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Summary Results Of The September 1999 Census

31/07/2000

Summary results from the September 1999 School Census are published today by the Scottish Executive Education Department in their statistical bulletin Summary Results of the September 1999 School Census, Edn/B1/2000/3.

The majority of these results relate to the national picture for Scotland of publicly funded schools (education authority, grant-aided and opted out), although some statistics are provided for independent schools. This latest bulletin updates the figures published in July 1999 in statistical bulletin Summary Results of the September 1998 School Census, Edn/B1/1999/3.

The main findings are:

All Schools :

  • At September 1999, there were 3,044 primary, secondary and special schools in Scotland. The large majority of these, 2,877, were publicly funded.
  • Just over 783,000 pupils were attending schools in Scotland at September 1999, a slight decrease from September 1998. Over the same period, the number of full time equivalent (FTE) teachers increased by just over 620 to almost 52,30

Primary Schools (publicly funded) :

  • Around 431,400 pupils attended publicly funded primary schools in September 1999, a decrease of 5,600 from September 1998.
  • The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) teachers increased by almost 150 to 22,640 over the same period.
  • The combination of pupil reductions and teacher increases has lead to a decrease in the pupil / teacher (FTE) ratio to 19.1 in 1999 from 19.4 in 1998.
  • There has been a large increase of 770 in the number of (FTE) non-teaching classroom staff to 2,270 in 1999 from 1,500 in 1998.
  • There has been a reduction in average class sizes to 24.6 in 1999 from 24.9 in 1998.
  • Around 12% of all mainstream classes had more than 30 pupils in 1999, compared with 14% in 1998. This corresponds to 16% of pupils attending classes with more than 30 pupils in 1999 compared to 18% in 1998. There has been a reduction of 11,180 pupils attending classes of more than 30 pupils, of which 10,560 has occurred in stages P1-P3.
  • In 1999, around 11% of P1-P3 classes had more than 30 pupils, compared to 16% in 1998.

Secondary Schools (publicly funded) :

  • Around 314,300 pupils attended publicly funded secondary schools in September 1999, an increase of 1,100 from September 1998.
  • The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) teachers increased by almost 370 to 24,460 over the same period.
  • The increase in the number of (FTE) teachers has lead to a decrease in the pupil / teacher (FTE) ratio to 12.9 in 1999 from 13.0 in 1998.

Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) (all schools) :

  • In 1999, there were 38,200 pupils across all school sectors which were reported as having Special Educational Needs (SEN). This is an increase of 11% from 1998, which could in part be due to changes in the recording of pupils with SEN.
  • In 1999, of the 38,200 pupils with SEN, the number with a Record of Needs in publicly funded schools was 15,300, which is an increase of 2% from 1998.

Special Schools / Units (publicly funded) :

  • In 1999, the results show that around 8,300 pupils attended publicly funded special schools and a further 6,700 pupils attended special units integrated with primary and secondary schools.
  • The results show an increase in the trend of pupils attending special schools. Much of this increase is due to the addition of special units to the results in 1998 and 1999. These special units have been included in the results as they have become more autonomous from their attached primary and secondary schools.

Pupil : Modern Computer Ratios (publicly funded):

  • The results of the September 1999 School Census were used to compile the 'October 1999 best national estimate of pupil : modern computer ratios'. This estimate is based on the number of modern computers less than 4 years old used in classrooms and libraries which were accessible to pupils at October 1999. The results show one modern computer for every 28 primary, 9 secondary and 7 special school pupils.
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS
  1. A census of schools in Scotland is conducted each year in September. This School Census represents a snapshot of schools on the Census Day of 13 September 1999. Although the content of the School Census varies from year to year, a core dataset is collected annually on the number of pupils and teachers from each school.
  2. The statistical bulletin, Summary Results of the September 1999 School Census, Edn/B1/2000/3, is available on the Scottish Executive website, www.scotland.gov.uk, and from Scottish Executive Publication Sales, The Stationery Office Bookshop, 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AZ, tel. 0131 228 4181, price £2.00.
  3. Results of the 1999-2000 census of pre-school education centres in Scotland, were released on 19 July 2000 in a News Release titled: "Summary Results of the 1999-2000 Census of Pre-School Education Centres", which is available on the Scottish Executive website, www.scotland.gov.uk.
  4. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

Enquiries

  1. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to Rosemary Nelson, Education Statistics 2, Education Department, Area 1A, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0309 or email education.stats@scotland.gov.uk.

News Release: SE2096/2000
31 Jul 2000

Page updated: Monday, July 30, 2007