Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford and local councillor Evelyn Tweed have welcomed published figures showing the recruitment of additional teachers to schools across Stirling and Scotland since summer.
1,250 new teachers, and 155 support staff, have been recruited in schools across Scotland in recent months, with 19 additional roles supported in the Stirling Council area.
The SNP Government pledged £80 million of support this summer to help local authorities’ recruitment for the safe reopening of schools.
Councils across Scotland indicate that an estimated further 200 teachers are also in the pipeline with 100 extra support staff also expected to follow.
Last month, figures from the independent Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) showed that the number of newly-qualified teachers going straight into employment has risen by nearly 30% under the SNP’s leadership.
Analysis also revealed that the number of teachers in Scotland under the age of 45 has risen to 61.5% of the workforce as of 2019. In 2009, the majority of teachers were over 45.
Stirling Councillor Evelyn Tweed said:
‘In the middle of a global pandemic, it’s absolutely vital that local authorities are fully supported to ensure that our schools remain safe for pupils, teachers and staff.
‘Thanks to significant investment from the SNP Government this summer, local schools in Stirling will have extra teachers and staff to support their safe re-opening.’
Bruce Crawford MSP said:
‘These additional teachers and support staff will not only bring much needed resilience to Scotland’s education system, but they will help compensate for the loss of learning suffered by pupils during lockdown.
‘I want to express my appreciation once again for our amazing teachers, and wider schools workforce, right across Stirling who are helping to ensure our young people continue to get the education they deserve during these tough times.’
Notes:
Breakdown of additional teacher numbers by local authority area:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/teacher-recruitment-local-authority-returns/
