School statistic collections

1. School statistic collections Summary of previous years, results, issues and proposed changes to future years collections

2. School statistic collections • Summary of key results from December publication • Key issues with the Pupil, teacher and AAE collections • Proposed changes for future collections: • Compliance costs • Improved ASN guidance • Revisions to 2015 healthy living survey • Consultation on school statistics this summer

3. Teachers Census data 2013 • 51,078 FTE teachers (inc pre-school), 175 fewer than the 2012 • The pupil teacher ratio in all publicly funded schools remained the same as in 2012 at 13.5 • 79 per cent of teachers on the 2012/13 Probationer Induction Scheme were in permanent or temporary employment in publicly funded schools in September 2013 Employmentof post probationers in publicly funded schools, 2009 - 2013

4. Pupil census data 2013 • In September 2013 there were 377,382 pupils in 2,056 primary schools, 289,164 pupils in 364 secondary schools and 6,984 pupils in 149 special schools. • The overall average class size in primary was 23.2 in 2013, up from 22.7 in 2012. • 131,621 pupils (19.5 per cent of all pupils) had an additional support need recorded. Average primary class size, 2007-2013

5. Attendance , absence and exclusions Attendance, authorised absence, unauthorised absence and temporary exclusions, 2012/13 • Absence (authorised and unauthorised) across all sectors was 6.4 per cent in 2012/13, a decrease from 6.8 per cent recorded in 2010/11 • During 2012/13 there were 21,955 cases of exclusion from local authority schools in Scotland, a decrease of 18 per cent from 2010/11 (26,844 exclusions)

6. Key issues with pupil, teacher and AAE collections in 2013 • Volume of work, due to it being a GAE year and a year in which AAE is collected • Confusion over signoff process as there was a signoff for GAE and for the final census data • Data quality checks • Some variables continuing to generate a lot of queries (ASN, class size, FTE, probationers) • Same errors appearing several years in a row • New queries (i.e. AAE ones on sickness absence which were confusing).

7. Additional support needs • Still a large number of ASN queries, though data better than in previous years • Still large variations between local authorities. See chart to right with percentage of pupils with an ASN recorded by Local Authority • Any ideas about how to improve this?

8. Other common pupil and teacher census queries • Common pupil census queries relate to: • two teacher classes • schools with more classes than teachers • composite classes that split into several tiny classes etc. • Gaelic education • Common teacher census queries are: • FTE of over 1 • Missing subject • Probationers • I am unsure what we can do to reduce these queries any ideas/suggestions would be welcome

9. Queries appearing in multiple years • Some data queries appear in multiple years, look wrong and are not fixed, or reappear the next year. • For example: unrealistic teacher ages. Can you really teach at 112? • In October and November there are a lot of queries raised and not all of them can be resolved then. • Is there any scope for fixing data on your MIS systems during the year for fields that are likely to be needed at the next census? • This could include any pupil or teacher characteristic information, for those likely to be there next year that would be unlikely to change

10. New queries • On occasion, we may analyse the data in a different way and produce a completely different set of queries. • This could be in response to new errors/issues discovered following further analysis or in response to a specific policy need. • Last year this happened with the attendance data and this was confusing as the query was unexpected and poorly worded. • In future we will aim to word these queries in as clear a manner as possible and will let you know about new queries as soon as possible.

11. Compliance Costs • In late November 2013, as a result of the requirements in UKSA assessment report, I requested information on the time taken to supply statistical data to us. • 14 Local Authorities responded by the deadline. • This information was used to estimate the costs we published in the background note of or December publication. • A number of other LA’s responded at a later date and we may use this information in next years estimate if more up to date information is not available. • This information will be required every year for all collections

12. How the figure was calculated • Added up the information for the 14 responses and multiplied by (32/14) to account for the missing returns • Multiplied by a average Scottish hourly pay rate for a fulltime employee. • The resulting cost estimates were published: • 5.1 Pupil census, teacher census and attendance and absence and exclusion data. This information is collected from the management information systems of schools. However, the estimated cost to local authorities of extracting and validating this information is around £170,000. • 5.2 Pre-school census This information is collected directly from pre-school centres and we how no information on how much it costs them to complete this. However, local authorities have taken on a role in validating the pre-school data and it costs them an estimated £2,500 to do this.

13. Future collections • The healthy living survey and School estates core facts will collect compliance cost information this year and that has been built into the ProcXedform. • For AAE, pupil, teacher and pre-school this is not possible. How can this information be collected? I suggest: • Initial email in September requesting the information we will need so a rough record can be kept • Final email after data has been signed off to ask for the final estimate. • If any non response last years figures will be used or figures grossed up for non response

14. 2015 Healthy living survey • From January 2015 all P1-P3 pupils will be entitled to receive free school meals • In order to monitor this policy we will need separate P1-P3 information not just primary totals. • This will mean changing the survey form for primary schools to collect P1-P3 and P4-P7 separately.

15. In 2015 we would need to collect

16. Key questions around collecting this information in 2015 • Could you already supply this type of breakdown? • Would it involve a significant amount of extra work? • Has your LA already collected this information for their own purposes? • How are you planning to record the free school meals information in your MIS system (this is collected as part of the pupil census)? • Do you think any other information should be collected or have any other issues/questions?

17. Improved ASN guidance • The Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning (AGASL) has begun looking into the Code of Practice. • The revised Code will be published in 2015 after a public consultation and being formally considered by Parliament. • The guidance on what should be included within each reason for support will also be updated

18. Consultation • Another of the UKSA requirement was that we consult with stakeholders • This summer we will be issuing a web consultation this will include: • General questions about our collections and publications. • A specific focus around the new June 2015 publication. Alongside this we will be holding face to face meetings with stakeholders. • Please complete the online questionnaire or let me know if you would like to discuss in person, as we would be happy to hold a focus group.