Teacher recruitment data: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for how many teachers have qualified in Technological Education in the past year, as well as how many are projected to qualify this year 24/25.

In addition, as Cabinet Secretary for Education, are you able to advise what the Scottish Government is doing to alleviate and resolve the recruitment crisis, with reference to particular skills shortage fields such as my own.

Response

This is a formal notice under Section 17(1) - information not held.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

University qualifiers for Initial Teacher Education, split by main subject of study for 2023-24 is not currently available. Data is currently being compiled for a release later in the year. 2024-25 data will not be available until next year.

Further information can be obtained from FHEstatistics@gov.scot.

Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of teaching staff and we are providing them with £186.5m this year as part of an agreement to restore teacher numbers to 2023 levels.

We know there are challenges in some specific subject areas and that is why our Teaching Bursary Scheme provides bursaries to career changers wishing to undertake a one year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in the hardest to fill teaching subjects, including STEM and modern languages.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.