Revealed: the drop-out rate among new teachers

The number of new teachers in Scotland dropping out after less than a year in the job has doubled in just four years.In total, almost 300 probationers have left the profession since the 2014-15 school year.The new figures also reveal that, while the number of primary probationers dropping out is higher, the rate among secondary probationers has risen more steeply.Last school year, a total of 34 secondary probationers left teaching before the summer holidays, almost three times more than the 12 who quit in 2014-15.In primary, a total of 71 probationers left the profession last year, compared with 39 in 2014-15.Since 2014-15, a total of 296 primary and secondary probationer teachers left the profession.The figures – which were uncovered by Scottish Labour via a freedom of information request – will come as a blow to the Scottish government, which has introduced a fast-track route into the profession and expanded the places available on teacher education courses in a bid to tackle the dire teacher shortages many schools are experiencing.