THERE HAS been a drop in the number of probationer teachers in Scotland going on to find permanent, full-time jobs, writes Grant Smith, education reporter.

A survey has found that of those newly qualified teachers who were in work in October 2007, only 46% had managed to secure full-time work on a permanent basis. That compared with 52% the previous year and 66% in 2005.

Compared with the previous two years there were rises in the numbers working part-time or working as supply teachers.

Overall, the number of teachers who found full-time work, either permanent or on temporary contracts, was 70%, some 5% down on the 2006 survey.

Teachers at secondary schools were more than twice as likely to be in a permanent job as those at primary schools.

The Scottish Government acknowledged last year that probationers were facing “frustration” because of a lack of permanent jobs, partly because of falling rolls.

Almost 1600 people took part in the research, which was carried out by the General Teaching Council for Scotland to gauge the impact of the teacher induction scheme.

This provides a guaranteed placement to every eligible student graduating with a teaching qualification from a Scottish university. It allows probationers to complete their training within one school year.

The annual employment survey found that 88% of respondents were continuing to teach in Scotland.

Teaching council chief executive Matthew MacIver said, “This year the figures do not paint as positive a picture as previously. There are still issues that need to be addressed regarding the allocation of probationers to available posts.”