For immediate release:

TEACHER NUMBERS RISE ACROSS SOUTH LANARKSHIRE

New figures have revealed that teaching numbers are on the rise in South Lanarkshire – part of an increase nationally which has seen 543 new roles being filled.

Teacher numbers across the local authority area have risen from 3,202 to 3,282, whilst the figures across Scotland has increased substantially to 51,513. Since its introduction, the Attainment Scotland Fund, a Scottish Government initiative to support pupils in areas with highest concentrations of deprivation, has fully-funded 666 of the total number of full-time teachers.

Separate data has also shown an improvement in the pupil teacher ratio across Scotland, while skills in reading, writing, listening, talking and numeracy are strong – with the proportion of S3 pupils achieving Curriculum for Excellence Third Level or better being between 88% and 91% for each skillset.

Commenting, Blantyre MSP Clare Haughey said:

“These figures prove that the Scottish Government’s approach is working for schools across South Lanarkshire and throughout Scotland.

“We now have 80 more teachers in South Lanarkshire than we did this time last year, and an additional 543 across Scotland. With this record of delivery, it is no surprise that pupils are performing strongly across reading, writing, listening, talking and numeracy.

“The Scottish Government has made closing the attainment gap a key priority of this parliament – and these latest statistics show that our efforts are making progress on this. However, it is important that we don’t get complacent and keep working to improve education in Scotland, and these figures show a clear commitment the Scottish Government intend to do that.”

ENDS

Notes:

Further information can be read here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-42322816

Date published: 19th December 2017