Press release -
Education director to give evidence to teacher shortage inquiry
Moray’s most senior education official will give evidence tomorrow to an inquiry into the recruitment and retention of teachers in Scotland’s schools.
Laurence Findlay, Moray Council’s director of education and social care, has been invited to appear before the Scottish Parliament’s education and skills committee at Holyrood.
He will speak in support of a response which he submitted after the committee sought views on teacher workforce planning as part of its inquiry.
Along with many other education authorities, Moray continues to experience difficulties in recruiting teaching staff to its schools.
Last year the council had a total of 226 teachers vacancies across its primary and secondary schools compared with 144 in 2013.
In his submission to the committee, Mr Findlay said: “Children and young people only have one chance at school and at present there are serious risks that the lack of teachers in the system is resulting in us not getting it right for every child at what are crucial times in their educational and social development.”
He said that some vacant teaching posts were being re-advertised several times and still only attracting a very small number of applicants, while there had also been significant reductions in the availability of supply teachers.
“Considering that only six years ago there were schools receiving between 20 and 200 applications for teaching posts, and there seemed to be a limitless availability of supply cover in Moray, something has clearly gone drastically wrong.”
Mr Findlay’s full submission can be found here:
Topics
- Public sector
Regions
- Scotland
Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.
Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.
Headquartered in Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.
