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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Drop in teachers 'unacceptable' | Drop in teachers 'unacceptable' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The total number of teachers in Scotland has fallen by 1,348 over the past year, according to Scottish government statistics. | The total number of teachers in Scotland has fallen by 1,348 over the past year, according to Scottish government statistics. |
| Opposition parties rounded on Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop, with Labour calling for her to be sacked. | Opposition parties rounded on Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop, with Labour calling for her to be sacked. |
| Ms Hyslop admitted the fall in teacher numbers was "unacceptable" but blamed councils for spending cash earmarked for teachers on "other purposes". | Ms Hyslop admitted the fall in teacher numbers was "unacceptable" but blamed councils for spending cash earmarked for teachers on "other purposes". |
| The average primary class size last year was 23.1 pupils, down from 23.2. | The average primary class size last year was 23.1 pupils, down from 23.2. |
| Cutting class sizes to a maximum of 18 in the first three years of primary school was an SNP manifesto pledge before it won power at Holyrood in 2007. | Cutting class sizes to a maximum of 18 in the first three years of primary school was an SNP manifesto pledge before it won power at Holyrood in 2007. |
| The statistics said 13.2% of P1-P3 pupils were in class sizes of 18 or fewer (unchanged from 2008). | The statistics said 13.2% of P1-P3 pupils were in class sizes of 18 or fewer (unchanged from 2008). |
| Councils have clearly spent over £110m of funding provided by the Scottish government for teachers salaries on other purposes Fiona HyslopEducation secretary | Councils have clearly spent over £110m of funding provided by the Scottish government for teachers salaries on other purposes Fiona HyslopEducation secretary |
| Labour leader Iain Gray said: "Enough is enough. These figures today show the complete failure of Fiona Hyslop on teacher numbers. It's time now for Alex Salmond to do the right thing and turf her out of his cabinet. | Labour leader Iain Gray said: "Enough is enough. These figures today show the complete failure of Fiona Hyslop on teacher numbers. It's time now for Alex Salmond to do the right thing and turf her out of his cabinet. |
| "She has failed on teacher numbers, on school building, on teacher training and the Curriculum for Excellence. | "She has failed on teacher numbers, on school building, on teacher training and the Curriculum for Excellence. |
| "Every time she's taken to task she blames someone else - the councils, the recession, the Westminster government. But these are her failures - she should carry the can and Alex Salmond needs to act now." | "Every time she's taken to task she blames someone else - the councils, the recession, the Westminster government. But these are her failures - she should carry the can and Alex Salmond needs to act now." |
| Ms Hyslop blamed councils for the drop in teachers numbers. | Ms Hyslop blamed councils for the drop in teachers numbers. |
| The education secretary singled out Glasgow which she said was "responsible for more than one quarter of the total fall in teacher numbers". | The education secretary singled out Glasgow which she said was "responsible for more than one quarter of the total fall in teacher numbers". |
| She said: "Half of Scotland's councils have delivered improvements in primary school class sizes. Half have not. What is more, there has been a sharp fall in the number of teachers. That is simply unacceptable. | She said: "Half of Scotland's councils have delivered improvements in primary school class sizes. Half have not. What is more, there has been a sharp fall in the number of teachers. That is simply unacceptable. |
| 'Hang her head' | 'Hang her head' |
| "We now have to find a new way forward to ensure class size reductions in P1 to P3 are delivered in all of Scotland's councils." | |
| She added: "In our concordat with local government it was explicitly accepted that sufficient funding had been made available to maintain teacher numbers at 2007 levels. Council budgets are also rising, total education spending is up and nationally attainment is improving. | She added: "In our concordat with local government it was explicitly accepted that sufficient funding had been made available to maintain teacher numbers at 2007 levels. Council budgets are also rising, total education spending is up and nationally attainment is improving. |
| "The recession and other pressures mean slower progress on class sizes was inevitable but overall, councils have clearly spent over £110m of funding provided by the Scottish government for teachers salaries on other purposes." | "The recession and other pressures mean slower progress on class sizes was inevitable but overall, councils have clearly spent over £110m of funding provided by the Scottish government for teachers salaries on other purposes." |
| Conservative MSP Liz Smith said: "These latest statistics are seriously concerning, not just for the teaching profession and those aspiring to join it, but for parents and pupils the length and breadth of Scotland. | Conservative MSP Liz Smith said: "These latest statistics are seriously concerning, not just for the teaching profession and those aspiring to join it, but for parents and pupils the length and breadth of Scotland. |
| "Under Fiona Hyslop's watch over 2,000 fewer teachers are now employed in Scotland. That is a shocking reflection of the SNP government and its manifesto commitments on education have been completely torn to shreds. | "Under Fiona Hyslop's watch over 2,000 fewer teachers are now employed in Scotland. That is a shocking reflection of the SNP government and its manifesto commitments on education have been completely torn to shreds. |
| "That is a completely unacceptable situation. Hapless Fiona Hyslop should hang her head in shame." | "That is a completely unacceptable situation. Hapless Fiona Hyslop should hang her head in shame." |
| Total pupil numbers are projected to drop from 677,000 in 2009, to 662,000 in 2015, but then to rise until peaking at 684,000 in 2022. | Total pupil numbers are projected to drop from 677,000 in 2009, to 662,000 in 2015, but then to rise until peaking at 684,000 in 2022. |