Teacher workforce statistics and Teacher vacancies, sickness absence and substitution statistics in grant-aided schools 2014/15 published

The Department of Education today published two statistical bulletins: Teacher workforce statistics in grant-aided schools in NI, 2014/15 and Teacher vacancies, sickness absence and substitution statistics in grant-aided schools in NI, 2014/15.

These statistical bulletins provide analysis of the latest annual data collections in relation to teacher numbers, pupil: teacher ratios, teacher vacancies, teacher sickness absence and teacher substitution costs in grant-aided schools in 2014/15.

Key Points

• The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers is 18,601.9. This represents an increase of 208.1 from 18393.8 in 2013/14.
• The teacher headcount is 19,803, an increase of 252 teachers from 2013/14. The proportion of teachers working part-time continues to increase.
• The proportion of teachers working in all schools who are male has been declining over the last five years.
• The median age of teachers is 41.2 years, an increase from 41.0 years in 2013/14. There are proportionally fewer teachers aged under 30 this year (11.7%) than in 2012/13 (12.3%).
• The overall Pupil: Teacher Ratio (PTR) in 2014/15 is 17.5, a decrease of 0.1 from 2013/14.
• There were fewer vacancies in November 2014, than in the previous year, with 878 teacher vacancies at the end of the academic year 2013/14, 652 (74.3%) of which had been filled by November 2014.
• The average number of days lost per teacher due to sickness in all schools was 8.4. This is an increase from 8.2 in 2013/14.
• Teacher substitution costs rose again from £65 million in 2013/14 to £67 million in 2014/15.
• The number of substitution days worked by Prematurely Retired Teachers has fallen to approximately 14,000 days in 2014/15. This represents 3.0% of the total days worked, compared to 12.8% in 2005/06.

The reports can be accessed on the DE website.

National Statistics

1. The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:

• meet identified user needs;

• are well explained and readily accessible;

• are produced according to sound methods, and

• are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.

Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.

2. For general enquiries about National Statistics contact:

National Statistics Public Enquiry Service 

3. You can also access this link to National Statistics.

Further Information

4. Requests for further information should be addressed to:-

The Statistics and Research Team

5. DE Statistical Bulletins can be accessed under Statistics and research

6. Please send any feedback on the content or presentation of this publication to the

Email address: stephen.paulin@deni.gov.uk

7. Media enquires to the Department of Education’s Communication Team on Tel: 02891279675. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.

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