The soaring cost of supply teachers in Scotland’s schools is revealed in “eye-watering” new figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives.
The stats, in response to a series of Freedom of Information requests, show that in 2024-25 alone, councils spent £76,653,429.47 on supply teachers – likely to be the highest on record.
Over the last three years, £277,418,368.25 has been spent on supply teachers, with annual costs rising year on year.
In 2021-22, local authorities spent £63,173,030.95, rising to £65,916,613.97 in 2022-23, £71,675,293.86 in 2023-24, and finally £76,653,429.47 in 2024-25.
This represents an increase of £13,480,398.52 in just three years – and the true total is likely to be even higher, as three councils were unable to provide data.
Shadow education secretary Miles Briggs has blamed the SNP’s failure to properly recruit and retain permanent teachers, describing the situation as “unsustainable”.
Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Miles Briggs said: “These eye-watering figures expose yet another example of SNP incompetence in managing Scotland’s education.
“Reliance on supply teachers has ballooned under the SNP because they have failed to recruit and retain enough full-time teachers – leaving pupils facing disruption and taxpayers footing an ever-growing bill.
“Despite their promise to increase teacher numbers, they have fallen, while cuts have reduced the number of newly qualified teachers being given full-time posts.
“With fewer people entering the profession and more driven out, the SNP has made teaching in Scotland increasingly unsustainable.”
Notes to editors:
Last year, local authorities spent over £75 million on supply teachers. In 2024-25, local authorities spent £76,653,429.47 on supply teachers. However, the figure is likely higher as East Lothian Council, East Renfrewshire Council and Midlothian Council were all unable to give the data. Glasgow Council spent the most with £11,197,666. (Various Freedom of Information requests, 2 October 2025, available on request).
In the last three years, local authorities spent almost £280 million on supply teachers. Between 2021-22 and 2024-25, local authorities spent £277,418,368.25 on supply teachers; £63,173,030.95 in 2021-22, £65,916,613.97 in 2022-23, £71,675,293.86 in 2023-24, and £76,653,429.47 in 2024-25. (Various Freedom of Information requests, 2 October 2025, available on request).
Spending on supply teachers has increased by over £13 million in the last three years. In 2021-22, local authorities spent £63,173,030.95 on supply teachers, but this increased to £76,653,429.47 in 2024-25. This is an increase of £13,480,398.52 and is likely at an all-time high. (Various Freedom of Information requests, 2 October 2025, available on request).
The number of teachers have decreased since the SNP came to power. Teacher numbers, including early learning and childcare teachers, have decreased from 55,100 in 2007 to 53,412 in 2024 – a reduction of 1,688 teachers. (Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland: 2015 edition, 9 December 2015, link; Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland: 2024 edition, 10 December 2024, link).
The number of post-probation teachers finding full-time employment has decreased. In 2016-17, 56.5% of post-probation teachers found full-time employment, only 24.9% did in 2023-24. (TES, 30 March 2025, link).