School has a textbook answer for staff absence

November 3rd, 2005

A NEW text-messaging service has been established for primary schools who need to find supply teachers to cover staff absences.

More than 400 supply teachers have registered with Fife Council to take part in the new initiative.

Schools can choose up to ten individuals they want to contact, and the electronic system will automatically trigger an e-mail or text message to be sent directly to the supply teacher.

The message will specify the name of the school, the length of the placement and give the school telephone number if the teacher wants want to take up the opportunity.

Fife Council resource leader Drew Edward admitted he was "amazed" at how quickly the service has been embraced by schools.

He said: "We’ve been aware of the difficulties that arranging supply teacher cover has given schools.

"Valuable staff time has been taken up with the need to call round long lists of supply teachers hoping to find someone at home to answer the call and come in to teach classes.

"Modern technology has given us a tool that can help with this task to ensure that teaching gaps will be filled swiftly.

"It will take away a major headache for schools which we’ve not been able to solve before."