The teaching recruitment crisis in Aberdeen has worsened with the news the city council is searching for replacements for two more headteachers who left their positions last week.
Stewart Duncan has departed his role at Gilcomstoun School and Catherine Tominey retired from her post at St Joseph’s – which means that a total of 16 primary schools in the city are now without heads.
Education convener Angela Taylor said that cries for help to the Scottish Government had been “met with silence” and claimed the Named Person Legislation was putting people off.
She added: “It is no secret Aberdeen has a shortage of teachers.
“Our children get the best education we can provide and that is why it is disappointing we have been unable to recruit head teachers in some primary schools.
“We have made representation to the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the Depute First Minister, John Swinney, looking for help, but this plea has so far been met by silence.
“My colleague and council leader, Jenny Laing, recently pointed out the Named Person Legislation was putting people off taking on the role of head teacher.
“This legislation appears to remain a barrier to teachers who are finding that, despite repeated promises from the Scottish Government to declutter responsibility within schools, more and more responsibility is being passed on to headteachers without significant pay rewards.”
In addition to the lack of head teachers, there are 51 vacancies for other roles in primary schools in the city as well as 29 in secondary schools.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman responded: “The legislation to introduce a universal named person service for every child and their parents/carers was backed by a wide range of children’s charities and professionals and was passed in the Scottish Parliament with cross-party support and not a single vote against.
“We are consulting on a review of governance which will explore all options to ensure the right balance of autonomy and accountability in our education system.
“The review also recognises that head teachers have a key responsibility as leaders of learning, and we have introduced a masters qualification for headship which demonstrates the significance of this role.
“While it is ultimately the responsibility of individual local authorities, the Scottish Government is taking a number of actions to help recruit and retain teachers.
“We are spending £88million this year to make sure every school has access to the right number of teachers.”
