In the past, the EIS conducted a significant survey on Scotland’s teaching professionals. The survey revealed the adverse health and well-being effects of the current severe levels of teacher workload, chronic underfunding, and the impact of the current cost of living crisis on teachers and schools.
The impact of job dissatisfaction on teachers in Scotland is evident in various aspects of their lives. The concern about an excessive number of temporary positions and the impact of job dissatisfaction on teachers in Scotland are long-standing union concerns aimed at ensuring that teaching remains an attractive profession.
This is partly to address areas where there are recruitment difficulties. Some schools in rural areas may struggle to fill positions or attract a good pool of candidates.
How do teachers feel about their jobs?
Some of the key findings of the EIS’s report demonstrate that Almost all the teachers surveyed (98%) work more than their contracted hours each week. 41% said they work more than 8 extra hours – equivalent to over one extra full day of work unpaid– each week. Only 15% of respondents expressed satisfaction (14%) or very satisfied (1%) with their workload levels. Only 2% of members participating in the survey said they could always do their work within their contracted hours. Over a third (38%) said they can never complete everything they’re asked to do within their contracted hours.
The survey indicates that only 3% of participants stated they “frequently” have sufficient time to complete paperwork. Additionally, other tasks include collaborating with colleagues and external organisations, as well as attending meetings related to supporting students with ASN. When inquired about the accessibility of frontline services for children and young individuals, 12% mentioned that they never have access to this assistance when needed; approximately 44% stated they can sometimes access it, and another 32% mentioned it is occasionally available when required. There is a need for more classroom assistants/support for inclusion and students with additional support needs. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of the respondents believe that increasing these resources would have the most significant impact on reducing their workload.
Job dissatisfaction among teachers in Scotland is a significant issue.
Unfortunately, nearly half of the teachers who participated in the survey indicated they had poor (34%) or very poor (10%) wellbeing in their job overall. More than two-thirds of the respondents mentioned they experienced frequent stress (53%) or felt stressed all the time (20%). Less than a fifth of the participants stated they would be likely (15%) or very likely (3%) to recommend teaching to someone considering entering the profession.
Approximately two-thirds of the surveyed teachers at that time reported they were either struggling (13%) or starting to struggle (50%) to pay their rent or mortgage. 81% mentioned they were struggling (16%) or starting to struggle (65%) to afford their weekly food shop. 69% of the respondents admitted to using their own money to purchase food, clothing, school supplies, or support the students they teach so that they do not go without. Half of them (51%) acknowledged that they have been reducing their spending on classroom resources because they can no longer afford to do so.
Teacher numbers fell over the past two years
Teacher numbers with the projected loss are over 170 more. Scotland is reaching a crisis point. In 2023, there were over 54,000 teachers in Scotland, with the vast majority working at either primary or secondary schools. Compared with 2013, the number of teachers in Scotland has increased by around 3,200 teachers. Jane Gow, Glasgow secretary for the EIS teaching union, said: “Glasgow schools simply can’t take any more cuts in teacher numbers. Staffing is stretched to the limit as it is, with some secondary schools reporting a current long-term shortage of subject specialists. This is the obvious impact of job dissatisfaction on teachers in Scotland”.
Impact of job dissatisfaction on teachers in Scotland and how the Government addresses this issue.
The Scottish Budget for next year includes record funding for local authorities of over £14 billion, and Scotland’s Education and Skills Budget has grown to over £4.8 billion. A teacher’s union has expressed frustration at being “used as a political pawn”. The Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA) has reported potential cuts in education, including reductions in teacher and support staff numbers. Additional funding was provided to schools during the Covid pandemic, allowing for the hiring of extra staff, but this support has now been removed. Teacher pay has increased due to successful wage campaigns. However, Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) from the Scottish Government, intended to address the attainment gap, has remained unchanged.
Council vs Government
The Scottish government has acted before to stop councils from cutting teacher numbers on financial grounds. Councils receive a significant portion of their funding from the Scottish government, often earmarked for specific purposes. Past government warnings have hinted at the potential withholding or retrieval of funds in cases where a council reduces teacher positions or reallocates funds. The EIS proposes a comparable approach to encourage the creation of permanent teaching roles over temporary ones. This initiative aims to tackle teacher job dissatisfaction in Scotland, thereby improving overall job satisfaction levels.
In Glasgow, the local authority hires between 300 and 340 probationer teachers each year.
The EIS reported that over the last decade, the council has typically hired most probationers on a permanent basis in a specific school or on fixed-term contracts. Teacher numbers in Scotland have notably increased since 2014, rising by eight percent from 49,521 to 53,459 by December of the previous year.
The Scottish Government notes that primary teacher numbers are at historically high levels, the third highest since 1980, reaching the peak last year. Despite teacher salaries constituting a significant portion of council budgets, Humza Yousaf’s Government is pushing for a national council tax freeze while also aiming to maintain teacher numbers.
According to TES magazine, 172 teaching post cuts over three years would save £27.8m.
If approved by the government, it would form part of an “education service reform” resulting in staff cuts. A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said, “The Scottish Government is dedicated to narrowing the poverty-related attainment gap, and ministers are steadfast that decreasing the number of teachers working in our schools through council cuts will not achieve this goal.” To back this aim, £145.5 million is being allocated to local authorities in the next budget to sustain teacher numbers.
The council is exploring various education reform possibilities to address a £107 million budget shortfall over the next three years. Some are concerned that these reductions may adversely affect the most disadvantaged students and increase teachers’ workloads, exacerbating the impact of job dissatisfaction on teachers in Scotland.
