Scottish Government

PROVISIONAL PUPIL NUMBERS IN EDUCATION AUTHORITY AND SELF-GOVERNING SCHOOLS, AS AT SEPTEMBER 2002

News Release

A SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE NATIONAL STATISTICS PUBLICATION

21 November 2002

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Provisional results of the number of pupils in Education Authority and Self- Governing schools in Scotland are published today by the Scottish Executive Education Department.

These results have been calculated using information collected from these schools in September 2002. This news release updates the figures published in June 2002 in the statistical bulletin 'Summary Results of the 2001 School Census' Edn/B1/2002/3, which reported the results of the September 2001 School Census.

Please note that the figures contained within this News Release do not include Grant Aided schools and independent schools.

The main findings are: -

• There were 2,840 primary, secondary and special schools in Scotland at September 2002. This compares with 2,846 at September 2001.
• There were 738,524 pupils (excluding adults) attending primary, secondary and special schools in Scotland at September 2002, a decrease of 5,105 pupils from September 2001.
• The number of pupils in primary schools was 413,464 at September 2002, a decrease of 6,597 pupils from September 2001.
• There were 317,364 pupils attending secondary schools at September 2002, an increase of 1,576 pupils from September 2001. There were also 522 adults attending secondary schools for day classes at September 2002.
• At September 2002, 7,696 pupils were based in special schools in Scotland, compared with 7,780 in September 2001.

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

1. A separate exercise was conducted in order to collect provisional pupil totals (as at September 2002) to form the basis of the distribution of funds through the Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) exercise for Education to Local Authorities for the next 3-year settlement (2003-2006). These figures represent a snapshot of schools as at School Census week (i.e. week commencing 9 September 2002).

2. Provisional pupil totals would normally be available from data collected as part of the annual School Census. However, due to the introduction of receiving School Census data electronically through the Scottish Exchange of Educational Data (ScotXED) project this year, it was not possible to produce provisional pupil information from this data in time for this year's GAE exercise. However, it is expected that provisional pupil information will become available from School Census data in future years.

3. More comprehensive analyses of the results of the September 2002 School Census will be published in Spring 2003.

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,
Scottish Executive
Education Department,
Area 1A-West,
Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ.
Telephone 0131 244 0309 or
email education.stats@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

2. Media enquiries about the information in this News Release should be addressed to:

Barry Winter: 0131 244 2087

News Release
21 November 2002

Provisional Pupil Numbers in Education Authority and Self-Governing Schools, as at September 2002

Total number of pupils by Local Authority and Sector

(1) Excluding adults attending for day education
(2) Adults attending day education classes