Teacher numbers in the Highlands reduced by 30 in a year

Figures show a reduction in teacher numbers in the past year in the Highland Council area.

The 2022 Scottish teacher census shows teacher numbers in the Highlands reduced by 30 between 2021 and 2022.

Last year there were 2322 teachers registered in the region in total.

The Times has published a list of teacher numbers across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland which reveals that the biggest cuts have been made in councils controlled by the SNP.

Nine SNP-led authorities including Highland saw a reduction in teacher numbers last year: in Clackmannanshire (-4), Perth and Kinross (-12), East Dunbartonshire (-15), Dundee (-22), Angus (-27), Renfrewshire (-30), East Ayrshire (-32) and North Ayrshire (-40).

There was also a decrease in Dumfries and Galloway (-51), where the SNP and Labour work together.

However there were also increases in SNP-controlled Glasgow (+105) and Midlothian (+42) as well as in Aberdeen (+70) where an SNP-Lib Dem coalition rules.

There is no explanation alongside the figures of whether reductions are as a result of deliberate moves to reduce teacher numbers; arise from teachers leaving and not being replaced; or difficulties in recruitment.

Highland Council has offered an explanation for a reduction in the number of teachers employed in local schools.

A spokeswoman said that the drop in Highland numbers was due to a combination of falling pupil numbers across schools as a whole as well as the region being allocated fewer probationer teachers, with many newer graduates opting to stay in the central belt.

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