Principal teacher 7 22 11 10 15
Percentage female 87 63 70 80 69
Teacher or chartered 80 71 77 85 76
Percentage female 90 66 77 85 79
All - percentage female 89 64 76 84 77
Mode of working(1)
Full-time 80 87 79 66 83
Percentage female 88 61 73 82 75
Part-time 20 13 21 34 17
Percentage female 95 83 86 89 90

(1) The mode of working is the percentage of FTE by working pattern in a schooltype at a particular grade. See background notes for more details.

Teachers provisionally registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) (for example those that have recently completed their initial teacher education) are required to complete a period of probation before becoming eligible for full registration. Probation can be completed through either the one year full time Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) post or a flexible route.

Table 3.5 shows the percentage of previous TIS probationers who were in teaching posts in a publicly funded school in Scotland in the year following their probation. Of the 2012/13 TIS probationer cohort, 79% were teaching in the year following their probation. This increased to 86% for the 2014/15 cohort and remained at a similar level until dropping to 84% for the 2018/19 cohort. Teachers not in a post at a publicly funded school may be teaching elsewhere (including abroad or in the independent sector), in non-teaching employment or be unemployed. The proportion of the 2018/19 TIS probationer cohort with a full-time permanent post at the time of the following year's census was 48%, down from 55% for the previous cohort.

Table 3.5: Teacher Induction Scheme post-probationers teaching in the year following their probation

Percentage of headcount

TIS probationer cohort
2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19
Full-time permanent 28 35 39 45 55 57 55 48
Full-time temporary 35 35 33 35 27 28 27 30
Part-time permanent 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 2
Part-time temporary 8 6 6 4 2 2 3 5
Other(1) 25 21 20 14 13 12 13 16
Headcount of teachers in cohort 1,944 2,044 2,215 2,448 2,524 2,630 2,852 2,836

(1) The "Other" category includes those teaching elsewhere, including in the independent sector, those who have found supply work, and those who are unemployed or who have left teaching, although this detail is not included in the census data.

Table 3.6 shows the percentage of TIS probationers in teaching posts up to six years following their probation. The percentage of teachers in such employment in the first year following probation increased from 79% for the 2012/13 cohort to 88% for the 2016/17 cohort. That percentage has decreased to 87% and 84% respectively for the two most recent cohorts. Since the 2014/15 TIS probationer cohort there has been a trend for the employment rate to reduce in each year after the first year following probation. For example, 87% of the 2015/16 cohort were in a teaching post in a publicly funded school in their first year after probation but this had reduced to 81% by 2019.

Table 3.6: Long-term employment of Teacher Induction Scheme probationers

Percentage headcount

Sep-13 Sep-14 Sep-15 Sep-16 Sep-17 Sep-18 Sep-19
2012/13 cohort 79 77 77 77 76 74 74
2013/14 cohort 80 81 79 78 77 76
2014/15 cohort 86 83 82 80 79
2015/16 cohort 87 84 83 81
2016/17 cohort 88 85 83
2017/18 cohort 87 84
2018/19 cohort 84

Contact

Email: Alasdair.Anthony@gov.scot

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