Professor John Robertson OBA

From Pupil and teacher characteristics 2025 published yesterday, the above data revealing a significant fall in pupil numbers yet a small increase in the number of teachers.¹

There are 18 pupils for every teacher in England, 18.9 in Wales but only 13.3 in Scotland’s schools. That’s a huge difference that must surely transform the experience in Scottish schools.²

The Scottish Government has managed to support the far better PTR in Scotland through years of a reducing share of Scotland’s revenue being returned to us.

Sources:

1. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-and-training-statistics-for-the-uk/2025
2. https://www.gov.scot/publications/pupil-and-teacher-characteristics-2025/