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Next phase of Inspiring Teachers campaign.

A series of short films featuring school pupils from across Scotland and a radio campaign will launch today.

It is part of the Scottish Government’s #inspiringteachers campaign to encourage more people to enter the profession, particularly those specialising in STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths.

The films will feature pupils from Leith Academy, James Gillespie’s High School and Elgin Academy sharing their stories of teachers who inspire them, as well as teachers facing an interview panel of young people.

The radio campaign will air across Scotland, including areas which have difficulty attracting teachers, featuring existing science, technology and maths teachers sharing the reasons they have chosen to teach and the rewards associated with such a career.

Leading Scottish figureheads including actor Colin McCredie, homebuilder Stewart Milne and Managing Director of OPITO UK John McDonald have also shown support, sharing memories of teachers who inspired them and how it helped them to get where they are today.

Education Secretary Angela Constance said:

“We know that teaching is key to creating a world-class education system and we are determined to attract more high-quality, passionate teachers into the profession, particularly in science, technology, engineering and maths where we know there is a demand.

“Teaching is highly-valued and rewarding - most of us remember a teacher who inspired us. We want these skilled professionals to continue to inspire the next generation and this phase of the campaign highlights some fantastic examples of this.

“It’s part of a range of actions we are taking to make sure we have the right teachers in the right places. We have increased education targets for the fifth year and are setting subject targets so we are training teachers in the subjects where they are needed most.

“Teacher numbers have remained stable since last year and we have maintained pupil teacher ratios, ensuring that our children have access to the right number of quality teachers throughout their education.

“We are also trying innovative ways to encourage and support extra graduates into hard-to-recruit subjects and rural areas including allowing council employees to retrain as teachers while in work and the distance learning initial teacher education programme in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland and Angus.”

Notes To Editors

The films will be released on The Teach in Scotland website alongside stories of inspiring teachers and will be promoted by Scottish Government Facebook and Twitter and form part of a YouTube advertising campaign.

They are available here:

Katie’s Story https://youtu.be/dsr0dxavf5I 
Tiam’s Story https://youtu.be/K7aJOt2XI_Q
Leith Panel https://youtu.be/ENIX0ewyQTA 
Gillespie Panel https://youtu.be/XybLNDPlzus 

Angela Constance writes about her inspiring teacher here: www.teachinscotland.org

Teach in Scotland also has details of study for a PGDE, the national salary scale for teachers, and the other benefits including annual holiday entitlement and defined benefit pension.