Over a fifth of primary teachers are on temporary contracts compared with just 14 per cent of secondary staff, according to new data from the Scottish government.
Official figures published yesterday show that 5,226 primary teachers were on temporary contracts at the time of the teacher census in 2024, which equates to 21 per cent of teachers working in the sector.
The number of primary teachers on temporary contracts is down on the previous year, when 5,546 primary teachers were on temporary contracts, but up on the 2019 figure of 4,780.
Temporary contracts
Ultimately, over 400 more primary teachers were on temporary contracts in 2024 than in 2019.
In secondary schools, 3,596 teachers were on temporary contracts in 2024, which amounted to 14 per cent of all teachers in the sector.
The 2024 figure represents a decrease on 2023, when 3,789 secondary teachers were on temporary contracts, but an increase on the 2019 pre-pandemic figure of 3,468.
In recent years, interest in the number of teachers on temporary contracts has grown as new primary teachers, in particular, have found it increasingly difficult to secure work.
After completing their probation in 2023-24, just 12.8 per cent of new primary teachers found permanent posts (full time or part time) - down from 16.6 per cent in 2023 and 57.6 per cent in 2017.
In 2024, 47 per cent of secondary post-probationers got full- or part-time permanent jobs.
However, the picture has also worsened for new secondary staff over time: in 2017, 58.7 per cent of secondary post-probationers secured a permanent post.
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