The figures show that 607 teacher vacancies were advertised at February 2008, 1.2 per cent of the full teaching complement, down from 695 in 2007.  The number of posts advertised which had been vacant for more than three months increased from 138 last year to 200 this year, representing 33 per cent of vacancies.

Almost 3,500 probationer teachers have been provisionally allocated to publicly funded schools for 2008/09.  86 per cent of these applicants were allocated their first or second choice.         

SNP MSP Rob Gibson welcomed the reduction in teacher vacancies and the higher level of probationers in employment.  He said: “These figures are good news for Scotland’s schools with higher numbers of probationer teachers finding employment and the overall number of vacancies down on previous years.

“The falling numbers of vacancies are particularly welcome as new and returning teachers take up positions throughout the year.

“With the SNP’s commitment to maintain teacher numbers as school rolls fall and to have more than 20,000 teachers in training by 2011 it is clear from these figures that local authorities will have the teaching resources to bring down class sizes and to deliver high quality education to Scotland’s school children.

“Whilst there are some higher vacancy levels in more rural parts of Scotland as a former teacher in the Highlands I would urge teachers and probationers to look into the advantages of rural living and consider taking up what are incredibly exciting opportunities to teach in some of our more rural schools.”

Conservative Spokesperson for Children, Schools & Skills Liz Smith MSP, however pointed to the drop in the number of probationer teachers receiving their first or second choice and the lack of employment opportunities after their probationary period ends. 

Smith said: “There has been a drop in the number of probationer teachers allocated to their first or second choice authorities, from 88 per cent last year to 86 per cent this year. Obviously we recognise that not everyone will get what they want all the time but when you consider that the number of vacancies advertised for longer than three months is up from 138 last year to 200 this year, there are some questions to be asked.

“We welcome the decision to establish a Review Board in the General Teaching Council, and look forward to receiving its findings. It is very important that the GTC Scotland - which is best placed to advise what teaching skills will be available in both the short and long term - has a formal and regular forum in which to discuss these issues with those who employ teachers. However, the fact remains that too many probationary teachers are having to leave the profession because of a lack of opportunities once their probationary period is up.

“One solution, which Scottish Conservatives are pushing for, is to give headteachers greater control over their own budgets, opening up the possibility to offer premium rates in the hope of attracting probationary teachers to areas or schools that perhaps have some difficulty in recruiting staff. This idea would really make the difference and address a problem that has been a consistent thorn in the flesh of the teaching profession.”