Hundreds of teachers to be axed as two Scots councils set to make major job cuts

HUNDREDS of teachers could be axed amid major job cuts by two Scottish councils.

Glasgow City Council, the country’s largest local authority, is planning to ditch 172 teaching posts across its primary and secondary schools.

The council is looking at several education reform options in order to plug a £107million budget hole in the next three years, Tes Magazine reports.

It’s understood union representatives were informed of the plans yesterday and headteachers are to be told of the plans next week.

Some fear the cuts will negatively impact the poorest pupils and create an increased workload for teachers.

James How, Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association district secretary for Glasgow, said: “School rolls in the secondary sector are still rising as we speak.

“Reduced staffing will increase workloads and will be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of staff.

“It will probably lead to increased sick leave and have a direct impact on attainment, leaving pupils in Glasgow with a widening attainment gap to overcome.

“Pupils deserve to have the best educational opportunities we can provide. This budget does nothing to improve their educational outcomes.”

Glasgow City Council said the level of savings required in the current financial situation is “significantly more challenging” and officers will do “everything they can” to minimise the impact.

A spokesperson added: “Officers are looking at several education service reform options as part of a budget that required to find £107million worth savings from council services over the next three years.

“For many years education spending has been protected, relative to other services, in the budget process.

“However, with the education budget now amounting to more than half of service expenditure directed by the council, the level of savings required in the current financial situation it is significantly more challenging.

“Meetings have taken place today with teacher trade unions to discuss the challenges and make them aware of the savings needed.

“Discussion will also take place with headteachers next week which will include a review of staffing formulas from the August term.

“Officers will do everything they can to minimise the impact but in the current financial climate we have to look at every option.”

Meanwhile, dozens of school jobs are at risk in North Ayrshire as the local authority faces a £16million budget gap.

35 jobs could be axed across the region’s schools if a staffing review is approved, reports the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.

The proposals will be considered at the annual North Ayrshire Council (NAC) budget meeting next week.

The move comes as fewer young people attend the area’s schools as well as changes to official guidance on the proper classroom ratio between pupil and teacher numbers.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “A shift in demographics means we have fewer young people in North Ayrshire and our school roll has fallen by approximately 1,000 pupils in recent years. As a consequence, the corresponding funding we receive has also decreased.

“As such, we are in discussions with the Scottish Government about the teacher-to-pupil ratio and the potential to redress this imbalance.

“It’s important to note that North Ayrshire Council has a no compulsory redundancy policy and, if approved by elected members when they meet to consider the 2024/25 budget, any reduction in staffing numbers would be managed through natural turnover or voluntary redundancy.”

We previously told how Scots teachers were informed they ‘won’t have a job’ next year in a Friday afternoon email.

North Lanarkshire Council sent the message to staff at close of play informing them their contracts would not be renewed.

Teachers on fixed-term contracts were told they would be moved onto the supply teacher list and be contacted when temporary work came up.