Between 1997/98 and 2004/05 the number of full-time qualified teachers in public sector mainstream schools in the UK increased by 3 per cent; to 441,000. There were 12,000 more teachers in schools in the UK in 2004/05 than there were in 1997/98. This followed a fall between 1981/82 and 1997/98 from 493,000 to 429,000.
This trend masks distinct differences by sex. The fall in the 1980s and 1990s was largely driven by a reduction in the number of male teachers (particularly secondary school teachers). Between 1981/82 and 1997/98 the number of full-time male teachers fell from 199,000 to 137,000. The number of full-time female teachers was relatively stable over the period, ranging from 293,000 in 1981/82 to 283,000 in the mid 1980s and early 1990s and rising to 292,000 in 1997/98. From 1997/98 (when the upturn in total teacher numbers began) the rise in the number of female teachers continued and by 2004/05 had risen to 308,000. The number of male teachers had continued to fall, to 133,000 in 2004/05.
In both nursery and primary schools, 85 per cent of full-time teachers were female in 2004/05. In secondary schools there was less difference between the sexes – 56 per cent of full-time teachers were female.
The number of support staff in maintained schools in England who provide additional learning resources within the classroom increased from 89,000 to 225,000 between 1996 and 2006. There was an increase in support staff in all types of school. The largest rise in percentage terms was in secondary schools, where their numbers more than tripled from 23,100 in 1996 to 71,300 in 2006. However for both years, over half of all support staff were in primary schools, (57 per cent in 1996 and 55 per cent in 2006).
Source: Department for Education and Skills; Welsh Assembly Government; Scottish Executive; Department of Education Northern Ireland
Notes: 1. Data in chart are for qualified teachers only. 2. Chart data from 1993/94 exclude sixth-form colleges in England and Wales which were reclassified as further education colleges on 1 April 1993.
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School Workforce in England