£ 700k of teaching jobs go a- begging
Council can’t fill posts as new term starts
M o r e t h a n £ 700,000- worth of jobs in South Ayrshire schools are going begging as pupils return for the new term.
Many schools will start the year understaffed, with supply teachers plugging gaps in a bid to keep the system going.
Primary schools have the most vacancies, with 15 jobs around South Ayrshire sitting vacant this week at the start of term.
In secondaries another eight posts remain unfilled.
Schools in Ayr, Troon and Girvan are all at least one teacher short, with jobs offering salaries of up to £ 42,225 unable to be filled.
Astonishingly, in East Ayrshire only four secondary teaching jobs – one in Auchinleck, two in Cumnock and one in Kilmarnock – are vacant while there are no primary school posts open.
Secondaries in all five of South Ayrshire’s biggest towns are missing teachers for key subjects, such as history and english, as youngsters begin to prepare for exams.
Teaching union EIS say the crisis shows the need to bring more teachers into the profession and ensure children get the highest standard of teaching.
General secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The situation highlights the need for a concerted effort to attract a greater number of qualified teachers.
“If we are to ensure equity of provision across the country and address the povertyrelated attainment gap, then it is essential that our schools are fully staffed.
“Making teaching an attractive career option will require greater action to reduce excessive teacher workload and a significant improvement in pay and conditions.
“However, we must also ensure our high standards are maintained by continuing to guarantee that only fully qualified GTCS- registered teachers are teaching in our schools.”
South Ayrshire education chief Douglas Hutchison insisted the problem was being taken seriously but refused to answer our question about what the council was doing to ensure vital roles within schools were being filled.
He said: “We’re committed to giving children and young people a first- class education, in which the quality of our teaching staff plays a key role.
“Of the almost 1170 jobs available we’re currently advertising, or are in the process of advertising, for 25 positions, with fifteen posts available in our Primary schools and 10 at Secondary level.
“In the meantime, the majority of the positions are being filled by supply teachers on an interim basis until fulltime appointments can be made.
Principal teacher posts – some of the most coveted in the profession – lie vacant as Queen Margaret in Ayr look for a head of department for IT, while Girvan Academy is advertising for an English principal.
VACANCIES:
Cairn Primary – one Girvan Primary – two Monkton Primary – one Alloway Primary – one Braehead Primary – one Troon Primary – one Heathfield Primary – one Doonfoot Primary – one Maidens Primary – one Kincaidston Primary – one Struthers Primary – one Forehill Primary – one So u t h e r n ru r a l an d denomination primaries – one Queen Margaret Academy – Principal Teacher of IT and History/ Modern Studies teacher Carrick Academy - Teacher of Design Marr College – Teacher of Design Kyle Academy – Teacher of English Girvan Academy – Principal Teacher of English Prestwick Academy – Teacher of Religious Education Belmont Academy – Pupil support teacher Secondary supply – one Primary supply – one