The current employment situation for newly qualified teachers in Scotland is deeply concerning. After completing probation in 2023, I was unable to secure a teaching post and, despite being registered for supply work with my local authority, was not offered a single day of supply. This had a significant impact on both my mental health and financial security and ultimately forced me to seek employment outside the profession I had trained for.
I continued applying through recruitment pools and have now secured a fixed-term area-cover contract, requiring a commute of around an hour each way. While I am grateful to be teaching again, this still offers no long-term job security.
Scotland is investing significant time and public money in training teachers who are qualified, willing and actively trying to work, yet many are being left without meaningful employment or a realistic route to permanency. The personal and financial consequences of this should not be underestimated. Without greater stability and genuine employment opportunities, the profession risks losing committed teachers simply because they cannot afford to wait indefinitely for a permanent job.
This is answer 133 of the 269 written answers that teachers let us quote anonymously in the Scottish Teacher Employment Survey 2026. It answers the survey’s last question: what do the people who make decisions about teacher employment need to know?
We have corrected spelling, added paragraph breaks and removed details that could identify anyone. Words in square brackets are ours.