Fears over teachers’ security in new posts

THE long-term job security of hundreds of newlyappointed teachers has been called into question.

Under a new funding stream for schools in disadvantaged areas, 666 new teachers were appointed in 2017 to help close the attainment gap between rich and poor.

The jobs have been made possible through the Scottish Government’s £750 million Attainment Scotland Fund, which includes direct funding of £120m to schools through the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF).

New figures show schools in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and North and East Ayrshire were the areas with the most new teachers funded through the scheme.

However, questions were raised over whether the scheme was sustainable because the funding comes from a new pot rather than core council budgets.

The Scottish Parliament’s Education Committee has now written to John Swinney, the Education Secretary, asking for clarity on the future of these new posts.

It states: “In relation to PEF having a sustained impact over the longer term, members questioned the extent to which staff are employed in PEF posts on a temporary basis.”

Mr Swinney said: “It’s great to see so many more schools using this money to invest in extra teachers and other specialist staff to improve literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing.

“This was the original intention of attainment funding when the scheme was set up given the absolutely central role of teachers in supporting children’s learning.”