School teachers

The total number of school teachers (primary, secondary, special and centrally employed) decreased by 128 between 2022 and 2023. This follows a decrease in teacher numbers in 2022 after rises in each year from 2016 to 2021. The total number of teachers across all sectors including ELC decreased by 160 between 2022 and 2023 (Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7). The total number of teachers across all sectors including ELC and excluding grant-aided decreased by 162 between 2022 and 2023 (Figure 7).

Although the number of teachers has decreased since 2022, this was not the case for each local authority. Figure 6 shows increases in school teachers in 15 local authorities this year. The largest proportional increase was 3.1% in Dundee City (42 FTE). However, in 17 local authorities the number of teachers decreased. The largest proportional decreases were 2.7% in East Ayrshire (33 FTE), followed by Glasgow City and Moray with decreases of 2.0% (114 FTE and 19 FTE respectively). This pattern of increases and decreases is very similar when teachers including those in ELC are considered. In this case the number of teacher increased in 16 local authorities and decreased in 16, as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 4 shows pupil teacher ratios (PTRs) which give a measure of the size of the school teaching workforce relative to the pupil population. The national PTR did not change from 2022, remaining at 13.2. This remains the lowest national PTR since 2008.

Across Scotland, the PTR decreased or maintained in 26 local authorities compared to 2022 (Figure 8). The biggest decrease was seen in Dundee City, which decreased by 0.4. Since 2017, Midlothian has had the largest decrease in PTR at 1.1. The largest increase in PTR since 2017 has been in Dumfries and Galloway at 0.5.

The average (mean) age of school teachers was 41 in 2023 (Figure 11), compared to 42 in 2013, so the teacher workforce was, on average, younger in 2023 than in 2013. Figure 9 shows that the age profile of teachers has changed over the past 10 years. There is no longer a peak at age 55-60 and instead the age profile shows more teachers in their twenties, thirties and forties than previously. In 2023, half of teachers were aged between 28 and 44.

Figure 10 shows that there are many more female teachers than male, especially in the primary sector where 89% of teachers are female. Figure 14 shows that there are more female teachers than male across most sectors and grades, although the difference is less pronounced in promoted posts within primary and secondary (Deputy Head teacher or Head teachers). The exception is Head teachers in secondary where 45% were female.

The largest ethnic group for teachers is White – Scottish (68%) while 2% reported being from a minority ethnic group. Ethnicity was either not known or not disclosed for 6% of teachers (Figure 12).

A new role of Lead Teacher was established in June 2021 by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. There were seven FTE Lead Teachers that met the inclusion criteria for this year’s school staff census.

Teaching posts were classified into three employment types for the purposes of the school staff census: Permanent, Temporary and Teacher Induction Scheme. Teachers may be employed on a permanent contract but be recorded in the staff census as temporary if they are working in a post classified as a temporary employment type. The proportion of teachers in temporary posts was 13%, the same as in 2022 (Figure 13). There was no change in the proportion of temporary posts in secondary schools while the proportion decreased for special schools and increased for primary and centrally employed teachers. Further detail on the recording of employment types is included in the background notes.

In 2023, the percentage of teachers working part-time, as a proportion of all FTE, was 19% (Figure 15). There was a higher rate amongst females (22%), than males (9%) (data not shown).

Teachers provisionally registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) (for example those that have recently completed their initial teacher education) are required to complete a period of probation before becoming eligible for full registration. Probation can be completed through either the one-year full-time Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) or a flexible route.

Figure 16 shows the percentage of previous TIS probationers who were in teaching posts in a publicly funded school in Scotland in the year following their probation. The percentage of teachers in such employment in the first year following probation has increased slightly to 71% for the most recent TIS cohort (2022/23) from 70% for the previous cohort. This increase follows a drop last year from 80% to 70%. The rate for the 2021/22 cohort was the lowest since the 2010/11 cohort but was still higher than the three cohorts from 2007/08 to 2009/10 when less than 60% of teachers found such employment in the first year following their probation (see the supplementary statistics for information on cohorts pre 2016/17). Teachers not in a post in a publicly funded school may be teaching elsewhere (including abroad or in the independent sector), in non-teaching employment, or they may be unemployed.

For the 2022/23 cohort, the proportion of TIS probationers in a full-time permanent post at the time of the following year’s census was 29%, down from 33% for the previous cohort. Last year had shown the first increase in five years following a decrease from a high of 57% for the 2016/17 cohort. The proportion of the TIS probationer cohort that were in a full-time temporary post at the time of the following year’s census was higher than the previous cohort, up from 30% to 33%.

Statistics on pre 2016/17 cohorts are available from the supplementary statistics. Further breakdowns of post-probationer data, by sector, local authority and secondary subject can be found on the post probationer teacher employment dashboard.

Figure 17 shows that, in general, there is a small decrease in the percentage of TIS probationers in teaching posts as time elapses from their probation.

Figure 5 Teachers, local authority, 2023 (FTE)

Figure 6 Teachers in schools (excluding ELC), local authority, 2017 to 2023 (FTE, all sectors excluding ELC)

Figure 7 Teachers in schools and ELC, local authority, 2017 to 2023 (FTE, all sectors including ELC)

Figure 8 Pupil teacher ratio (PTR), local authority, 2017 to 2023 (all sectors excluding ELC)

Figure 9 Age profile of teachers, Scotland, 2013 and 2023

Figure 10 Teacher sex by sector, Scotland, 2023 (percentage of FTE)

Figure 11 Teacher age by sector, Scotland, 2023 (percentage of FTE)

Figure 12 Teacher ethnicity by sector, Scotland, 2023 (percentage of FTE)

Figure 13 Teacher post employment type by sector, Scotland, 2023 (percentage of FTE)

Figure 14 Teacher grade by sector, Scotland, 2023 (percentage of FTE)