A golden greeting package including car leasing, childcare support and relocation expenses could be put together to help Angus lure top teachers to the area.
And the talent search may specifically target the emerald isle, with plans to develop a presence in Irish universities to tap into the graduate pool there.
Councillors have frequently clashed over claims of a crisis in teacher numbers at some Angus schools and although officials deny that is the case, they have admitted the rural authority – like many councils in Scotland – faces challenges in attracting and keeping good staff.
A councillor/officer group has been looking at steps which might help boost local teacher numbers and help keep them in Angus and the latest report to children and learning committee councillors has suggested a range of actions.
However, at this stage, the authority does not believe it is worth offering a ‘golden hello’ cash incentive to bring people to Angus because cost-benefit analysis and the experience of other authority areas has not shown it to be good value or have a significant impact on recruitment.
Schools and learning chief Pauline Stephen has said the option could be kept on the stocks for future review, but she recommended to the committee that further consideration should be given to exploring the possibility of offering relocation expenses, car leasing, salary sacrifice for childcare costs and a dedicated recruitment microsite.
She told councillors: “Some other Scottish local authorities have explored recruitment of teachers from other countries, most notably Ireland and Canada.
“It was felt that current vacancy levels did not, at this time, warrant such an approach but this is a future option should circumstances change.
“It is possible however, to advertise in other countries and have some presence in their university careers fairs and this can be explored further.
“Establishing a microsite for the recruitment for teachers is another possibility. This can include highlighting the many positive aspects of living and working in Angus and share positive and motivational stories of current teachers, schools and innovations. We plan to do this by August 2016.”
The official continued: “It was recognised that the first ‘grow our own’ primary teacher courses were under way in partnership with the universities of Aberdeen and Dundee.
“It is suggested that further discussions are held with university colleagues about the possibility of providing similar programmes for secondary subjects in shortage areas such as the STEM subjects.
“These discussions are under way and we will report the outcome to a future committee.”
Montrose councillor David May said: “I have often spoken in this committee about the situation regarding teacher numbers and would commend the director and staff for the ideas they have come forward with.”
