The figures revealed a drop in the proportion of male teachers

The figures showed a rise of 710 on the previous year, with 52,179 teaching staff in schools and nurseries in 2005.

Education Minister Peter Peacock said the figures demonstrated that the Scottish Executive was ahead of its targets to reduce class sizes.

The Scottish National Party said it was important that teachers were in the classroom, not just on the register.

Ministers have pledged that there will be 53,000 teachers in post by 2007.

That would mean primary one classes with a maximum of 25 pupils, while the maximum would be 20 for first and second year maths and English.

There are only 117 PE teachers in primary for the whole of Scotland Fiona Hyslop SNP education spokeswoman

The latest figures included an additional 230 maths and English teachers.

Mr Peacock described the figures as "superb".

He said: "They are good for schools and pupils, good for Scottish education and, despite what the doubters have said, we are ahead of our target to meet our class size reduction."

However, the figures also showed a drop in the proportion of men in the profession.

In 1996, 30% of teachers were male, but by 2005 this had fallen to 25%.

'More progress'

There has also been a drop in the proportion of male staff in senior positions, with men holding 37% of promoted posts in 2005 compared to 39% the previous year.

However, Mr Peacock said there were more increases to come.

He added: "With two more graduations of the biggest numbers of students still to come this summer and next, Scottish schools and pupils can look forward to even more progress and more improvement in pupil-teacher ratios."

SNP education spokeswoman Fiona Hyslop raised doubts about whether the executive could meet its targets for reducing class sizes for English and maths.

She said: "English and maths teachers constitute the largest number of teachers at secondary school.

21st century

"But, with 17% of all teachers over age 55 and only a 5% increase in new recruits to these core subjects, meeting the target for class size reductions in English and maths will be very tight indeed and head teachers have already warned it may not be possible."

She also voiced concerns about the number of specialist PE teachers in primary schools.

"There are only 117 PE teachers in primary for the whole of Scotland at a time when childhood obesity, fitness and the drive for excellence in sport is high on the agenda," she said.

Councillor Reverend Ewan Aitken, Cosla's education spokesman, said: "The policies to reduce class sizes must also be underpinned by ensuring that the infrastructure is in place to support the additional teachers.

"For example it must be ensured that there are enough classrooms and other facilities in the right places, equipped for the 21st Century."