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Pupil:Teacher Ratios in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland 2009/10

Thursday, 10 June 2010

The Department of Education has released figures on Pupil:Teacher Ratios in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland 2009/10.

Key points

  • The overall Pupil: Teacher Ratio (PTR) in 2009/10 is 16.9, an increase of 0.2 from 16.7 in 2008/09.
  • The PTRs for nursery, primary, secondary (non-grammar) schools and the preparatory departments of grammar schools have each risen by 0.3 since 2008/09. The PTR for grammar schools has remained the same, and the PTR for special schools has decreased by 0.1.
  • The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers is 18,996.5. This represents a decrease of 213.3 from 19,209.8 in 2008/09.
  • The teacher headcount is 20,076, a decrease of 287 teachers from 20,363 in 2008/09.
  • 74.9% of all teachers are female and 25.1% are male, the same proportions as in 2008/09. In the nursery, primary and preparatory sectors, taken together, 15.2% of teachers are male, while in the secondary and grammar sectors, 33.8% of teachers are male.
  • The median age of teachers is 40.3 years, an increase from 40.2 years in 2008/09. 3,128 teachers (15.6%) are aged under 30 and 363 (1.8%) are aged 60 years or above.
  • There were 1,217 teacher vacancies at the end of the academic year 2008/09, 1,044 (85.8%) of which had been filled by November 2009 (Figure 7). This compares with 1,160 (85.0%) of 1,365 vacancies filled last year.

Notes to Editors:

  1. Further analyses relating to PTRs and teacher numbers can be found on the Department of Education website.
  2. Media queries, contact the Department of Education Press Office on 028 9127 9701. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.