LOGO WITH TEXT - Planeticnet | Education
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Categories
  • Malaysia
Menu
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Categories
  • Malaysia
Search
Home Children

Scottish School Spending: Smarter Class Sizes [Latest 2022]

Planetic Net by Planetic Net
April 17, 2025
in Children, Educator, Pisa, Scotland, Social media, Student–teacher ratio, The Sunday Times
481
0
Screenshot at - Planeticnet | Education

Screenshot at

422
SHARES
1.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsappShare on TelegramShare on EmailShare on Wechat
Contents hide
1 @TeacherToolkit
1.1 More money, fewer students?
1.2 Are smaller classes the solution?
1.3 Reflection questions for school leaders:
1.4 The research concludes:
2 Like this:
3 Related

@TeacherToolkit

Ross Morrison McGill founded @TeacherToolkit in 2007, and today, he is one of the ‘most followed educators’on social media in the world. In 2015, he was nominated as one of the ‘500 Most Influential People in Britain’ by The Sunday Times as a result of…
Read more about @TeacherToolkit

What happens when student numbers fall but spending continues to rise?

Scotland is spending more per student than ever, but performance, staffing targets and student needs are painting a more complicated picture.

Ten years ago, I was having second day interviews for a deputy head teacher role in Scottish schools. The GTCS registration process was laborious, and the move didn’t happen.

I still wonder how many teachers Scotland is turning away …

More money, fewer students?

Scottish school spending, teachers and pupil numbersScotland’s school spending is rising, but student numbers are falling, and inclusion needs are rising. In a landscape of fiscal strain and missed teacher recruitment targets, this IFS analysis invites schools and colleges to ask: Is maintaining small class sizes always the smartest use of money?

Scotland spends around £10,100 per student—20% more than England—with an average student–teacher ratio of 13:1.

Teacher numbers were meant to rise by 3,500, but are currently 3,700 short. Student numbers are falling, projected to drop by 12.5% by 2040, especially in rural areas.

Meanwhile, over 40% of students are now identified as having additional support needs (ASN), yet specialist staff numbers have not risen in tandem.

This current policy prioritises teacher quantity over targeted quality—raising questions for future practice.

Despite the funding increase—£1.7 billion more since 2015—student performance hasn’t improved. In fact, Scotland’s PISA scores in maths and science have declined. N.B. I’ve always been sceptical about PISA as a single measure to determine success (OECD website source).

Are smaller classes the solution?

The Curriculum for Excellence has come under scrutiny, and teachers are feeling the weight of increased need with flatlining resources. There’s strong evidence that small classes don’t always yield the biggest impact. Under a Labour or Conservative government, class sizes in state schools have remained relatively the same for 30 years. Instead, the cost of maintaining low student–teacher ratios could exceed £500 million by 2040.

School and college leaders need to think hard about where that money might better serve inclusion and learning outcomes.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Teachers can approach evaluating costs in three ways:

1. Analyse local trends – Use your school’s enrolment data to project future staffing needs. Align budgets accordingly.
2. Invest in inclusive practice – Rising ASN rates demand better CPD in trauma-informed teaching, SEND strategies and behaviour support.
3. Rethink staffing strategy – High staff numbers aren’t always high impact. Prioritise quality over quantity. Flexible deployment, team-teaching, and support staff use can maintain outcomes even as numbers shift.

Reflection questions for school leaders:

  1. How does your school project future student numbers?
  2. Could existing staff be used more flexibly to meet diverse needs?
  3. How are ASN students supported in your classroom?
  4. Do smaller classes always mean better outcomes for students?
  5. What evidence informs your school’s staffing decisions?
  6. How are new teachers being supported into permanent roles?
  7. What CPD is available to address rising student complexity?
  8. How can leadership balance government mandates with local needs?
  9. Are support staff and teaching assistants being deployed effectively?
  10. What is your school’s plan for adapting to declining roll numbers?

The research concludes:

Despite spending 20% more per pupil than England, the Scottish Government has substantially lower pupil–teacher ratios, and has failed to increase teacher numbers – all this in the context of falling pupil numbers. A one-size-fits-all approach to maintaining teacher numbers is unlikely to represent value for money over the long run.

Download the full paper to explore the data and implications in greater detail.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Related

Previous Post

“Whitewashing” the curriculum: ACLU takes aim at Department of Defense schools [Latest 2022]

Next Post

Word of the Day: invective [Latest 2022]

Related Posts

AdobeStock scaled - Planeticnet | Education
Charter school

Dystopian Teacher Tales: The La Jollan Educational Missionary Society [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 30, 2025
Treasure Island San Francisco x - Planeticnet | Education
Chough

SF Planned to Improve Treasure Island’s Transit. Trump Took Back the Funds [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 30, 2025
AI SONGS cjlw facebookJumbo - Planeticnet | Education
Time

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 29, 2025
AdobeStock scaled - Planeticnet | Education
Daily Dispatch

The Daily Digest: May 29, 2025 [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 29, 2025
blooms taxonomy verbs - Planeticnet | Education
Backward design

100+ Bloom’s Taxonomy Verbs For Critical Thinking [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 29, 2025
AdobeStock scaled - Planeticnet | Education
Child development

Instructional Coaching: Job-Embedded professional learning and compensation [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 29, 2025
BloomsDigitalFI - Planeticnet | Education
Skill

126 Digital Learning Verbs Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 29, 2025
CRUNCHYTOALTRIGHT BL KQED x - Planeticnet | Education
5G

The Marin Town Where RFK Jr.’s Message Took Root [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 29, 2025
Next Post
WOTD invective facebookJumbo - Planeticnet | Education

Word of the Day: invective [Latest 2022]

TeachThought Stance - Planeticnet | Education

Advocating For Critical Thinking Amid Social Tension – TeachThought [Latest 2022]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

AdobeStock scaled - Planeticnet | Education

Dystopian Teacher Tales: The La Jollan Educational Missionary Society [Latest 2022]

May 30, 2025
Treasure Island San Francisco x - Planeticnet | Education

SF Planned to Improve Treasure Island’s Transit. Trump Took Back the Funds [Latest 2022]

May 30, 2025
AI SONGS cjlw facebookJumbo - Planeticnet | Education

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

May 29, 2025
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
gettyimages custom e a d a b e d d a a x - Planeticnet | Education

Is Your House at Risk of a Wildfire? This Online Tool Could Tell You

0
indicators of authentic mobile learningc - Planeticnet | Education

9 Indicators Of Authentic Mobile Learning

0
Books to Read to Comfort After a Tragedy - Planeticnet | Education

Books to Read With Kids After a Tragedy

0
GettyImages - Planeticnet | Education

Generating Leads With An Authoring Tool Listing In The eLearning Industry Directory

0
AdobeStock scaled - Planeticnet | Education

Dystopian Teacher Tales: The La Jollan Educational Missionary Society [Latest 2022]

May 30, 2025
Treasure Island San Francisco x - Planeticnet | Education

SF Planned to Improve Treasure Island’s Transit. Trump Took Back the Funds [Latest 2022]

May 30, 2025
AI SONGS cjlw facebookJumbo - Planeticnet | Education

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

May 29, 2025
AdobeStock scaled - Planeticnet | Education

The Daily Digest: May 29, 2025 [Latest 2022]

May 29, 2025
LOGO WITH TEXT - Planeticnet | Education
Planetic.net | Education is a free website that has been designed to help students and a one stop hub for students seeking for information on scholarship, education, school and university tips and updates on different issues relating to education.
About Us

Useful links

  • Technology
  • Tool
  • Computer
  • Science
  • Robotics
  • Malaysia
  • Leadership

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Other

  • Main site
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Health & Fitness
  • Travel
  • App

© 2022 Planetic.net. All rights reserved.

Newsletter - Planeticnet | Education

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS, PLUS SOME EXCLUSIVE TIPS!