A host of measures have been rolled out in an attempt to avert a crisis concerning teacher numbers in Perth and Kinross.
Such is the anxiety at the lack of teachers, the council piloted a range of “additional” incentives for posts deemed difficult to fill, including relocation and travelling expenses and promoting the benefits of moving to the area.
The council is being advised to encourage qualified teachers currently not working to return to the job and providing affordable housing to assist in “hard-to-fill” posts.
It has also agreed to work in partnership with Dundee University to offer a funded teacher training course for council employees who have graduated.
A report by Paul Davison, corporate research and information manager with Perth and Kinross Council, acknowledges there is a “recognised shortage” of qualified teachers seeking work in Scotland, and reveals that around 40 posts require cover for maternity/ paternity/adoption leave at any given time of the year in Perth and Kinross.
The situation was highlighted last month, when it was found that more than 100 teaching posts were unfilled in Dundee. Mr Davison’s report to be discussed by council chiefs next week says there were 1,482 individual requests from schools for supply cover during 2014/15, but 39% of these were not met.
It also reveals some staff who agreed to join as part of a recruitment exercise in May/June “invariably” indicate they have received an alternative job offer elsewhere.
“In 2014, this caused a shortage of seven teachers on the first day of term, requiring cover,” Mr Davison’s report states.
“A total of 63 probationers are currently in post, comprising 73% of the original request of 86. This shortfall clearly highlights the challenge presented to the council in maintaining numbers with new teachers as others retire or move on.
“Perth and Kinross is similar to many other councils, especially those with smaller schools in rural areas, in experiencing difficulties in recruiting teachers for permanent, temporary and supply positions.
“Looking ahead, workforce intelligence suggests that there is likely to be a significant number of vacancies arising due to the ageing teacher population.”
His report adds: “Teacher shortages are managed as efficiently as possible by individual schools but there will be inevitable effects which will cause additional pressure to be felt by existing staff in schools.
“Some headteachers and deputes have been fully class committed for many months, to deal with staff shortages. Where headteachers and deputes are required to provide cover themselves, this can have an impact on the efficient wider running of a school.”