Skye councillor says £1m teacher recruitment fund is not enough
Written by MartyM on 7 September 2026
7 SEPTEMBER 2026
Get in touch if you’ve got a story you’d like us to look into. Send a WhatsApp or send an email.
Skye councillor says £1m teacher recruitment fund is not enough
A Highland councillor says a new Scottish Government fund aimed at tackling teacher shortages in rural and island communities does not go far enough.
The £1 million Teacher Recruitment Assistance Fund (TRAF) will help teachers taking up posts with relocation and housing costs.
The Scottish Government says the fund is a pilot, with its impact to be monitored before decisions are made on future funding. It is part of wider measures to address teacher recruitment and reduce class contact time.
Skye councillor John Finlayson says the funding will not meet the scale of the challenge facing rural authorities.
He said:
“While I am delighted that finally consideration is being given by the Scottish Government to the unique and widespread challenges that rural authorities face, with the recruitment and retention of teachers for some subjects, £1 million pounds shared amongst the many councils who will be eligible to receive funding is not going to make the difference required.”
Teachers are also due to receive a further 90 minute reduction in weekly class contact time from August 2027 for primary teachers and from August 2029 for secondary teachers.
Councillor Finlayson says that could increase pressure on rural councils because more teachers will be needed to cover the same amount of classroom teaching.
He said:
“The added pressures that are also associated with a further reduction in class contact time for all teachers which will see a further 90minute reduction to 21 hours maximum class contact time, means more teachers will be needed across the whole country which I believe, will mean it will be even harder for rural authorities to recruit staff.”
He says the situation could eventually force councils to consider changes to how schools operate, including a shorter school week.
The Scottish Government says the recruitment fund is part of a wider programme of measures, including a minimum three year job guarantee for newly qualified teachers and plans to help established primary teachers gain additional registration.
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said the Government must “continue our work to cut the costs of the school day for families” and that she would work with “young people, their families, the workforce, trade unions and local government to ensure every child receives the highest standard of education.”
