The Press and Journal is reporting that a teacher is being forced to travel to the south coast of England to work because of restrictive rules applied in Scotland…
English teacher Alison Shand lives in Forres but commutes to Hastings in East Sussex – a distance of more than 600 miles – as her qualifications do not permit her to teach in her home country.
Last night she hit out at the “frustrating” rules laid down by the General Teaching Council of Scotland – and blamed the system for the current teaching crisis sweeping the region.
It comes after Moray Council reported earlier this month that staff shortages had reached such extremes that children could be sent home from school because no-one was available to take classes.
English was listed as one of the worst affected subject areas, but under current guidelines, teachers who gain qualifications outside Scotland are not allowed to teach in its schools.
Ms Shand stays with a friend while teaching at ARK William Park Academy in Hastings, making the journey back to Forres every fortnight.
The 45-year-old said she would dearly love to find work closer to home…
Ms Shand said the difficulties had arisen because she trained seven years ago through a system known as the Graduate Teacher Programme.
And she claimed the only difference between the set-up south of the border and the one insisted on by the General Teaching Council of Scotland was a single essay…
The General Teaching Council of Scotland said it had set up a group to weigh-up the case for a more “flexible approach” to how job applications are considered…
More at: Teacher slams rules after being refused job in Moray school – Press and Journal
Seems like a bit of an own goal by the General Teaching Council of Scotland (although I am sure colleagues and students in Hastings are most grateful)…
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