The Scottish Government is bracing itself for another political row over education, after it revealed teacher numbers have dropped by more than 1,300 in the past year.

Statistics published on Friday also confirmed that pupil-teacher ratios had increased since 2008.

Across the country, the number of teaching staff has fallen from 54,341 to 53,993 - a reduction of 1,348. The drop was not confined to one area of education, but consistent across primary, secondary and special schools.

Last year, the statistics showed a reduction of 1,000 teachers since the SNP came to power in 2007.

Tory schools spokesperson Liz Smith MSP said: "Under Fiona Hyslop’s watch over 2,000 fewer teachers are now employed in Scotland. That is a shocking reflection of the SNP Government and its manifesto commitments on education have been completely torn to shreds."

She added: “It is not difficult to see what damaging effects this will have on those currently at college and university who are considering teaching as a career. Hapless Fiona Hyslop should hang her head in shame.”

The latest statistics were published a day after Labour Leader Iain Gray used First Minister's Questions to hit out at the Government's record on education.

The First Minister attacked Labour-controlled Glasgow Council, claiming it was responsible for a quarter of the fall in teacher numbers in Scotland over the last year. Labour hit back, saying 11 out of 12 SNP-run local authorities had shed teaching posts.

Alex Salmond insisted class sizes were at a record low.

Friday's figures confirmed that the average primary class size had reduced from 23.2 to 23.1 in the past 12 months. However, the statistics also revealed that the number of primary pupils had reduced by 0.7 percent overall.

At Holyrood on Thursday, Iain Gray also blasted beleaguered Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop over a plan designed to tackle the problem, unveiled earlier this week.

Fiona Hyslop announced that councils were to be allowed to borrow £10 million to fund the retirement of 500 teachers, in a bid to get new teaching graduates into work.

The plan was blasted opposition MSPs for encouraging more debt, while many council leaders said they were being forced to axe experienced staff.

In Holyrood on Thursday, Mr Gray asked: "Is Alex Salmond the last man in Scotland who thinks Fiona Hyslop is up to the job?"

Mr Salmond told him: "Fiona Hyslop came up with a plan yesterday to give young teachers a chance of a job in Scotland."