This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Teacher numbers 'ahead of target'
28/03/2006
More than 700 extra teachers have been recurited to work in Scottish classrooms in the last year, according to the latest statistics.
These include 230 more in maths and English which Education Minister Peter Peacock says will mean the Executive will meet both the target of 53,000 teachers overall and reduce class sizes in maths and English to 20 in 2007.
The statistics, from a census conducted in September 2005, show that there are 52,179 teachers based in schools and pre-schools in 2005 - an increase of 710 from the previous year and up 1,053 from 2003.
The statistics also highlight:
- Primary pupil teacher ratios have improved from 17.6:1 to 17.1:1
- Secondary pupil teacher ratios have improved from 12.7:1 to 12.3:1
- 2,849 students graduated from teacher training in 2005, up from 2,285 in 2004
- 2,730 teachers are in the probation induction scheme
Mr Peacock said:
"These are superb figures. They are good for schools and pupils, good for Scottish education and, despite what the doubters have said, we are ahead of our target to meet our class size reductions.
"With two more graduations of the biggest numbers of students still to come this summer and next, Scottish schools and pupils can look forward to even more progress and more improvement in pupil teacher ratios.
"This major priority for government investment is making day-by-day improvement in pupils' experience of schools.
"The combination of falling school rolls and our historic commitment to grow teacher numbers at the same time gives us an unprecedented opportunity to improve even further our already strong education system."