As Scotland’s education system grapples with a severe shortage of permanent teaching positions, many newly qualified teachers are being forced to seek employment abroad or settle for unstable supply work, BBC Scotland has learned. Analysis of Scottish government data reveals that only 25% of teachers who completed their probation year in 2024/25 secured permanent posts, with the majority left in temporary contracts or without teaching jobs altogether.
Louise Fraser, a 24-year-old primary school teacher, is one of those impacted by the crisis. After struggling to find stable work in Scotland following her probation year in 2022, she made the difficult decision to move to Dubai for greater job security and a better quality of life. “I didn’t just want to move to Dubai for the lifestyle, I moved because I needed the job security,” she said. Now engaged and wanting to return home, Louise is deeply concerned about the prospect of re-entering “this dire job crisis” in Scotland.
Another teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, has been on the supply list for an astonishing nine and a half years. The situation became so dire that he accumulated £50,000 in debt and even attempted to take his own life last year. “It has been so stressful, and has left me with bills I have been unable to pay,” he said. “I got myself in such a bad place last year I tried to take my own life.”
The EIS teaching union has expressed grave concerns about the crisis, with General Secretary Andrea Bradley stating that a “significant number” of qualified teachers are “limping from one temporary contract to another” and considering leaving the profession entirely due to the financial and emotional toll.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth acknowledged the challenges, noting that the increased cost of employing teachers has put significant strain on local authorities. However, she said progress is being made, with a recent increase in teacher numbers. Gilruth stated that the government and local authorities must work together to address the crisis, which she admitted is “not good enough” in its current state.
The situation has sparked calls for urgent action to address the funding and collaboration issues at the heart of the teacher shortage in Scotland. As the crisis continues to impact the lives and careers of dedicated educators, the future of Scotland’s education system hangs in the balance.