The headteachers forced to run up to SIX schools at once

THE number of headteachers forced to take charge of more than one school has rocketed by almost 70 per cent over the past decade, alarming figures have shown.

Scotland’s teacher recruitment crisis was last night laid bare by the shocking rise in the number of shared headships, with up to six schools having to share the same headteacher.

It also emerged one local authority has been unable to appoint headteachers for some schools for as long as three years.

The figures emerged amid mounting concerns over falling teacher numbers.

There are 4,000 fewer teachers and 1,000 fewer support staff than when the SNP took power ten years ago.

Statistics published by the Times Educational Supplement found 191 heads are in charge of more than one Scots school – 69 per cent more than in 2010.

Shared headships are commonly used in clusters of small rural primary schools. One headteacher, Shirley MacLachlan, is in charge of six of Arran’s seven primaries.

Council chiefs in Glasgow and South Ayrshire have started piloting shared headships for large secondary schools.

It also emerged that 14 primary schools in Aberdeen are seeking a headteacher – including four which have been unable to fill the post for three years.

Critics say the shortage of headteachers is part of the ‘unacceptable’ mismanagement of teacher numbers by the SNP.

Tory education spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘This will be a matter of great concern to parents and it is a clear sign the SNP is failing in its attempts in getting more people into the teaching profession and to take up headship.

‘For a school to have been without a permanent head for three years is grossly unfair on the pupils. This absence can have a negative impact on staff morale.

‘Staff shortages have become a huge issue under the SNP. It is unacceptable and speaks volumes about its promise to make education the number one priority.’

Jim Thewliss, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, said: ‘Joint headship is not conducive to the development of the school or the sense of ownership a community feels in its school.’

Trainee intake targets were cut by more than 1,500 after the SNP took power – despite warnings it could cause ‘irreparable damage’ to the education system.

Last month, Education Secretary John Swinney admitted that teacher numbers were ‘probably overcorrected’ by his predecessor, Mike Russell, in 2010. He said that at the time, there was a ‘high level of teacher unemployment’.

Aberdeen City Council said its headteacher shortage was directly linked to the wider lack of teachers available across the country.

Gayle Gorman, the council’s director of education, said: ‘If there is a teacher shortage, you inevitably have shortages in all layers throughout the system.’

The Scottish Government said it is helping universities meet student teacher targets through a recruitment drive and £1million of funding.

A spokesman said: ‘We are committed to maintaining teacher numbers. We recognise difficulties in recruiting headteachers in some areas and are investing £525,000 to support 175 participants on the Into Headship qualification for aspiring headteachers this year.’