Story 85

Age: 59

Teaching Experience: 9-12 years

Contract Type: Permanent

I am lucky as I have a perm role and one I enjoy but keeping this role means I have a 3/4 hour commute every day at least. I live in Argyll and work in highlands. 

After 3 years, last 2 with paying rental costs near the school, I have decided to take a career break and head back to Australia ( where I trained). I am a registered ASNT.   

This frees up a long term fixed contract for someone but I would probably have stayed in the role if it was closer to home.  Nothing nearby for years. It’s been an expensive 3 years and I feel like I have paid for the privilege of working. I live on an island ( my choice, granted but also the family home) so I have upkeep of 2 cars, 2 households and pay rent and a mortgage.  As I say, at least I have a job but it’s been an effort. 

Mental and economical. Also, no tax rebates unless I commute every day. Rental for employment is not covered. 

I’ll be heading in a supply role to another remote/regional school overseas- with incentives, including free travel, subsidised ( or free rental) and some have sign on fees up to £10 k. 

I am near the end of my career/s.  But I worry Scotland will lose the best of its teachers to other careers and/or overseas. I have already contacted MSP s with some ideas but also been advised that this was a council call, not Scottish govt.  I will however give a shout out to Ms Emma Roddick MSP, Highlands/Lochaber and islands/ population minister who took up my case with council and has been very attentive. 

I find Scotland( councils  Patti) narrow thinking when there are various solutions. And dont get me started on recruiting processes which are not simply archaic. As an former ( Scots) lawyer, HR and recruiter, I feellike can comment here with some knowledge. I suspect it comes down to lack of respect for the teaching profession. 

Never been in a profession ( and I’ve had a few) where constantly asked to prove you are doing what you are trained to do. The Scottish education system needs a big shake up. And perhaps centralised for economical and consistency sake.