Teacher employment and pension data: FOI release

Information requested

1) Teacher Pension Contributions

For each of the last five academic years (2018-2019 to 2022-2023), how many teachers have had pension contributions made to the Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme (STPS)? Please provide a breakdown of the number of active contributors versus those who have had no contributions during this period.

2) Pension Scheme Membership and Employment Status

Please provide data on the number of teachers who were members of the Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme but did not hold a permanent or fixed-term teaching position in each of the last five academic years (2018-2019 to 2022-2023). This should include those on casual or supply contracts.

3) Impact of Employment Status on Pension Contributions 

If available, please provide any reports or data assessing how employment instability (such as lack of permanent positions) has affected pension contributions or membership within the Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme.

4) Reports on Teacher Employment Trends

If available, please provide any reports or evaluations conducted by the SPPA on trends in teacher employment and their implications for pension schemes over the last five years (2018-2023).

Response

1) SPPA receive annualised returns from employers for scheme years, which run 1 April to 31 March.

Therefore, counts of contributors are based on scheme years, not academic years.

2017/18 - 73,737
2018/19 - 74,655
2019/20 - 75,873
2020/21 - 76,551
2021/22 - 78,011
2022/23 - 78,533
2023/24 - 76,218

2, 3, 4) While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the SPPA does not have the information you have requested. The information is either not held or not reported to the SPPA by the relevant employers.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.