Question reference: S3W-01362
- Asked by: Liz Smith, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 21 June 2007
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 July 2007
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many classrooms in local authority primary schools were not assigned to a class of pupils or were otherwise classified as being unused in the last year for which figures are available; how many (a) P1, (b) P2 and (c) P3 classes had more than 18 pupils in that year, and whether it has projected how many extra teachers and classrooms will be required in order to reduce such classes to 18 or fewer by the end of Session 3 of the Parliament.
Answer
Information on thenumber of unused classrooms in local authority primary schools is not held centrally.In 2006, 1,510 P1, 1,378 P2 and 1,428 P3 classes had more than 18 pupils.
We are consideringin detail the numbers of teachers needed in order to reduce all P1 to P3 classesto 18 or less and allow all pre-school children access to a teacher. We have announcedthe first steps towards this, with funding for the employment of an additional 300teachers and the increase of 250 training places from this August.
We will be announcingfurther steps in due course, to a timetable that ensures that we can protect thequality of the teachers entering the profession and takes into account the capacityof the system to provide training places. Clearly, the most important issue is toensure the best possible educational outcomes for our children.
It is for local authoritiesto consider the detailed accommodation requirements of their schools in the lightof local circumstances and declining school rolls projected for coming years.
We have made available£40 million of additional capital resources to authorities this financial year toallow a start to be made on the accommodation requirements.