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 .

My DD 16 is determined to be a primary teacher and won't listen to anyone (including family members who are teachers) who say there are no jobs. Its making me extremely anxious. in 5/6 years time when she graduates, will the situation likely be any different? We are central belt.

@motheronthedancefloor from my experience and listening to others it goes in cycles so it could well be that in 6 years time the situation could be very different. Maybe the government will actually look at the forecasted number of teachers required and inform universities to limit the amount of students on teaching training courses? And stop local councils taking on large numbers of probationers for a year (because they are cheap) then not having permanent jobs for them at the end of the year?

A few years ago I would have recommended teaching as a career but at the moment I’m not so sure the way things are looking just now. If your DD still has her heart set on it I would say go for it but have a Plan B just in case.

I know someone who is a primary teacher, in her second school year since qualifying. She said a lot of people on her course (pgde) primary ones (I assume, because she did primary), I’m not sure how it works if I’m honest, but she said there were a lot who qualified but could not get a permanent position, or even part time or temporary, ne Scotland.

I did look at the my job scotland (it linked from my local council website), and there were not very many primary jobs at all, but there were quite a few more secondary jobs (though that depends on the subject).

There are in certain areas of Scotland just now. Just saw one in my LA job vacancies pop up. Secondary.

No good to the primary NQTs I support. They have been told they will at best get supply if they are extremely lucky. My school hasn't employed a supply teacher since me in 2011.

We are desperate for Maths teachers in Scotland. Most schools I know of have a vacancy or will have one in the near future. It is a huge problem and I’m not sure how (if?!) it is going to be addressed.
So if you are Maths qualified, please come to Scotland. You’ll have your pick of the jobs!
myjobscotland for council posts, scis for private. Some are posted on Tes but not many.

The situation for primary teachers does seem to be extremely poor

Nope none there either!

Oh dear. HC are poor regarding education. I've noticed a difference between GCC and HC. Hopefully in a few years things will improve.

DD is coming to the end of her first year of a BEd teaching degree for Primary and I'm finding this thread all a bit worrying for her.

DS wants to teach music so he is planning on a music degree and then doing the PGDE afterwards. Hoping it's possible for him 😬

Teacher demand goes up and down like a yoyo. A year or two ago we couldn't find enough Teachers. Chances are by the time she finishes there will be plenty of jobs again.

Let's hope so @helpfulperson ! She is busy lining herself up with summer holiday club/playscheme jobs to get more experience.

Part of the problem is that Scottish government have committed to training X amount of teachers but not to X amount of permanent contracts
Mist NQ primary teachers are looking at supply or mat cover

A young relative in Edinburgh who has a first in Languages from a top uni in addition to a primary teaching qualification and by all accounts did exceptionally well in her probationary year has failed to find a permanent role for two years. One role was withdrawn the day after it was offered as 'there was no funding'. She's that rare thing - a person with a genuine vocation to teach young children.

She now works on a temporary contract ( no job security- no chance mortgage : better rental etc) in one of the most deprived areas primary schools where she is sworn at daily and kicked/ hit on a weekly basis.

There's no permanent exclusion at primary schools in Scotland and limited disciplinary measures. She can't do what she loves to do - teach - because the number of unsupported kids with SEN and the even greater number of NT kids with unfit parents mean that it's mainly a case of babysitting and trying to stop them hurting each other.

She and her young teacher partner are thinking of emigrating.

It makes me very angry.

Sadly not uncommon
I know 6 primary teachers who qualified in the last years
None have a permanent contract
All talking about Australia

The fact that a post grad has a first or went to a top uni will make absolutely no difference. That inference of superiority over the undergraduate route is so outdated and in my experience of thirty years, untrue.

I also don't think that a true vocation is a rarity. I'd say every single one of my colleagues is a talented and caring practitioner, constantly going above and beyond in a school in an area of deprivation.

Up to last year it came down to your HTs reference and the candidate'a performance at interview- even last year and the year before there were hardly any permanent posts for those who shone. The two young people I support have little chance of employment, especially the one with a young child who cannot relocate. They are both excellent nurturing individuals who have thrown themselves in to the whole life of a school.

Unlike the other cycles over the decades, I can't see this one ending unless we curtail intake. Also I've met quite a few NQTs who should never have been allowed to graduate- mostly postgraduates. Universities need to improve their standards and stop leaving it to schools to deal with those who should have been told the truth long before that NQT year.

That's interesting. In my experience the last six probationers in my subject in our school have all come out with permanent posts. Sometimes just long term in one school, but a 'permanent to the council' post nonetheless.

Is that secondary teaching

My experience is purely in primary education.

Yup, secondary. And quite a 'big' subject.

I'm more interested in the prospects in primary teaching as my DD still won't listen to any warnings of a lack of jobs and remains determined to pursue that degree. Cannot see her moving out of the central belt either if she stays with her current bf of 2 years. Also does it matter if one graduates with a first or a third?

Would she consider secondary teaching as that seems to be where the shortages are?

Nope, she's stubborn as hell and won't consider secondary, postgraduate or any other course / career. She's been advised by us, relatives who are primary teachers, and even school careers adviser that job prospects aren't good at present, she won't hear it.

@motheronthedancefloor I wouldn’t be concerned. My mum is a teacher and when she came out in 1976, there were no jobs. I started teaching about 2006 and guess what, no jobs. It’s very very cyclical. If you’re prepared to do supply, which makes you a very strong teacher, you will get there eventually.