Local schools bucking teacher shortage trend

National class room problems not having impact

Rutherglen and Cambuslang is bucking the national trend for teacher shortages.

Statistics released earlier this month revealed that there were more than 500 teacher vacancies across Scotland, with dozens having been advertised for prolonged periods of time.

However, the Reformer has learned that only one of these is for this area – a teaching post at Rutherglen High School. The vacancy has been advertised and is expected to be filled.

It is one of 20 positions currently available to teachers in the South Lanarkshire Council area. Four posts in additional support needs schools are needing to be filled, with 11 primary school posts and nine secondary school posts available.

The vacancies show that South Lanarkshire Council is not one of the many local authorities in Scotland that are reportedly beleaguered with teacher shortages.

Clare Haughey MSP believes that the situation is “well in hand”.

She said: “The reported teacher vacancies for South Lanarkshire are a small percentage of the total staff complement across the area and, I understand, the recruitment process for these posts is well in hand.

“While recruitment is ultimately the responsibility of individual local authorities, the Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to help recruit and retain teachers. For the sixth year in a row the SNP Government has increased student teacher intake targets while targeting specific subject areas where there are skills gaps.

“Over £3 million funding is being made available to train an extra 371 teachers in 2017-18 and £1m from the Attainment Scotland Fund for universities to develop new routes into teaching.

“Eighty-eight million pounds has also been made available this year from the Scottish Government to make sure every school has access to the right number of teachers with the right skills, including £37m to secure places for all probationers who require one on the teacher induction scheme.

“We are also working with the General Teaching Council for Scotland to make the registration process easier for teachers who have qualified outside Scotland.”

However, the Labour party claimed that more should be done to ensure every vacancy is filled.

James Kelly MSP said: “Across the country we have seen the appalling record of the SNP on education.”

He added: “Despite 10 years of power, standards have fallen and Scotland’s schools are increasingly stretched. It’s disappointing that despite all of Nicola Sturgeon’s promises on education, children in Rutherglen and Cambuslang went back this month to vacancies in schools because the SNP government has failed to do its job.”

The Scottish Government is taking action to help recruit and retain teachers