Secondary Schools (Teachers and Pupils)

HC Deb 20 January 1970 vol 794 cc118-9W

Mr. MacArthur

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his latest estimate of the number of children attending secondary schools in Scotland in each of the next five years;

(2) what is his latest estimate of the number of teachers in secondary schools, and the staff-pupil ratio, in each of the next five years.

Mr. Ross

As regards numbers of teachers likely to be available I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 2nd July. Since then I have revised the forecasts of numbers of pupils on which the estimates of teacher demand were based. The revised estimates of pupil numbers, and the resulting pupil/teacher ratios, are as follows:

	Pupils	Pupil/teacher ratio
1970	322,000	15.4:1
1971	333,400	15.4:1
1972	342,600	15.3:1
1973	361,500	15.6:1
1974	391,200	16.4:1

Note: The figures relate to education authority and grant-aided secondary (including special) schools. The teacher figures included in the pupil/teacher ratios relate to qualified teachers including the full-time equivalent of part-time teachers and including also visiting and relief teachers. All figures relate to January of the year stated.

—[Vol. 786, c. 102–4.]