500 teaching posts still unfilled as term starts

Scotland’s largest teaching union has raised concerns after it emerged hundreds of posts remain unfilled at the start of the school term.

Schools have as many as 500 vacancies as pupils prepare to return to the classroom, according to research.

A total of 20 councils reported 404 unfilled posts evenly split between primary and secondary schools, while the remaining 12 councils were advertising for about 100 jobs.

The Educational Institute of Scotland said the figures showed the need to step up efforts to attract more qualified teachers, but it warned that standards must not drop amid controversial proposals for fast-track pathways into teaching.

The Scottish Government said: “We recognise some areas have faced challenges filling vacancies.”