Rennie: As teacher jobs fall, the next FM must prioritise education

As the number of probationary teachers offered full-time jobs in the state sector falls, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP has condemned Nicola Sturgeon’s record on education and called on the next First Minister to repair the core problems faced by the profession.  

Official education statistics show that:  

• In 2021/22, the percentage of teachers employed in state schools in the year immediately following their probation fell to 70%, a drop of 10% from 2020/21. This is the lowest rate since 2010/11.    
• In 2021/22, the percentage of teachers employed in state schools in the year immediately following their probation with a full-time permanent position was just 33%. This compares to 57% in the 2016/17 cohort.    
• In 2021/22, the proportion of probationary teachers employed in state schools in the year immediately following their probation with a full-time temporary contract fell to 30%, a drop of 12% from 2020/21.    
• There were also 356 fewer primary school teachers in 2022 compared to 2021  

Mr Rennie said:      

“As Nicola Sturgeon steps down from power, many will remember that back in 2015 she asked to be judged on her record on education. These figures expose that record as abysmal.  

“Those who have completed their probation aren’t being offered stable contracts, with many turning to casual work or supply lists instead. Teachers who are just starting out on their careers are feeling demoralised, disillusioned and disincentivized.    

“The SNP and Greens have failed our teachers. The poverty-related attainment gap remains broadly the same, school strikes are persisting and Scotland’s largest teaching union described the government’s latest pay offer as “smoke and mirrors.”  

“Whoever takes over from Nicola Sturgeon must make education a priority. The next First Minister must scrap the pointless national testing of children as young as P1 at a cost of £17 million and give up on the government’s eye-wateringly expensive bid to break up the UK. All of this is money that could be spent on halting teacher cuts, funding stable contracts, increasing pay and boosting in-class support.”