Teachers are to be given a chance to air their views at Holyrood when a parliamentary committee begins an inquiry into recruitment in the profession.

Recruitment and retention of the teacher workforce will be examined by the Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee at a short inquiry on Wednesday.

The committee will hear from teachers, headteachers and trainee teachers on issues such as morale, workload and challenges faced in their work.

Almost 700 responses were received after questionnaires were issued to those working in the profession.

Read more: SNP to spearhead national councils body for first time as cuts rows loom

Committee convener James Dornan said: "Teachers are clearly at the heart of education in Scotland, so it is only right our committee explores teacher workforce planning to help it develop constructive recommendations to put to the Government.

"Vital to this scrutiny is the direct experiences from teachers.

"That is why the committee has had an excellent number of responses to its questionnaires of school staff, nearly 700 in total.

"This is a snapshot of teacher and school staff experiences across Scotland.

Read more: Salmond predicts Tory boasts of a win in Gordon will backfire

"Later this week we will hear direct from trainee teachers and qualified teachers to give them a chance to be heard.

"This is the first time a committee has managed to get two panels of teachers speaking on the record at a meeting and I am pleased that our committee can give them this voice."