THE Scottish Government has announced there has been a 21 per cent rise in the number of newly qualified teachers going straight into employment in Scotland since 2007.
In answer to a parliamentary question from Coatbridge and Chryston MSP Fulton MacGregor, above, the Deputy First Minister confirmed that the cohort of probationers gaining employment as soon as they qualify has risen from 66 per cent in 2007 to 87 per cent in 2016.
Last week Education Secretary John Swinney announced a £4.5 million headteacher training programme as well as a partnership with the Hunter Foundation to create headteacher leadership academies.
MacGregor said: “It’s not always easy to match newly qualified teachers with their chosen school or local authority area so it’s great to see more than a 20 per cent rise in the number of probationers getting jobs in Scottish schools as soon as they qualify.
“The SNP Government’s number one priority of increasing attainment can only be achieved with the support of a strong cohort of teachers and headteachers looking after our education system.
“For the sixth year in a row the SNP has increased student teacher intake targets while targeting specific subject areas where there are skills gaps.
“Last year’s Inspiring Teachers campaign helped drive a 19 per cent increase in PGDE applications to Scottish universities compared to the previous year, and John Swinney’s Teaching Makes People campaign has committed £3m funding to train an extra 371 teachers over the next year. On top of that, the Scottish Funding Council will be funding 400 more secondary teacher training places teachers than last year.
“Our education system is fundamental to helping Scotland thrive in the future and our Deputy First Minister is working hard to ensure that the necessary change is happening to help tackle the attainment gap and drive achievement.”
In a speech outlining the government’s vision for Scottish education, Swinney revealed a new training scheme for headteachers and a partnership with the Hunter Foundation to create headteacher leadership academies.The Scottish College for Educational Leadership will run the Excellence in Headship scheme for existing headteachers, backed by £400,000 of Scottish Government funding a year for four years. School heads will learn skills in “leading system change” .
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel