A CONTROVERSIAL deal that cut pay for Scottish supply teachers should be scrapped, union leaders say.

The call follows reports of widespread shortages of temporary supply staff at schools across Scotland in the wake of the agreement.

Under the deal, drawn up by the Scottish Government and council body Cosla, pay rates for supply teachers were reduced as part of cuts to save £45 million.

However, since then headteachers have warned that many schools cannot get cover when teachers are off.

In secondary schools, the situation has led to claims that classes are no longer being taught by subject specialists.

While the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) has always opposed the cut, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) recommended its members approve it as the best deal possible in difficult financial circumstances.

But Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the EIS, now says the deal should be looked at again. "Nothing is forever. It was done because there was a calculation done by the EIS that it would be better to try and safeguard jobs," he said.

"However, it seems to me that if the impact is that we have created a shortage of supply teachers, which means that classes are not being taught, then logic dictates that you revisit it."

Ann Ballinger, general secretary of the SSTA, said: "The current situation is absolutely untenable and is causing damage to the education of young people in Scotland and destroying the lives of graduates who have gone into teaching.

"We need councils and the Scottish Government to recognise that and to reverse this damaging cut."

Earlier this month, The Herald reported supply teachers were planning to withhold their services for one week to push councils into overturning the controversial pay deal.

They have started an online Facebook campaign threatening to withdraw supply cover.

In November, the Scottish Government accepted the deal had contributed to classroom shortages. Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, made the admission to an audience of primary headteachers, who raised concerns about availability of supply staff.

Mr Russell told them: "I described the deal at the time as not the best deal for everybody, but it was the best deal that we could do. I know of cases of supply teachers who have gone for temporary contracts rather than day-to-day supply, but it is an issue we probably need to return to.

"It is not consistent across Scotland and there are supply teachers, but there are probably fewer of them and we need to look at it to see if there is a problem emerging."

Under the deal, authorities were asked to fund Government priorities, such as providing jobs for newly qualified teachers.

Changes to supply staff pay means supply staff must work at the lowest hourly rate of £70 for five consecutive days in the same school before their pay rises to the level they formerly earned.

Teachers have said some councils are deliberately manipulating the situation so that their continuity of service is disrupted, leaving them unable to claim the higher rate of pay.

One teacher said: "I worked every day for two weeks in three different schools, thinking my second week would be paid at the top of the scale. I had a shock when I got my pay slip.

"I didn't realise that the proper salary scale only started if you were covering the same class for five continuous days."