Exclusive:'Broken promises': 9 in 10 newly qualified primary teachers do not have full-time permanent jobs
The Scottish government has been accused of ‘breaking promises’ as new figures show only one in 10 new primary teachers has a steady job
Nine in 10 newly qualified primary school teachers do not have full-time permanent work, according to official data.
Union bosses said the government is training staff for “jobs that do not currently exist” while teachers in permanent posts are overworked.
Stark new figures illustrate a steep decline over the past five years in the number of primary teachers with secure posts.
Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman Willie Rennie said the SNP has “broken promise after promise to teachers and children”.
Mr Rennie said: “It is abysmal that nine in 10 new primary school teachers can’t get full-time, permanent employment.
“The SNP have broken promise after promise to teachers and children, with huge numbers of secondary and primary teachers now stuck on temporary contracts.”
The government figures refer to teachers who are post-induction and have completed their guaranteed one year placement after graduation.
They show a drop in the number of full-time, permanent places being secured.
Between 2018/19 and 2024/25 the percentage of post-induction primary teachers in full-time, permanent employment dropped from 41.1 per cent to 10.8 per cent.
The percentage of post-induction primary teachers in part-time, temporary employment has increased from 5.8 per cent to 13.2 per cent.
The issue of permanent posts for newly qualified teachers has been a long running concern for the profession.
Last month strikes were called off at the eleventh hour over workload concerns.
Securing more permanent posts was a key focus of the dispute over class contact time reduction, which will require significant numbers of additional teachers in its implementation.
Mr Rennie added: “What a huge waste of talent when young people need good teachers more than ever, when their schooling was turned upside down by Covid and when far too many pupils with additional needs are not being properly supported.
“I have met so many teachers who have been forced out of the profession because they can’t make ends meet and are tired of lurching between short-term work.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats have got a realistic plan to give teachers proper, stable contracts, instead of short-term and zero hours work, so we can get Scottish education back to its best.”
The figures for secondary school places also show a drop, however this is not as severe as at primary level.
The percentage of post-induction secondary teachers in full-time, permanent employment has fallen from 57.9 per cent to 42.5 per cent.
The number in part-time, temporary employment has increased from 2.9 per cent to 5.3 per cent.
Mike Corbett, Scotland National Official for the NASUWT teaching union, said: “Teachers, pupils and the taxpayer are currently being failed by a system which is training new teachers for jobs that do not currently exist, while teachers already working in schools are being engulfed by excessive workloads and pupils are frequently being taught by non-subject specialists.
“We need the creation of an effective workforce planning strategy to ensure that newly qualified teachers can secure permanent roles and that subject and geographical shortages are being addressed.
“Funding earmarked for teacher recruitment must also be ring-fenced to ensure local authorities are using the funds as intended.”
An EIS spokeswoman said: ”The lack of permanent job opportunities for newly qualified and recently qualified teachers is a long-standing issue of very serious concern.”
Referring to the settlement arranged as part of last month’s talks with government, she added: “The agreement secured, which followed a strong vote for industrial action by EIS members, will deliver an additional £40 million in Scottish government funding to local authorities this year for the employment of additional teachers in our schools, with further funding to support full implementation of the agreement to follow.
“This will lead to more permanent jobs for teachers from this year on an ongoing basis, with primary teachers being needed in large numbers for implementation of the class contact reduction to take effect from August 2027, and secondary teachers being needed in large numbers ahead of August 2029.
“Recruitment and further associated workforce planning begins now.”
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The Scottish government was contacted for comment.
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