History teacher for computing class

A school has had to draft in a history teacher to supervise computing classes as it has so far been unable to recruit a new computing sciences expert, MSPS have been told.

Liberal Democrat Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-hamilton challenged Education Secretary John Swinney on the situation at Queensferry High in his constituency.

Mr Cole-hamilton told how he had been contacted by a parent at the South Queensferry school who was concerned that the computing science teacher had left the school in February and had not been replaced. He said: “She was the only such teacher at the school, so all computer classes are currently going without.”

To deal with this, he said, “the measures adopted by the school include pupils following a set of powerpoint lesson plans under the supervision of a history teacher”.

Mr Swinney said he had previously acknowledged teacher recruitment “challenges”.