Clackmannanshire is one of the 9 Challenge Authorities and risks not being able to spend the additional funding provided for raising attainment through the funding provided for the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) Schools and clusters had identified that a key element of their planned Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) spend related to teachers. This will not go ahead and previously submitted plans will need to be revised. The Authority may suffer reputational risk by not spending money specifically provided for these Scottish Government initiatives. Our SAC plans which have been endorsed by the Learning Directorate of Scottish Government and Education Scotland may need to be revised. As part of its agenda to meet identified needs, the service allows schools with the highest levels of deprivation to have class sizes that are smaller than the maximum. Schools may have to operate to maximum class sizes. In many cases this could involve using ‘exempt pupil’ regulations which would push class size limits in Primary 1 to 3 beyond the 25 and 30 normal limits. Senior Managers in schools will have to cover for absences, which would take them away from their leadership role relating to e.g. quality assuring performance, tracking and monitoring learning and teaching. It could be the case that some schools may have to turn catchment children away and offer alternative places in other schools. Ultimately, a level of teacher absence beyond the norm, could lead to some schools unable to run classes for certain year groups. The Council may not be able to maintain its pupil teacher ratio in line with the commitment given as part of the Local Government Finance settlement. The service may have to move nursery teachers out of nursery classes into primary classes. 2.3 Actions to mitigate the risks The service is taking the following action to mitigate the risks associated with the recruitment shortages; The service has an open advert for teachers, both temporary and permanent. Teacher recruitment is a standing item on the LNCT agenda and we have already begun discussions with the Teachers’ Side Joint Secretary.
Clackmannanshire is one of the 9 Challenge Authorities and risks not being able to spend the additional funding provided for raising attainment through the funding provided for the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) Schools and clusters had identified that a key element of their planned Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) spend related to teachers. This will not go ahead and previously submitted plans will need to be revised. The Authority may suffer reputational risk by not spending money specifically provided for these Scottish Government initiatives. Our SAC plans which have been endorsed by the Learning Directorate of Scottish Government and Education Scotland may need to be revised. As part of its agenda to meet identified needs, the service allows schools with the highest levels of deprivation to have class sizes that are smaller than the maximum. Schools may have to operate to maximum class sizes. In many cases this could involve using ‘exempt pupil’ regulations which would push class size limits in Primary 1 to 3 beyond the 25 and 30 normal limits. Senior Managers in schools will have to cover for absences, which would take them away from their leadership role relating to e.g. quality assuring performance, tracking and monitoring learning and teaching. It could be the case that some schools may have to turn catchment children away and offer alternative places in other schools. Ultimately, a level of teacher absence beyond the norm, could lead to some schools unable to run classes for certain year groups. The Council may not be able to maintain its pupil teacher ratio in line with the commitment given as part of the Local Government Finance settlement. The service may have to move nursery teachers out of nursery classes into primary classes. 2.3 Actions to mitigate the risks The service is taking the following action to mitigate the risks associated with the recruitment shortages; The service has an open advert for teachers, both temporary and permanent. Teacher recruitment is a standing item on the LNCT agenda and we have already begun discussions with the Teachers’ Side Joint Secretary.
22-June-2017-Primary-School-Teacher-Shortage.docx