Education
This essay sets out to establish the current state of the education system in the UK in 2014- 2015.
The data is taken from
‘Number of schools, teachers and students in England’ FOI release 2014. From Gov.UK
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/12/06114834/4
Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland, No.2 ¦ 2011 Edition 7th December, 2011
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Wales
http://www.deni.gov.uk/32_statistics_and_research-northernirelandsummarydata_pg.htm
Schools and pupils in Northern Ireland 1991/92 to 2013/14
Full-time equivalent teachers by Education and Library Board (ELB) area and management type.
http://www.deni.gov.uk/statistical_bulletin_-enrolments_at_grant aided_primary_and post_primary_schools_201415_-_final
Northern Ireland Statistical Bulletin ‘Statistical Bulletin Enrolments at grant-aided schools 2014/15:
Basic statistics’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_the_United_Kingdom#Age_structure
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19990208
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19151749
http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/examination-results/?lang=en
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-28868510
Schools in England.
In 2012 there were 24,372 total schools including, nursery schools, state-funded primary schools, state-funded secondary schools, special schools, pupil referral units and independent schools in England.
Schools in Scotland.
In 2011 there were 5,149 total schools including, pre-school, primary, secondary and special schools.
Schools in Wales.
In 2008 / 2009 there were 1,701 total schools including, primary and secondary schools.
Schools in Northern Ireland
In 2014 there were 1,187 total schools in Northern Ireland including, Nursery Schools, Controlled Catholic Maintained, Primary Schools, Controlled Catholic Maintained, Other Maintained, Controlled Integrated, Grant Maintained Integrated, Grammar school prep depts, Post Primary Schools, Secondary (non-grammar) schools, Controlled Catholic Maintained, Other Maintained, Controlled Integrated, Grant Maintained Integrated, Grammar Schools Controlled Voluntary, Special Schools, Hospital Schools and Independent Schools.
Pupils in England.
In 2012 there were 8,200,000 pupils in England.
Pupils in Scotland.
In 2011 there were 765,351 pupils in Scotland.
Pupils in Wales.
In 2008 / 2009 there were 463,735 pupils in Wales.
Pupils in Northern Ireland
In 2013 / 2014 there were 337,908 pupils in Northern Ireland.
Teachers in England.
In 2011 there were 438,000 teachers in England.
Teachers in Scotland.
In 2011 there were 51,431 teachers in Scotland.
Teachers in Wales.
In 2008 / 2009 there were 24,878 teachers in Wales.
Teachers in Northern Ireland
In 2013 /2014 there were 18,394 teachers in Northern Ireland.
Population of UK.
In 2013 the total population of the UK was 63,100,000 according to the World Bank data.
In 2013 – 2014 the total number of employed people in the UK from the ONS and Gov. data was approx. 30,000,000.
In 2011 the census demographics of the UK indicated a population at school age, between 4 and 16 of approx. 9,185,500
Total Number of schools, pupils and teachers.
Total number of Schools = 31,222.
Total number of pupils = 9,766,994.
Total number of teachers = 532,703.
Total schools to total population ratio.
31,222 to 63,100,000 = 1 to 2,021 people.
Total schools to total working population ratio.
31,222 to 30,000,000 = 1 to 960 people.
Total pupils to total population ratio.
9,766,994 to 63,100,000 = 1 to 6
Total pupils to total working population
9,766,994 to = 30,000,000 = 1 to 3
Total teachers to total population ratio.
532,703 to 63,100,000 = 1 to 118
Total teachers to total working population ratio.
532,703 to 30,000,000 = 1 to 56
School to Pupil ratio.
31,222 to 9,766,994 = 1 to 313
School to Teacher ratio.
31,222 to 532,703 = 1 to 17
Pupil to Teacher ratio.
9,766,994 to 532,703 = 18 to 1
Conclusions
The data indicates that nearly all of the potential school population are in full time education.
That the total number of school buildings to head of working, tax paying population is small. One school being funded by 960 working people.
That the total number of pupils to head of working, tax paying population is small. One working person funding 3 pupils.
That the total number of teachers to head of working population is small. One teacher being funded by 56 working people.
That the school to pupil ratio is small.
That the school to teacher ratio is small.
That the pupil to teacher ratio is small.
The education system is therefore
Exceptionally economical in terms of results per head of the population.
More than adequate in its provision of schools per head of the population.
More than adequate in its provision of teachers per school.
More than adequate in its pupil to teacher ratio.
These are the framework onto which the education is placed.
In 2012 Government statistics indicated that 58.6% of pupils in England achieved five A*-C grades.
In 2012 the Scottish Government overall pass rates for both Intermediate Level One and Level Two remained at 75.1%.
In 2014 the Welsh Government reported that 55.4% achieved the Level 2 threshold including a GCSE grade A*-C in English or Welsh first language and mathematics.
In 2014 the Northern Ireland Government reported the number of pupils achieving A* to C grades increased to 78%.
A BBC report, May 2014; reporting on international and educational results tests; seems to confirm that both the basis for the education in the UK and the education is adequate in 2014 since they place the UK sixth in a league of 20 countries in world tables for all basic education.
Ian K Whittaker
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
02/02/2015
14/10/2020
841 words over 3 pages