30 September 2015

Aberdeenshire ‘encouraged’ by teacher recruitment summit

A high profile summit to discuss the challenges faced by councils in the north of Scotland in securing sufficient teacher numbers has been described as ‘encouraging’ by Aberdeenshire Council.

The authority was one of seven that joined in Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom today (Wed, Sep 30) for the Raising Attainment: Securing Teachers Summit, attended by Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning Angela Constance.

The summit explored the challenges faced by councils in securing and maintaining teacher numbers; looking at issues including property prices, workforce planning, and the recruitment and registration process. 

Among those attending was Co-Leader of Aberdeenshire Council Cllr Richard Thomson, who said: “The challenges we face in Aberdeenshire are by no means unique to us, so having this collective discussion is an important part of finding solutions that can benefit us all.

“There is still much to discuss but today’s summit has been very encouraging as we look at ways to improve workforce planning across Scotland, particularly in terms of the needs of the seven councils represented today.”

Also attending was the council’s Education, Learning and Leisure Committee chair, Cllr Alison Evison, who said: “Having a stable workforce is indeed a key focus for any education authority but it is important we also look at the wider context of improving attainment and ‘closing the gap’ between our learners.

“We need to ensure that the outcomes from today's summit address the real needs of our pupils and communities. It is important that we make the most appropriate use of all resources in education to prepare children for their future lives.

“We also need to explore how we can streamline the process for recruitment and registration for teachers living outside Scotland who are interested in a career here. Today’s discussions are a starting point for us to explore all of these issues.”