STEM teacher numbers & vacancies

The request was successful.

Dear North Lanarkshire Council,

The Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Learned Societies Group on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Scotland are concerned about the difficulties local authorities are experiencing in recruiting teachers in these subjects. With a view to improving the situation, we are gathering a comprehensive picture of current staffing and the extent to which it falls short of what is ideally required. We hope, therefore, that you will help us by giving the information sought in the following FOI questions.

1. How many qualified specialist school teachers (in FTE) does each secondary school in your local authority currently have in the following STEM subjects?

a) Biology
b) Chemistry
c) Maths
d) Physics
e) Technological Education
We would like this information broken down by school and in FTE format.

2. At each school, if the number of specialist teachers is zero in any of the above STEM subjects, then I would like to know the reason for this.

3. What complement of specialist secondary school teachers would your local authority require in order to ensure that each school was fully staffed to deliver an optimal curriculum in each of the above STEM subjects? Ideally, we would like this information broken down by school and in FTE format.

4. How many teacher vacancies have been advertised in the above STEM subjects in 2015-16 and in 2016-17? Please answer on a subject-by-subject basis, and provide separate responses for each year.

5. How many of the 2015-16 and 2016-17 vacancies have been filled?

6. How many of the vacancies were advertised two or more times?

7. How many secondary schools, if any, within the local authority have experienced difficulties in obtaining subject specialist supply teachers for the above STEM subjects?

8. To what extent have teacher shortages in the above STEM subjects affected the subject choices of pupils in secondary schools in your local authority?

Best wishes,
Paul Stuart
Policy Officer
Royal Society of Edinburgh

Kirkpatrick Angelene, North Lanarkshire Council

Dear Mr Stuart

I acknowledge receipt of your request which is receiving attention.

I shall contact you again when I am in a position to respond more fully to your request.

Yours sincerely

Angelene Kirkpatrick
For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Windmillhill Street
Motherwell
ML1 1AB

Dear Angelene,

In regards to the Freedom of Information request regarding STEM teacher vacancies made on the 10 September. I understand that the deadline for response has now past the statutory 20 days, would it be possible to provide a date for when you will be able to provide the information?

Yours sincerely,

Paul Stuart

Keachie Jacqueline, North Lanarkshire Council

Dear Mr Stuart(7)

 

I refer again to your email dated 10 August 2017 seeking information in
relation to STEM teacher numbers and vacancies.

 

In the first instance, I should acknowledge that this response falls
outwith statutory deadline outlined in the Freedom of Information
Legislation – and for this I apologise.

 

Returning to your request and having investigated, my response to your
questions 1-8 is as follows:-

 

(1)          The number of qualified specialist school teachers (FTE) in
secondary schools for STEM subjects is as follows:-

 

Biology –                                              138

Chemistry –                                        128

Maths –                                                265

Physics –                                              81

Technological Education –            120

 

(2)          N/A

 

(3)          Please see table below setting out the information requested.

 

  BIOLOGY CHEMISTRY PHYSICS MATHS TECH
AIRDRIE ACADEMY 4 4 3 8 4
BELLSHILL ACADEMY 2 3 2 6 4
BRAIDHURST HS 2.6 2 2 4 3.8
BRANNOCK HS 2 3 2 5.7 4
CALDERHEAD HS 2 2 1 4 3
CALDERVALE HS 3.6 4 3.6 7 3.8
CARDINAL NEWMAN HS 6 3 2 8 3
CHRYSTON HS 3.6 2 2.8 6 5.8
CLYDE VALLEY HS 2.9 1.5 2 5 3
COATBRIDGE HS 6.6 3 2 9 4
COLTNESS HS 2.6 3 2 5.8 3
CUMBERNAULD ACAD 2.6 3 2 7.6 4.6
DALZIEL HS 3.4 3.8 3 9 3
GREENFAULDS HS 6.5 4.5 2 10.1 7
KILSYTH ACAD 3.4 2 2 5.6 3.4
OLHS C'NLD 5 3 2.6 7.4 3.9
OLHS M'WELL 2 3 2 7.8 3
ST AIDANS HS 5 4 2 9.6 3.2
ST AMBROSE HS 4.8 4 4 8.4 4.4
ST ANDREWS HS 5.6 4 3 11 6
ST MARGARETS HS 4 4 3 9.4 5
ST MAURICES HS 2.6 4 2.9 7.4 4.4
TAYLOR HS 3.2 4.6 2.8 7 2.2

 

(4)          North Lanarkshire Council do not advertise for schools specific
posts but rather to the Core Supply Service.  This post type was introduce in
order to facilitate succession planning and support the retention of finishing
probationers etc.  It comprises of permanency to NLC and placed to a school for
a 1 year placement, after which will be school specific.  This forms part of the
wider workforce staffing process.

 

(5)          Please see table below setting out the information requested.

 

2015/16                       2016/17

Appoint to Core Supply  Appointed to Core Supply

Bio 4                         2

Chem 0                        3

Maths 3                       4

Phys 0                        2

Tech 0                        5

 

(6)          N/A

 

(7)          Presently the following cover requirements are outstanding:-

 

Biology –              5

Maths –                5

Physics –              2

Tech –                   1

 

(8)          I can advise that there is no dataset for the information requested
and in terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I
must advise you of this.

 

I can advise that North Lanarkshire Council, having regard to the
provisions of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002, has established a procedure whereby any person who has requested
information and is in any way dissatisfied with the decision on that
request, can within forty working days require a review of that decision
by writing to the Head of Business for Legal and Democratic Solutions,
Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB.  Accordingly, if
you are dissatisfied with this decision and seek such review please write
to the Head of Business for Legal and Democratic Solutions.

 

I would advise, also, that in terms of Section 47 of the Act a person who
is dissatisfied with a notice given by the local authority under Section
21 of the Act - ie. a notice following a review of a decision by a local
authority, or by the failure of a local authority to give such a notice -
may make application to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a
decision as to whether, in any respect specified in that application, the
request for information to which the requirement relates has been dealt
with in accordance with the Act.  Such an application must be in writing
or in another form which, by reason of it having some permanency is
capable of being used for subsequent reference, must state the name of the
applicant and an address for correspondence and must specify the request
for information to which the requirement for review relates, the matter
which gave rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the original
decision of the local authority and the matter which gives rise to the
applicant’s dissatisfaction with the decision on review by the local
authority or the failure of the local authority to issue such a decision. 
The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted as follows:-

 

Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St. Andrew’s

KY16  9DS

[1]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal

email: [email address]

 

I hope this information is sufficient for your purpose.  If, however, you
require further information – or I can assist in any other way – please
let me know.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

Jacqueline Keachie

for Freedom of Information Co-ordinator

North Lanarkshire Council

Civic Centre

Motherwell

ML1 1AB

01698 302232

Dear Jacqueline,

Thanks for providing the information to our request. Would it be possible to have the answers to question 3 in excel format if possible, if so could these be sent to [email address]?

Yours sincerely,

Paul Stuart

Keachie Jacqueline, North Lanarkshire Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Stuart

Please find attached table for question 3 in excel format.

Regards.

Jacqueline Keachie