Highland Council teacher recruitment pledge after 'extremely challenging' coronavirus crisis
TEACHER and support staff recruitment in the Highland Council area will now go ahead following the "extremely challenging" lockdown period, a senior official has pledged.
An update on the recruitment of teaching positions in Highland was presented to members of Highland Council’s education committee last week.
Head of Education, Nicky Grant, said: “I want to thank our staff members who have stepped into these vacancies while we continue in our recruitment of teaching and support staff. Their willingness to adapt, particularly within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, is recognised and appreciated.
"It has been extremely challenging to progress with recruitment to promoted posts during the lockdown period, I am glad we can now do so. We look forward to beginning this process this month and welcoming new colleagues to the Highland Council”.
The Scottish Government announced funding specifically for the recruitment of additional teachers and support staff to help their progress in the return to education.
The distribution of the announced £50m across Local Authorities has recently been confirmed, with detail to follow shortly from the Scottish Government.
"Their willingness to adapt, particularly within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, is recognised and appreciated.We look forward to beginning this process this month and welcoming new colleagues to the Highland Council”. - Nicky Grant
Highland Council says planning will begin with head teachers and union colleagues on how to maximise additional teaching and support resources when they are made available.
The intention to target numeracy, literacy, health and wellbeing and the new attainment gap will remain an initial focus, the local authority says.
Recruitment is set to begin this month for a number of posts in primary, secondary, deputy head teacher, and head teacher positions.
The council says these will be advertised externally on ‘myjobscotland’, the on-line platform used by all local authorities and in the Times Educational Supplement.
Related: Highland Council asked by Ross MSP how it will use additional funding
Council staff tackling 'very challenging' task of preparing for return to school
