Responding to reports that as the academic year begins there are more than 500 teacher vacancies in Scottish schools, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Tavish Scott MSP said:

“Head teachers face classrooms without teaching staff as pupils go back to school. We need a government who recognise that their management of Scottish education over 10 years has made teaching less attractive as a profession.

Teachers say classroom workload pressures are rising. Instead of centralisation and bureaucracy, the Scottish Government needs to invest in the profession and make it a job people want.

“That it is why it is time for a new independent root and branch review of teachers pay and conditions - a McCrone2. That would be a positive step for government to take and I urge them to work with local government and teachers unions now to establish this review.