Workforce & Staffing
Staff composition, teacher turnover, retention, and sickness absence
Key Figures
73.07
Qualified Teachers (FTE)
17.1:1
Pupil:Teacher Ratio
6.3d
Teacher Absence (avg/teacher)
Pupil:Teacher Ratio — History
2024/25
17.1
73.07 FTE
2023/24
17.3
72.68 FTE
2022/23
16.6
73.88 FTE
2021/22
16.2
73.7 FTE
2020/21
16.9
71.26 FTE
2019/20
17.3
67.98 FTE
2018/19
17.1
66.94 FTE
National primary average: ~20.9. A higher ratio indicates fewer teachers per pupil.
Staff Retention — Historical View
| Year | Total FTE | Retained | Left Sector | Moved School | Turnover Rate | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 72.7 | 69.2 | 2.4 | 1 | 4.7% | |
| 2022/23 | 73.9 | 66 | 5.9 | 2 | 10.7% | |
| 2021/22 | 73.7 | 65.9 | 5.8 | 2 | 10.6% | |
| 2020/21 | 71.3 | 64.8 | 5.4 | 1 | 9.0% | |
| 2019/20 | 67.8 | 67.5 | 0.3 | 0 | 0.4% | |
| 2018/19 | 66.9 | 61.1 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 8.7% | |
| 2017/18 | 62.5 | 57.8 | 4.6 | 0 | 7.4% |
Teacher Sickness Absence
Staff Wellbeing — Sickness Data
Teacher absence due to illness
| Year | % Taking Absence | Avg Days (all teachers) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 86.3% | 6.3 |
| 2022/23 | 78.5% | 7.1 |
| 2021/22 | 91.4% | 9.3 |
| 2020/21 | 54.2% | 3.5 |
| 2018/19 | 76.9% | 3.8 |
| 2017/18 | 69.0% | 3.3 |
| 2016/17 | 75.0% | 3.9 |
National avg days lost per teacher: ~4.5. Downlands Community School's rate of 6.3 days per teacher is above average.