Around 11,000 teachers and school staff in Scotland are stuck on temporary contracts, according to figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives.
Responses to Freedom of Information requests by the party revealed that 5,557 school support staff and 5,453 teachers were employed on temporary contracts as of June 2023 – although the true figure is likely to be even higher, as one council did not respond.
This data comes against the backdrop of delayed education reforms, plummeting teacher morale and escalating classroom violence.
Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liam Kerr MSP has highlighted that the job insecurity this practice fosters will only increase “the intolerable strain that teachers and school staff already endure” after years of SNP “neglect”.
He added that the Scottish Conservatives’ New Deal for Teachers would “put an end to this culture of temporary contracts”, giving teachers and school staff more security.
Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for education Liam Kerr MSP said: “These startling figures are another example of the SNP’s neglect of education which has pushed Scottish schools to breaking point.
“Standards have slipped across the board, classroom violence has spiralled out of control and we have also seen an alarming number of stress-related absences among school staff on the SNP’s watch.
“And now it has emerged that thousands of teachers and support staff are unable to get a permanent contract. This just adds to the intolerable strain that teachers and school staff already endure, as it fuels job insecurity, while denying pupils stability and continuity.
“The Scottish Conservatives’ New Deal for Teachers will put an end to this culture of temporary contracts, giving teachers and school staff more security and enabling them to prepare for the long term.
“The Scottish Conservatives recognise that teachers and school staff must be supported in their invaluable work and that it is vital to recruit and retain the very best people.”
Notes
There are 11,000 teachers and school staff on temporary contracts. Scottish Conservative research has found that 5,557 school support staff teachers and 5,453 teachers were employed on temporary contracts as of the June 1 2023. (FOI Available On Request).
There are over 5,500 school support staff on temporary contracts. Scottish Conservative research has found that 5,557 school support staff teachers were employed on temporary contracts as of the June 1 2023. This figure is likely to be higher as 1 council did not respond. (FOI Available On Request).
Over 6,000 teachers and school staff were signed off with stress or poor mental health during the last academic year. Freedom of information requests reveal that 6,135 members of school staff missed days of work as a result of stress or poor mental health (Scottish Daily Express, 24 January 2023, link).
In 2021-22, there were almost 20,000 recorded physical or verbal attacks on teachers and school staff. Data reveals there have been at least 19,517 instances of verbal or physical abuse aimed at school teachers or staff in the last academic year 2021-22. (Scottish Daily Express, 6 December 2022, link).