'No Recruitment Crisis' In Schools

Education bosses say the filling of teacher vacancies is an on-going process and is constantly changing.

Figures released by the Liberal Democrats claim 37 permanent posts are currently vacant at primary and secondary schools. Fife Council says the figure is wrong and the number of unfilled posts rests at 14. 

It's estimated teacher numbers across Scotland have fallen by 4, 200 since the SNP government came to power in 2007.

Local MSP Willie Rennie said: ‘Just days ahead of the start of the new school year many schools do not appear to have the staff they need to ensure that pupils get the education they deserve. A recruitment crisis would only increase the pressure on other teachers and make life more difficult for pupils who need the most support.

‘With 37 vacancies I’m pleased Fife Council is taking a number of innovative steps to address this shortfall in teachers. But we need the SNP government to start focussing on the problems facing local schools.’

Group Leader and Tay Bridgehead councillor Tim Brett added: ‘The way in which Curriculum for Excellence was rolled out in secondary schools has also piled additional pressure on teachers. The SNP are constantly asking them to do more with less, and consequently the system is creaking at the seams. It is no surprise that teacher morale is reportedly at rock bottom and we are struggling to fill vacancies.

‘It is pupils who will pay the price of the SNP’s failure to support our schools. Ministers need to take urgent action to help address this recruitment crisis.’

Cllr Brett concluded, ‘Since the SNP came into government the number of teachers has fallen by more than 4,200. Promises on class sizes have been broken, with average primary school class sizes now larger than in 2006, and basic standards of literacy and numeracy have declined. The failure of the Scottish Government to get to grips with the problems in the system is scandalous.’

Fife Council admits recruitment was an issue last year but says nearly 300 new teachers have been recruited since then.

Executive Director of Education and Children’s Services, Craig Munro said: We currently have appointed 187 permanent posts with 5 unfilled in primary schools with specific adverts in place in order to recruit. We have appointed staff to 101 posts in secondary schools. There are 9 permanent posts in secondary schools still to be recruited with interviews being planned.

"We have undertaken a robust and wide ranging recruitment process this year including advertising widely across the UK and Ireland, carrying out a specific recruitment exercise in Germany and working with the Scottish Government to secure as many probationer teachers as possible. We are also in discussions with the GTC about how we can streamline the registration process and in dialogue with teacher training institutions and training colleges in Ireland about how we can not only recruit more teachers from Ireland but have a formal relationship with these institutions to encourage their students to come to Fife. Advertising is also taking place in the Gulf States to encourage teachers abroad to come back to Fife.

"Literacy levels are at record levels in Fife. This is primarily down to our head teachers and teaching staff and we must do everything we can to ensure that this momentum continues for our children by maintaining high numbers of good quality teaching staff."

Meanwhile, Education spokesman, Councillor Bryan Poole said: “I am extremely disappointed by the information put into the public domain by Willie Rennie and Tim Brett.

"In their desperation to make and score political points against the SNP Government they have ended up, frankly, mis-using and mis-interpreting information sent to them in good faith.

"Firstly their figures around teacher vacancies and recruitment is wrong. They started of in the hundreds (complete mis-interpretation) and when that was pointed out used another, incorrect, figure. The filling of teacher vacancies is an on-going process and this is constantly changing. As I’m writing the actual figures are 5 unfilled vacancies in the primary sector and 9 in the secondary sector. Given that Fife Council has a teacher workforce of around 3,500 and there is a national shortage of Teachers I think Fife is looking not too bad. Mr Rennie and Mr Brett should be thanking our Education Staff, including Headteachers, for working their socks of during their summer holidays on ensuring Fife Council is well placed re teacher vacancies. My clear message to Mr Rennie  is there is no 'recruitment crisis’ in Fife.

"Mr Brett's hyperbole seems to have gone in to overdrive. He is critical of the roll out of Curriculum for Excellence and states that the ‘system is in crisis’. To take up Mr Brett’s hyperbole that is ‘utter garbage’. Fife Headteachers and Teachers this year have been responsible for delivering just about the best, if not the best ever results for Fife’s Children. Literacy levels in Fife are at record levels and last weeks SQA results have resulted in a 40% increase in the number Pupils gaining a Higher in English - an improvement way above the Scottish average. Pupils gaining Higher Maths was 17% up on last year and again an improvement above the Scottish average with very encouraging signs elsewhere in the curriculum. 

"Fife’s Education Service is in a good place. Could we do better? I’m sure we could and as always we will start the new session afresh determined to do the best we can possibly do. So I say to Mr Rennie and Mr Brett if they want to play politics with the SNP Government go right ahead but leave Fife’s Teachers, Headteachers and pupils out of it."