Teaching jobs in Scotland?

[teachscotland]

Hi all, I'll be relocating to Scotland for the next academic year and I'm looking at teaching in the Edinburgh/Glasgow area. I have a few questions I hope some of you might be able to answer.

What's the best online source of jobs? I'm looking at the Tes in England, but there don't seem to be many jobs advertised in Scotland - is this because TES is not the main source of jobs for Scotland, or is it the wrong time of year and there aren't many posts available at the moment for next academic here? What's the notice period for teaching job roles in Scotland? Is it half a term for state sector like it is in England?

Many thanks in advance .

I can't answer the question about notice periods but I'd suggest using this site for teaching vacancies https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/

My Job Scotland is the best place for teaching jobs.

Be aware that the situation for teaching jobs is pretty dire at the moment, for example, Glasgow City Council, are slashing teaching places and not employing any probationers this year. North Lanarkshire Council are also not employing many probationers. After university, teachers are guaranteed one years probation with a local council, after this they usually get a permanent teaching post but in recent years this hasn’t happened.

There’s more jobs to be found in the Highlands and Islands rather than the Central belt. Yes it’s half term (or the Easter holidays as we call them up here)

Notice period in Scotland for main scale teaching jobs is 4 weeks only .

There are very , very few teaching jobs in Scotland at the moment particularly across the central belt , they are due to cut some teaching jobs too( budget cuts) My job Scotland is the best place to look for jobs .

That is the best place to look for teaching jobs in Scotland, but before that, where did you qualify?

If outwith Scotland, you’ll need to register with the GTCS: https://www.gtcs.org.uk/registration/

Oh I forgot to add that unfortunately a lot of vacancies are now advertised internally through the council’s intranet.

The job situation for teachers in Scotland is completely dire. Good luck!

Edinburgh council are a horrific employer. Although if you get a good head teacher it can make all the difference!

I'm afraid there aren't teaching jobs in the Highlands either, unless you're willing to move to remote areas like Orkney etc.

Thanks for your replies all sounds very depressing.

Are you registered with GTCS? Probably start there and make sure your qualification is transferable.

Primary? Secondary? Which local authority? Any external vacancies should be on myjobscotland website.

It's not as simple as just being able to apply for jobs. You would have to find someone that would be willing to support your registration with the GTCS to convert your qualifications. I've heard of councils doing this for HT posts, but never for a classroom teacher.

Thanks yes GTCS registration is in progress.

There are no jobs.

If you check myjobscotland and set alerts you will be alerted if supply lists open. Fife have their own jobs website.

But first the GTCs is the website you need to look at.

My daughter has been successful for Fife teaching but they won't be guaranteeing her a job. Edinburgh have interviewed for the supply list but their central pool for jobs is only for internal applicants.

If you can move to more rural areas then you'll have a better chance of finding a job.

There seem to be very few permanent contracts ,all mat cover and supply cover

Sorry to continue the doom and gloom, but as others have said, jobs are pretty scarce across the central belt. Are you primary or secondary?

It's like others have said - not at all good. Subject, level and location will make a difference though. Primary will be worst. Physics/computing in secondary better. Outside central belt better.

I would recommend joining the Scottish Supply Teachers groups to get a better understanding of the challenges. Even getting on supply lists isn't all that easy. It's not at all like England with the agencies.

Also look at wider options in education. If you are English qualified with GCSE or 11+ experience there are now lots of online schools and tuition companies etc.

Can anyone explain how the news reports that teachers are leaving the profession in droves due to the increase in red tape / admin, yet the news also reports that there are no jobs available. It doesn’t seem to make sense. Unless the government vastly increased class sizes or the population has taken a huge drop I don’t know about?

There are always lots of teachers coming through the universities and simply no vacancies for them at the moment.

@Fandangoes I think you’re confusing Scotland with England where I believe there is a teacher shortage.

It’s just my opinion but I believe in Scotland teaching is seen as a well-paid job that’s stable (ie you’re not going to get fired from) a lot of my friends either chose teaching straight from uni or as a second career (like me).

When I was first interested in teaching loads of people tried to put me off saying there was no jobs and some teachers had been on the supply list for 8 years without a permanent job. I believe it led to some unis temporarily closing the PDGE course (I could be wrong it was a while ago). When I graduated (8 years ago) it was the opposite, there was a shortage of teachers and all my cohort walked into permanent jobs after probation. Now it’s back to no jobs, a friend who is a probationer has been told there’s no chance of any jobs this year.

I’m a bit surprised as I understand there’s quite a few teachers retiring too.

Don't we have a steadily falling birth rate in Scotland?

Yes, England and Scotland are different countries with different education systems and training. See also Wales and NI.

Teachers are leaving in both countries, but far less so in Scotland (not that behaviour and conditions are that much better but teachers are MUCH better paid without all the UPS hoops to jump through ) after only 6 years and on £48.5k it's very hard to give it up without a significant pay drop.

Scotland have been in a vicious cycle for years now with the teacher induction scheme training too many and churning out probationers every year for the guaranteed induction year - funding for that is separate to school budgets -so the result is they don't keep them on, and just take the next batch of free labour. Over and over.

Permanent contracts have become like golddust. I got out completely and I am so grateful. When I did my PGCE (back in the golden days where we could actually get permanent jobs at the end of it) I planned to stay for life.

Cuts cuts cuts. Those in jobs are being as stretched as possible. Class sizes are increasing, teachers are covering for absent colleagues to their legal limit, no support teachers or team teaching. No small groups for extra literacy or numeracy. No trips or professional learning as that requires you bring out of school. Some are required to work between more than one school within a council. So yes, teachers are retiring, but they're often not being replaced.

Unfortunately good permanent posts are like gold dust. Both of my neighbours who are teachers are now on reduced posts and our neighbouring council has reduced posts.

I actually left a permanent job but have gained a two year contract in another council. After that, who knows.

Go for it op. The pay is much , much higher than England ( I have friends who are HODs there that are on less than I am). Just be aware that your income most likely wouldn't count towards a mortgage.