By Lucy Ashton
The SNP government must ‘wake up’ to the pressures facing Scotland’s schools as new statistics have revealed the scale of the issues in schools, Scottish Labour has warned today.
Statistics published this morning have revealed serious concerns around teacher numbers, pupil attendance and behaviour.
The statistics show:
- Teacher numbers have fallen by 160 on last year, with primary teacher numbers falling steeply.
- School pupil attendance has continued to fall with it now standing at 90.2%.
- Cases of pupil exclusion have risen drastically on last year.
These statistics come as teaching unions continue to raise the alarm over behaviour in Scotland’s schools and as the PISA rankings show Scotland falling behind other nations.
“Despite years of promises, teacher numbers are now in steep decline with primary education bearing the brunt.
“At the same time, we have rising rates of school exclusion and pupil attendance is standing at unacceptable levels.
“We cannot have Scotland’s teachers being overburdened and Scotland’s young people being overlooked.
“It is time to draw a line under 16 years of SNP failure to support Scotland’s schools.”
STATISTICS:
- Teacher numbers down (160 since 2022) driven by a fall in the number of primary teachers for the second year in a row (note that this is not across all local authorities – some saw increases in teacher numbers).
- Attendance has been falling steadily over a number of years now stands at 90.2%.
- Cases of exclusion have been falling since 2010./11 but increased year-on year by 3,353 to 11,676.
- The national PTR did not change from 2022, remaining at 13.2.
Summary statistics for schools in Scotland 2023Headline statistics on teachers, pupils, attendance, exclusions and early learning and childcare provision in Scotland. www.gov.scot |