THE number of foreign teachers applying to work in Scotland is on the increase, new figures show.
In the past year, professional body the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) has seen a 25 per cent rise in international registrations, with numbers rising from 390 to 480 between 2012/13 and 2013/14.
Some of the recent increase can be attributed to a rise in applications from England, with numbers increasing from 231 in 2012/13 to 260 the following year.
However, the number of teachers applying to work in Scotland after qualifying in countries such as Canada, Spain, Poland, New Zealand and Ireland has also risen.
The figures come as a number of councils have launched recruitment campaigns overseas because of staff shortages.
Last year, Aberdeen City Council approved cash bonuses for teachers willing to relocate from England, with the council highlighting the "wonderful new curriculum in Scotland" and describing the system as "education-led" and "remaining true to its principles".
Aberdeenshire Council, meanwhile, interviewed 30 Irish and Canadian probationer teachers in a single month.
The package it offered included a full induction and conversion to Scottish education standards, a temporary work visa, accommodation and travel costs.
Other councils have been desperate to recruit additional teachers as a result of a shortage of supply staff.
John Stodter, general secretary of school leaders' association ADES, said the increase in applications from outside Scotland was partly due to a lack of teachers available for work.
He said: "A number of authorities are recruiting from outwith Scotland and some are offering incentives to come and also to stay. The Government has increased the intake of student teachers this year, so it is hoped the gap can be closed quickly."
A spokeswoman for the Educational Institute of Scotland teaching union said the Scottish education system had been attracting increasing international attention, particularly from staff in England who did not like current education reforms.
"An increased interest in working here is not surprising, especially from teachers in England, where UK Government policy has been particularly damaging for professional educators," she said.
"Education policy in England, with its increasingly narrow focus and preference for deregulation, may be influencing those interested in a career delivering high-quality education to apply for registration in Scotland."
And Mike Corbett, national executive member of the NASUWT teaching union, said conditions in applicants' home countries could also play a part in their decision to relocate.
He told the Times Educational Supplement Scotland: "The shortage of supply teachers, particularly in rural areas, is a key reason why we should welcome an increase in the numbers of teachers coming from overseas.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "It is important that anyone who works in Scotland meets the standards set by the GTCS to ensure that we can deliver the best possible outcomes for our children and young people."
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