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Headmaster warns of technology teachers shortage in north-east

New Banff head teacher Alan Horberry.
New Banff head teacher Alan Horberry.

A north-east headmaster has warned the region is facing a shortage of technology teachers if more is not done to nurture local talent.

Banff Academy head teacher Alan Horberry revealed an alarming number of teacher vacancies in Aberdeenshire over the next three years.

Addressing local councillors, he said: “There will be 25 technology vacancies in Aberdeenshire over the next three years and we have no plans to train new teachers.

“All the technology teachers are trained in the central belt, live in the central belt, stay in the central belt and work in the central belt.

“That will be a concern that, in an area with a focus on technology, we can’t teach technology in our schools.”

Mr Horberry, who was previously the head teacher at Mintlaw Academy, added that everything was done at Banff Academy to ensure specialist teachers were available for classes approaching exams.

Charles Buchan, vice-chairman of the region’s education committee, echoed Mr Horberry’s concerns.

The former teacher said: “What he’s saying is very appropriate. Edinburgh and Glasgow used to produce a surplus of teachers, but not now.

“Now we’re putting money into home-grown teachers, we’re going through all possible ways of attracting teachers.”

Mr Buchan highlighted the success of a scheme to retrain former oil and gas professionals as teachers in science, technology, engineering and maths. A pilot scheme was launched last year and 12 of the 14 trainees are on course to become teachers.

The revelation of the shortage came as Education Secretary John Swinney was questioned about teacher numbers in Aberdeenshire.

Taking questions at Holyrood, Mr Swinney said an £88million teacher recruitment campaign launched last month would improve the situation.

Speaking about “home-grown” teachers in local areas, Mr Swinney added: “The relationships between the university community, the colleges that are generating teachers and the work of our schools is absolutely critical to ensure that we have a strong approach to the learning of our teaching workforce.”