First Minister quizzed on education after Blairgowrie plea for help with teaching.

Aavioson accuses the SNe leaoer of neglecting a school crisis

The First Minister was slated for obsessing with independence while allowing a teacher crisis to develop at a Perthshire school.

Bev Leslie, the head teacher of Blairgowrie High School, wrote to parents last week asking for those with a “maths or related degree” to help out.

Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, said parents were “furious” to see Nicola Sturgeon threatening another “divisive” referendum when there are not enough teachers for Scotland’s classrooms.

“When the First Minister meets parents who are frustrated with the decline in standards in schools, how does she explain to them that another referendum will help their child?” she asked Ms Sturgeon in First Minister’s Questions.

The SNP leader admitted there are challenges in teacher recruitment in parts of the country and in certain subjects. She said they had increased student numbers on the Initial Teacher Education programme and had expanded the range of routes into teaching to address shortages.

“Blairgowrie High School is seeking to identify properly registered teachers to come in and teach maths. Of course, the law says that teachers have to be properly registered,” said Ms Sturgeon.

“We will continue to address the challenges in our education system, as we will continue to address challenges that exist in health, education or any other area.

“It is because the people of Scotland see us addressing those challenges that they continue to have confidence in this government to run this country.”

Mrs Leslie admitted in the letter last week that the request for parent help was “highly unusual”, but said the school had to be “creative” because of staff departures and recruitment difficulties.

The principal later issued a clarification that the aim of the letter was to track down registered maths teachers that are not on the local authority’s supply list.

The school is local to Education Secretary John Swinney, who confirmed a plan this week which would see teachers drafted in from other schools in Perthshire to provide temporary cover.

That is expected to last until the end of the month, with interviews for the vacant posts being held next week.

Perth and Kinross Council issued a statement earlier this week “to reassure all parents and pupils that we have processes in place to ensure there is appropriate class cover to minimise disruption to learning”.

When the First Minister meets parents whoare frustrated with the decline in standards in schools, how does she explain to them that another referendum will help their child? RUTH DAVIDSON