Maths and science teachers down 12pc under SNP

THE number of maths and science teachers in Scotland’s schools has plummeted by 12 per cent since the SNP came to power.

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday admitted the Government ‘must do better’ after being accused of ‘catastrophic failures’ in education.

She came under pressure at First Minister’s Questions after a report by the Sutton Trust revealed Scotland is failing to help bright but disadvantaged pupils who are lagging behind their better-off classmates.

Scottish Labour pointed to official figures showing there are 4,000 fewer teachers in Scotland than in 2007. The number in science and maths has slumped by 82 . Leader Kezia Dugdale said: ‘The Sutton Trust exposes the SNP’s catastrophic failure on education. In the subjects most important to growing Scotland’s economy in the future, young people are being let down.

‘Despite the hard work of pupils and teachers, the SNP’s failure is there for all to see. Nicola Sturgeon said education would be her defining priority, yet her Government is failing a whole generation of children. If we want to give all young people a chance in life, we need to invest in them. That means investing in local services like schools.’

The Sutton report found bright but disadvantaged pupils in Scotland are two years and seven months behind better-off children in science and maths, while in reading they are two years and two months behind.

When the SNP came to power in 2007, there were ,821 science, technology, engineering and maths teachers – but that fell to 5,983 in 2015, before rising slightly to 5,995 in 201 .

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘We now see the consequences of ten wasted years of this SNP Government and the harm it has done to the life chances of our pupils.

‘That is the legacy of this Government: a generation of Scottish children are being left behind.’

Responding to the Sutton research, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘We will study the recommendations of the report carefully. The gap between the richest and poorest high-achieving pupils is actually lower in Scotland than it is in England, but I take no comfort from that because the report says we must do better – and we are determined that we do just that.’

SHABBY stuff at First Minister’s Questions yesterday when Nicola Sturgeon was challenged about a damning education report showing Scotland failing to help bright but disadvantaged pupils who are lagging behind their classmates.

Old hat, said Miss Sturgeon – the report was based on tests carried out two years ago, before reforms were implemented.

The implication seems to be that changes have been made and now schools are on course to heal all their ills. That would be highly dangerous complacency.

For the truth is that, just as at health, a decade of SNP control of education has seen standards slip amid a series of catastrophic failures. As Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘We now see the consequences of ten wasted years of this SNP Government and the harm that it has done to the life chances of our pupils.’

Today’s pupils must compete in a global market for tomorrow’s jobs. An SNP distracted by its separation fixation is leaving them hamstrung.