The consequences of falling numbers of teachers and schools in Scotland are obvious and profound
Since the SNP came to power in 2007, there are 1,500 fewer teachers and nearly 250 fewer schools
The cut and thrust of political debate is usually focussed on the most newsworthy issues of the day for understandable reasons. However, this means that important, underlying trends that really matter to the fortunes of a nation can sometimes be overlooked.
So every now and then, it’s worthwhile taking a step back and assessing what has been happening over the long term in key areas of public policy like education.
In 2007, when the SNP became the party of government, there were more than 55,000 teachers in Scotland’s schools. That number fell to below 51,000 in 2014 before making a partial recovery to just under 53,500 in 2024. As we report today, there has also been a marked decline in the number of schools – down from 2,694 in 2007 to 2,445 in 2024.
Contrast between rhetoric and reality
Scotland has also been falling down international league tables for education during the SNP years and it is hard not to draw a connection between these three facts.
This track record stands in stark contrast to SNP rhetoric on education, with high-profile pledges to close the attainment gap between children from wealthy and poor backgrounds and, more recently, to recruit an extra 3,500 teachers before the Scottish Parliament election in May.
As we have noted before, the attainment gap has remained stubbornly wide despite their efforts. And, as for teacher recruitment, there was a net increase of only 63 teachers in 2025. No wonder education unions complain about teacher workload, stress and burnout.
Why trust in politics is declining
In response to the figures, SNP Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said that “since 2014, the number of teachers has increased by more than 2,500 as a result of investment from the Scottish Government”.
This deliberate use of a low-point arrived at on the SNP’s watch to make the current numbers seem better was disingenuous to say the least and a disappointing example of why public trust in politicians is falling.
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