Challenge to Renfrewshire Council – How many new teachers employed?

The First Minister said at First Minister’s questions today “If these authorities can employ teachers under the concordat – why are some authorities reluctant to do so?”

Wendy Alexander said

“The Education Minister says councils have enough money to maintain teacher numbers  so why has Renfrewshire cut 119 teaching posts on the last year alone?
A cut of 8% in the number of teachers in Renfrewshire secondaries means Renfrewshire secondary pupils have suffered the biggest cut in teachers in the whole of Scotland.

The First Minister is urging councils to employ newly qualified teachers. Yet in August Renfrewshire employed not one of 172 probationary teachers on a permanent contract.  No new teachers (ex probationers) in Renfrewshire were given a full time job in August.

Wendy challenged the local SNP Council.  If the Scottish Government has provided the money – why are Renfrewshire slashing teacher numbers?  How many of last years probationers have a full time job in Renfrewshire today.

Next Thursday SNP Councillors will have to provide an answer as to why they are cutting teachers and failing to employ new teacher.  Parents & Teachers deserve an explanation.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

New figures from GTC reveal one in five newly qualified teachers (last year’s probationers) across Scotland are unemployed.