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Scottish teacher numbers fall as pupil numbers rise, statistics show Primary 1-3 class sizes in Scotland rise for fourth year in a row
(about 2 hours later)
The number of teachers in Scotland's schools fell in 2014 while the number of pupils increased, new government statistics have revealed. The number of Scottish pupils in the early years of primary school have increased for the fourth year in a row, new statistics show.
The average class in Primary 1, 2 and 3 has 23.3 pupils - a rise from 23.2 pupils last year.
Scotland's new Education Secretary Angela Constance said the news was "disappointing".
In 2007 the SNP made a manifesto commitment to cut class sizes between Primary 1 and 3 to 18 or less.
However, fewer than one in eight pupils in these years are being taught in a class that small.
This year 22,137 primary 1, 2 and 3 pupils are in a class with 18 or fewer children in it compared with 22,992 last year.
However, there has been a substantial rise in the number of early primary pupils in a class with more than 26 pupils.
Over the three primary years numbers went from 42,908 last year to 45,539 this year.
Legislation was introduced in November 2010 to limit class sizes for Primary 1 pupils to a maximum of 25 unless there were exceptional circumstances.
Across Scotland, 451 P1 children are in a class with 26 pupils or more, which is a new low.
The latest government statistics also showed that the number of teachers in Scotland's schools fell in 2014 while the number of pupils increased.
Full-time equivalent teacher (FTE) numbers stand at 50,824 which is 254 fewer than 2013.Full-time equivalent teacher (FTE) numbers stand at 50,824 which is 254 fewer than 2013.
The number of pupils in Scotland's schools is up 3,425 on the previous year to 676,955.The number of pupils in Scotland's schools is up 3,425 on the previous year to 676,955.
The figures also show the average number of children in early years primary school classes has crept up. The education secretary said: "It is only a few years since more than 16,000 P1s were taught in unacceptably large classes of more than 25.
The average class in Primary 1, 2 and 3 has 23.3 pupils - a rise from 23.2 last year. "These figures show we have virtually eliminated such classes.
This is the fourth year in a row when the early years figures have gone up. "And, in the early years, we can see more three and four year olds in nursery have access to a registered teacher - giving them a better start to their education journey."
In 2007 the SNP made a manifesto commitment to cut class sizes between Primary 1 and 3 to 18 or less. Ms Constance added: "We welcome the rise in the number of primary teachers but it is clear that this rise has been outstripped by the increase in primary pupils. That has led to a small but disappointing overall increase in the pupil-teacher ratio.
But fewer than one in eight pupils in these years are being taught in a class that small. "We are already in discussions with councils, through Cosla, on the way ahead and these figures will now form part of those talks."
Local government body Cosla spokesman, Councillor Douglas Chapman, said the statistics were positive.
However, he added that there was more to delivering a high quality education system "than simply the numbers of teachers that are employed".
Councillor Chapman said: "Over the next four months, we have embarked on a process with Scottish government, trade unions, parent bodies and other interested parties to consider a broader range of indicators for educational improvement."