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Publication - Statistics

Summary statistics for schools in Scotland no. 9: 2018 edition

Published
11 December 2018
Directorate
Learning Directorate
ISBN
9781787814394

Results of the annual pupil census, annual teacher census, early learning and childcare provision and school estate survey data.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Chapter 1: Introduction

This annual statistical publication provides information on:

  • The annual census of pupils and teachers in publicly funded schools in Scotland, conducted on 19 September 2018
  • Early learning and childcare provision in Scotland, collected in the week commencing 17 September 2018
  • School estate survey data for financial year 2017-18, for all schools open on 1 April 2018

The statistics in this bulletin supersede all previously published statistics

Supplementary data tables can be found at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/Datasets

Requests for additional analysis can be e-mailed to: school.stats@gov.scot

Summary statistics for schools in Scotland 2018

Summary statistics for schools in Scotland 2018

This publication brings together a wide range of information on early learning and childcare provision, pupils, teachers and school buildings.

Early learning and childcare
  • Local authorities have a duty to secure a part-time funded place (currently 600 hours a year) for 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds
  • Places are provided by local authority services, or secured through partnership arrangements with private or third sector services
Primary schools
  • Children usually start school between 4. and 5. years old
  • There are seven stages from primary 1 (P1) to primary 7 (P7)
  • There is no streaming of pupils by ability at primary school and pupils are automatically promoted from one class to the next each year
Secondary schools
  • Pupils attend for up to 6 years (S1-S6)
  • Qualifications are usually taken in S4 to S6 starting at age 15-16
Special schools
  • Most children with additional support needs are educated in mainstream schools but some with complex or specific needs are educated in special schools
  • Specials schools cover primary and secondary education
  • In these statistics pupils attending special schools are not assigned to primary or secondary or to a stage
Teachers
  • School teachers have either a 4 year degree including or concurrent with a teaching qualification, or have completed a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) following a degree
  • Students graduating with a teaching qualification from a Scottish university are guaranteed a one year probationary teaching post in a local authority school and are referred to as probationers in these statistics
School estates
  • The school estates core facts survey is conducted annually and covers schools open on 1 April
  • This collects information on schools newly built or substantially refurbished and local authorities’ assessment of the condition and suitability of their school estate
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