04 February 2005
Too many Scottish primary schools are under-occupied, according to an Accounts Commission report on council education and children's services.
The report, published this week, found that there were 40 fewer primary schools in 2003/04 than five years ago — but one third of the remaining schools still had occupancy rates of 60% or less.
Five councils — Argyll & Bute, Dundee City, Western Isles, Glasgow City and Inverclyde — reported that at least half their primary schools were below that benchmark.
However, the under-occupancy rate for secondary schools has fallen, even though the number of schools has stayed the same. In 2003/04, 11% of secondaries (385) had an occupancy rate of 60% or less.
The report highlights a number of other challenges, including problems with children in care and staff gender inequalities.
In 2003/04, 60% of 16- and 17-year-olds who left care did not gain standard grades in English and maths, compared with just 7% of pupils overall.
In secondary schools, women make up 58% of teaching staff but hold just 33% of head and deputy head positions.
PFfeb2005
