Question reference: S4W-26549
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 3 July 2015
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Current status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 11 August 2015
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects the pupil-teacher ratio in Gaelic medium units to be higher or lower than in mainstream English language primary education and what the reason is for its position on this matter.
Answer
Pupil teacher ratios are not stipulated either in legislation or in teachers' terms and conditions of service. Class size limits for P1 to P3 are set in statute and all other class size limits are set in teachers' terms and conditions of service. Neither the legislation nor the terms and conditions of service differentiate between the class size limits that apply in Gaelic medium units and those that apply in mainstream English language primary schools.
The issue of lower class size limits for Gaelic medium was explored in the 2010 consultation on class size limits. Based on the outcome of that consultation ministers concluded that differential class size limits for Gaelic medium units should not be introduced.
It is the responsibility of local authorities and individual head teachers to determine the size of individual classes within the limits set by legislation or terms and conditions of service.