Having met with all of our new PGCE (primary and secondary) students on their first day to alert them to the challenge in finding placements and the understandable pressure on schools, I have since received two notes of concern from students; and one student has written to The TES Scotland expressing concern.

By the time you published that letter, I can confirm that all PGCE (primary) students were placed.

Notwithstanding the above, I understand and share the concerns of our student teachers when there has been a delay in finding a placement. We are making every effort to provide additional appropriate support to students.

What is needed, above all, is the kind of dialogue and clear arrangements between schools, local authorities and education faculties that will ensure the capacity of placements necessary to meet the increased demand for new teachers.

Hirek Kwiatkowski Dean of the Faculty of Education University of Glasgow