HC Deb 17 October 1990 vol 177 c847W
37. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) children and (b) teachers are now in maintained schools in Scotland; what was the comparable figure in 1986 and 1976; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The information requested, for education authority primary and secondary schools, is as follows:

Number of pupils
1976 11986 1989
Primary schools 611,788 433,459 437,072
Secondary schools 402,704 344,369 298,603
1 Estimate.

Number of Teachers 1
1976 1986 1989
Primary schools 27,324.3 21,218.1 22,186.1
Secondary schools 27,432.2 25,992.7 24,143.3
1 Full-time equivalent.

In the period since 1976 pupil:teacher ratios have improved from 22.4 to 19.7 in primary schools, and from 14.7 to 12.4 in secondary schools.