Professor John Robertson OBA, former Associate Dean (Quality Assurance) Faculty of Education, Research Ethics Chair and Research Methods Tutor to BA Journalism (!) UWS
The Herald today has:
| Teacher numbers fall again as additional support needs reach record levels – Latest figures also reveal the persistent attainment gaps for literacy and numeracy amongst school pupils. |
In 2024, there were 621 fewer teachers in Scottish state schools BUT, more important than a one-year fluctuation, there were also still 1 453 more than there had been in 2018 AND there were 3 100 fewer pupils for them to teach in 2024. In 2024, there were also 260 more special needs teachers.
Off course, as any fule no, what matters is not the crude numbers but the pupil teacher ratio – one special needs teacher for every 3.7 pupils, the same as in the previous year, one teacher for every 13.3 pupils, better than the 13.6 in 2018 and far better than the 18 in English schools.1
Finally, on attainment, what a lie.
From Literacy and numeracy standards reach record high, published yesterday:
The proportion of pupils achieving the expected level in literacy and numeracy across primary and secondary schools has reached a new high, officials figures show.
For numeracy, a record 80.3% of pupils across P1, P4 and P7 reached expected levels, while S3 also reached a new high of 90.3%. For literacy, achievement is also now at a record high in both primary (74%) and secondary (88.3%).
The attainment gap between young people from the most and least deprived areas meeting standards in literacy has also reached a new low, according to the latest Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels 2023-24 (ACEL) statistics.2
In England, on 9 July 2024, for 11 year-olds [P7]:
[Only] 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in all of reading, writing and maths, up from 60% in 2023. This is below 2019 attainment, where 65% of pupils met the standard.3
Direct comparison with education in other countries is not always reliable but had this stark contrast [32% better] operated in the opposite direction, with England at 80% and Scotland at 61%, you can be sure our media would be all over it.
Sources:
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/summary-statistics-for-schools-in-scotland-2024/pages/headline-statistics/
- https://www.gov.scot/news/literacy-and-numeracy-standards-reach-record-high/?s=03
- https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/key-stage-2-attainment-national-headlines#:~:text=In%202024%2C%2061%25%20of%20pupils,of%20pupils%20met%20the%20standard.
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About Oliver Brown, the first Scottish National Party candidate to save his deposit in a Parliamentary election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Brown_(Scottish_activis
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Primary 23 teachers ratio. Secondary 5/6 years much lower. Scottish Gov funding counsellors and nurture/nature practitioners. Working with children with additional needs and other problems.
The councils try to cut additional needs provision. The Scottish Gov ring fence education funding. The councils try to increase class sizes to the statuary limit 30 per class. They do not build new schools until there are pupils to fill them. Leading to pressures on other schools in the areas of new house building.
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