Education bosses in Aberdeenshire have made a plea to retired teachers to return to the classroom to tackle a staffing crisis.
The number of vacancies in Peterhead, the region’s biggest town, is rising and there are expected to be more than a dozen empty desks by the spring.
Head teachers and their deputies are being dragged in as cover, but there are growing concerns that taking them away from their regular jobs will hamper the long-term future of the primary schools.
Now local authority education chief Maria Walker is making a direct appeal to retired teachers in the Blue Toon to come back to the classroom.
Mrs Walker said: “We’re inviting people to come back to teaching – we’ve written to them. We’re targeting an area which is somewhere people live where they’ve taught.
“We need to up the teacher numbers in Peterhead. One of the things we know about people who retire is they would want to come back, with some flexibility.”
There are currently eight vacancies across the Peterhead network with a further five expected by the spring. Two posts are already being covered by supply teachers.
At Meethill School, three of the eight posts are vacant.
Aberdeenshire Council has written to some former teachers in the area offering posts of 20, 30 or 40 teaching days between now and June 2017.
Contracts can be negotiated with individual schools to work around retirees’ lifestyles.
If the scheme is successful it could be rolled out across the rest of Aberdeenshire to shore up teacher numbers.
Mrs Walker added: “What we’re offering them is a return to teaching. If it works in Peterhead we may roll it out across Aberdeenshire.”
Council co-leader Alison Evison, chairwoman of the education committee, last night echoed Mrs Walker’s appeal.
“We’ve got a developing challenge in Peterhead,” Mrs Evison said. “The child in the classroom is the most important thing. We want to be one step ahead to make sure there is consistency.
“We’re asking our recent retirees what they can offer a school and the children. It would also allow them to enjoy their lives and retirement.
“Any teachers who are interested can get in touch – we want to get it right for all children, and there is a great pool of talent.”
Mrs Evison said the initiative – the first of its kind for Aberdeenshire – is an example of communities working to support themselves.
She added: “We’re being proactive – we’ve seen a challenge emerging and we’re stepping up to do something about it.”
At Meethill School, the staff shortage is being keenly felt by head teacher John Black.
Nearly half of the primary’s eight teaching posts are currently vacant and Mr Black fears for the long-term success of the school.
Last night he described the council’s drive to lure retired educators back to the classroom as a chance for “transformational change”.
“As it stands, when schools are so reliant on temporary members of staff that’s problematic. There’s potentially a lack of continuity.
“There used to be a big supply staff out there – now they’re thin on the ground. Now schools are having to cover internally, the staff models are extremely tight.”
Mr Black praised the “resilience” and “patience” of teachers who are covering different classes but welcomed the new proposals.
“Experienced teachers are all extremely valuable,” the head teacher said. “The notion they will be available and have this experience is an attractive one. Schools need support.
“The dearth of supply means management take up teaching and that dramatically reduces development.”
