I have been teaching since 2022 and still cannot obtain a permanent job. I was working in East Lothian initially then had to take a job in another council area as I was left without a job. It was never made clear that working in another council area would break my credit to build for a permanent job.
I have now been working for East Lothian Council again and hoping when I have reached 2 years continuous service I will be entitled to a permanent position. I love what I do and it is so disheartening when others with less experience than me are getting jobs over me at this point.
I was always told in previous interviews that I just don’t have the experience but now I can see that isn’t the case and still wondering why I can’t seem to have a permanent job when I have been a fully qualified teacher for 5 years now. We all want the best for everyone but it can’t be fair to leave people like myself without jobs and those with less experience taking the available positions.
This is answer 97 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.