Probationary teachers are taken on as ‘cannon fodder’
CASH-STRAPPED councils are using probationer teachers as cheap ‘cannon fodder’ to fill vacancies, union bosses have claimed.
They accuse local authorities of filling up teaching positions with government-funded probationers rather than hiring qualified teachers in a cost-cutting effort.
Union chiefs say it leaves teachers who have completed probation facing a prolonged struggle to secure permanent work.
According to data published by education group Tes and the #LetUsTeach campaign, 3,617 probationers are expected to enter schools in 2021/22 – an increase of more than 500 on last year.
Seamus Searson, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association union, said: ‘What’s happened in the past is that some [probationers] are actually taking on posts that would be normally filled by a permanent teacher.
‘The advantage of that to authorities is that that’s X number of teachers who are given to them, basically. And some of them are in the way that it should be, in that they’re going there as supernumerary to the school. But the majority of them will have been filling a vacancy.
‘The authorities realise they’re getting someone to fill a vacancy for much less.’
Mr Searson added: ‘We’re at the stage where we’re using probationers while they’re cheap and then getting rid of them afterwards and then we wonder why we can’t get teachers later. What we’re finding is that they’re filling up spaces in schools with probationers and that’s not helpful.
‘The probationers need to get experience but they’re often used as cannon fodder.
‘Those teachers who are qualified then struggle to find a job.’
Jim Thewliss, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, said: ‘There will be departments out there who have had probationer after probationer after probationer – year on year on year – to fill a vacancy.’
A spokesman for Cosla, which represents local authorities, said: ‘Councils are committed to fair and open recruitment processes. Councils are assessing the needs of children and young people to ensure they recruit additional teachers as required.
‘However, this is not an exact science and work is ongoing with the Scottish Government and partners to address where there are shortages and need.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We are working closely with Cosla regarding the employment of teachers for the next academic year and will continue to do everything we can to maximise the number of jobs available for teachers, including permanent posts.’