Teaching crisis sees computing course axed.

Computing course axed from school’s curriculum after failure to recruit a teacher for the subject

A Fife school has been forced to stop teaching a key subject as part of the curriculum due to a shortage of teachers.

Lochgelly High School has had no option but to shift pupils from their selected computing course after struggling to recruit an appropriate teacher.

Two previous adverts have failed to find any takers for the role, and the school is in the process of advertising for a third time.

However, with the school term under way, decisive action to cease computing for the time being has now been taken.

In a letter to parents of pupils affected, head teacher Carol Ann Penrose pointed out that nationally schools struggle to recruit to computing – which she described as a “shortage subject”.

“We have advertised twice (and are currently advertising again) for a computing teacher, however received zero applicants for the last two adverts and therefore do not hold out much hope for much change this time,” she wrote.

“Given the need for certificate classes to be engaged in working on their curriculum as early as possible we feel our only option at this point is to re-course your child from their chosen computing course. This is not done lightly but there seems to be no option for the reasons outlined above.

“We are still trying to find a solution to the problem and if in the unlikely event that we are successful in recruiting at some point in the year the subject will once again be available next session.

“I appreciate this is not a good situation for us to be in as a school and the ideal would be for your child to be progressing in courses they have chosen, however I feel we have no option. “Rest assured I have tried many.” Peter McNaughton, head of service at Fife Council, said: “We are all aware that there is a national teacher shortage.

“Computing is one of the subjects that is particularly badly affected.

“Lochgelly High School, through a particular set of circumstances, has been left in a challenging position at short notice.

“We are actively seeking to recruit a computing teacher.

“In the meantime, we are taking every possible measure to ensure that any impact on our pupils is minimised.

“The head teacher and staff are working hard and creatively to seek solutions for the children affected by these circumstances.”

In the unlikely event that we are successful in recruiting at some point in the year the subject will once again be available next session.

HEAD TEACHER CAROL ANN PENROSE

Lochgelly High School has dropped a subject due to staff shortages.