Teacher Numbers

Created on: 23 Jan 2018 | Last modified: 10 Apr 2018

Background

1.1 The following resolution was approved by the 2011 Annual General Meeting:

"This AGM condemns the lack of employment for newly qualified teachers and instructs Council to campaign against a reduction in teacher numbers."

1.2 In 2007 there were 55,100 FTE teachers in Scotland according to the annual census. In the 2011 census the number was 51,441 FTE. This is a drop of 6.6% in teacher numbers. Over the same period of time the pupil population declined from 692,551 to 670,551 a drop of 3.1%.

1.3 The Teacher Induction Scheme was introduced in 2001 as part of the 2001 Agreement, "A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century." This ensures that probationer teachers on the Scheme are entitled to one year's guaranteed employment to complete the Standard for Full Registration. As the GTCS has documented the loss of teaching jobs from 2007 has been concentrated in the post-probationary period.

1.4 As part of its response to trade union and public concern to the loss of employment opportunities Scottish Government, through the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, reviewed the issue of teacher employment. This included a review of teacher workforce planning, the mechanism through which the Government anticipates workforce demand and facilitates places in teacher training institutions to maintain numbers.

1.5 The SNCT 2011 Pay and Conditions Agreement committed Scottish Councils to have a teaching workforce of 51.131 FTE. As it transpired the total exceeded this by 310 teachers.

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