Publication - FOI/EIR release

University correspondence regarding teacher recruitment and employment: FOI release

Published: 21 November 2024
Directorate: Learning Directorate
Topic: Education, Public sector
FOI reference: FOI/202400434722
Date received: 2 October 2024
Date responded: 11 November 2024

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

Copies of email or phone correspondence between the Scottish Government and universities, relating to the following:

1. Teacher Recruitment and Training:

Correspondence regarding efforts to recruit and train teachers, including any communications on the availability of teaching placements, training programs, or partnerships between universities and the Scottish Government to address teacher shortages.

2. Teacher Employment Challenges:

Any discussions or correspondence related to the difficulties faced by teachers in securing permanent positions, including communication about the lack of available work for newly qualified teachers or provisionally registered teachers.

Please limit this request to communications from 1st January 2023 to the present.

Response

I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under the following sections of FOISA applies to that information:-

s.29(1)(a) (formulation of policy)
s.30(b)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views)
s.30(c) (prejudice effective conduct of public affairs)
s.33(1)(b) (commercial interest)
s.38(1)(b) (personal information)

The reasons why that exemption applies are explained below.

Reasons for not providing information

An exemption under section s.29(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

Section 29: Formulation of Scottish Administration policy

Section 29(1)(a) of FOISA exempts information from disclosure where disclosure would, or would be likely to, cause substantial harm to the formulation or development of Scottish Government policy.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because of an abiding interest in open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in ensuring policy can be developed through different stages before being agreed and announced.

An exemption under section s.30(b)(i) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

Section 30: Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs

Sections 30(b)(i) and 30(c) of FOISA exempts information from disclosure where disclosure would, or would be likely to, cause substantial harm to the free and frank provision of advice to Ministers.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because of an abiding interest in open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining private space to discuss topics at preliminary stages of consideration.

An exemption under section s.33(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

Section 33: Commercial interests and the economy

Section 33(1)(b) of FOISA exempts information from disclosure where disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person or organisation;

Further information on teacher education including recruitment is available on Scottish Government websites for the following groups:-

The Strategic Board for Teacher Education
https://www.gov.scot/groups/strategic-board-for-teacher-education/

The Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group
Teacher Workforce Planning Advisory Group - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.