Statistics Publication Notice
PROVISIONAL PUPIL INFORMATION FROM THE SEPTEMBER 2002 SCHOOL CENSUS
24 March 2003
A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication
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Provisional pupil information from the September 2002 School Census is published today by the Scottish Executive Education Department.
These results are for publicly funded primary and secondary schools only, and have been compiled using data collected electronically through the Scottish Exchange of Educational Data (ScotXED) project in September 2002.
This publication notice 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. It also revises figures presented in the statistical news release 'Provisional Pupil Numbers in Education Authority and Self-Governing Schools, as at September 2002' published in November 2002.
Please note that the figures contained within this publication are provisional figures as at September 2002 and do not include independent schools.
The main findings are: -
- There were 2,258 publicly funded primary schools and 386 publicly funded secondary schools. However, the pupil numbers shown here currently exclude data for 3 primary schools (approx. 166 pupils) and 1 secondary school (approx. 6 pupils), as these schools were unable to submit their data via the route of data transfer being used in the ScotXED project.
- There were 413,547 pupils based in primary schools, this represented a fall of 1.6 per cent since September 2001. There were 316,897 pupils (excluding adults) based in secondary schools, a rise of 0.2 per cent in the same time period.
- Of the 316,897 pupils based in secondary schools, 50,267 (16%) were aged 16 and over.
- There were 13,669 pupils in primary schools recorded as being from an ethnic minority group - this represented 3.3 per cent of all primary pupils. There were 8,013 pupils in secondary schools recorded as being from an ethnic minority group - 2.5 per cent of all secondary pupils.
- There were 23,094 pupils in primary schools where their ethnic background was not known or not disclosed - this represented 5.6 per cent of all primary pupils. There were 22,492 pupils in secondary schools where their ethnic background was not known or not disclosed - 7.1 per cent of all secondary pupils.
- There were 74,485 pupils in primary schools who were registered to take a free school meal - 18.0 per cent of all primary pupils. There were 47,355 pupils in secondary schools who were registered to take a free school meal - 14.9 per cent of all secondary pupils.
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS
1. These figures represent a snapshot of schools as at School Census week (i.e. week commencing 9 September 2002). They will shortly be made available at a lower level of geographical detail on the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics (SNS) website. The SNS programme is about providing local area statistics on a range of topics covering all aspects of life in Scotland, including school education. It is being co-ordinated by the Scottish Executive's Central Statistics Unit. (CSU), and will shortly become available via the Scottish Executive's website. The education indicators which will be included on the SNS website are:
- Pupil numbers in publicly funded primary and secondary schools;
- Pupils aged 16 and over based in secondary schools;
- Number of pupils registered with Free School Meal Entitlement;
- Ethnic background of pupils (white/ethnic minority groups/not known or disclosed).
2. Results on a wider range of school statistics from the September 2002 School Census will be published in Spring 2003. These will include further information on pupils, along with statistics on teachers, pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN), class sizes in primary schools and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools.
3. 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:
Gary Sutton,
Scottish Executive Education Department, Area 1A-West, Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ.
Telephone: 0131 244 0323 or
email: gary.sutton@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
2. Media enquiries about the information in this News Release should be addressed to:
Rona Dunbar: 0131 244 2670