Summary statistics for schools in Scotland 2024

Pupils

• 702,428 pupils – down 3,100 from 2023
• 379,354 primary – down 5,371 from 2023
• 315,072 Secondary – up 2,011 from 2023
• 8,002 Special – up 260 from 2023
• The pupil teacher ratio increased to 13.3
• The average primary class size increased from 23.2 in 2023 to 23.3 in 2024.

Teachers

• 53,412 Teachers – down 621 from 2023
• 24,468 Primary – down 629 from 2023
• 24,988 Secondary – down 61 from 2023
• 2,138 Special – up 62 from 2023
• 1,140 Centrally employed – up 29 from 2023
• 679 ELC – down 23 from 2023
• The percentage of Teacher Induction Scheme probationers teaching in publicly funded schools the following year decreased from 71% in 2023 to 65% in 2024.

Early learning and Childcare

• 90,321 registrations, down 1,861 from 2023
• 95% uptake for age three and four - down from 97% in 2023
• 4,672 teachers and graduate staff - up 172 from 2023

Attendance

• The attendance rate was 90.3%, an increase from 90.2% in 2022/23