Red tape hampering efforts to end teacher shortage, say Tories

Recruitment troubles in Angus and Fife raised in Holyrood rammy

The recruitment crisis in Scotland’s schools has been deepened by the red tape confronting would-be teachers, said Ruth Davidson.

The Scottish Conservative leader said there are hundreds of well-qualified applicants from outside the UK struggling to take up posts north of the border because of government bureaucracy.

During First Minister’s Questions, Ms Davidson also laid into the SNP for failing to send enough newly-qualified teachers to Angus.

The council requested 40 probationer teachers for its secondary schools but was allocated just 23 for the start of the school year.

Ms Davidson said there are 320 teachers who had qualified outside of Scotland wanting to work, but have been told they have to “go back to school”.

She gave the example of a maths

“We have increased student teacher intakes for six years in a row. Back in 2011 the intake to student teaching was 2,297, in the most recent year it was over 4,000. NICOLA STURGEON

teacher from England who moved to Scotland five years ago, but was told he had to retrain before taking a post.

Ms Sturgeon said they had fixed that issue so qualified teachers from elsewhere can work while they train on the job, but the Conservative hit back, saying the change had not been brought in.

“Scotland’s teacher shortage is a national crisis,” Ms Davidson added.

“In such circumstances, the SNP must act now to put in place urgent measures so these teachers can apply for jobs without any further delay.”

Ms Sturgeon said: “We have increased student teacher intakes for six years in a row.

“Back in 2011 the intake to student teaching was 2,297, in the most recent year it was over 4,000.

“We had 231 more newly-qualified probationer teachers starting the induction scheme in August compared to the previous year.”

As well as the shortfall of newlyqualified teachers in Angus, Ms Davidson referred to the struggle of some school leaders to put teachers in classrooms in Perthshire and Edinburgh.

Earlier this year, Blairgowrie High School issued a plea to parents to help with the lack of maths teachers because of long-term vacancies there.

Trinity Academy in the capital sent a similar letter this week.

Picture: Getty. Tory leader Ruth Davidson challenged Nicola Sturgeon on teacher recruitment.