Rennie reveals 1,250 teaching posts had to be readvertised in two years

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie has today unveiled new research showing that more than 1,250 teaching posts have gone unfilled and had to be readvertised in the past two years.  

The figures uncovered by his party through freedom of information requests also reveal:

• Moray was the worst hit with 252 roles readvertised in the past two years, Aberdeen has had to readvertise 206, Shetland 90, Argyll & Bute 70, Highland 62 and Dumfries & Galloway 61.
• Orkney has a teaching post which has been vacant since 2019. Aberdeen, Argyll & Bute, South Lanarkshire and the Western Isles all have posts vacant for more than 10 months.
• Argyll & Bute currently has more than 20 roles which are being readvertised, while Orkney has 38.
• Struggles to recruit Maths teachers in Aberdeen, Angus, Dumfries & Galloway, Dundee, Highland and North Ayrshire.
• Orkney advertised a four-hours-a-week role 10 times. Western Isles advertised a PE teacher role nine times. A Home Economics teacher role in Aberdeen was advertised six times. East Ayrshire also advertised a role six times.

Mr Rennie said:

“Qualified teachers are enduring years of short term, zero hours contracts yet some schools are advertising roles over and over again without success. We must make teaching an attractive role if we are to tackle these shortfalls.

“This data suggests that there are acute shortage in rural areas and in key subjects like maths.

 “Terrible workforce planning has resulted in missed opportunities for so many young people and so many teachers too. If we want every young person reach their potential they need teachers who can inform and inspire

"Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see new three-year packages for probationers who are willing to take on hard-to-fill roles, as well as offering “teacher premiums” to reward the best teachers in schools with the greatest need.

"No one believes education is high up the SNP's agenda. That's why we need a change of government to get Scottish education back to its best."