Teacher vacancies across Scotland have fallen in the last year, according to new figures.

Primary school vacancies for permanent teaching jobs had more than halved by the start of the 2019-20 school year, down from 204 to 88, while in secondary schools they dropped from 402 to 294.

The findings of the 2019 Teacher Vacancy Survey, conducted by the Scottish government and local authority body Cosla, also found the number of posts advertised for more than three months had fallen by 44 per cent, from 157 in 2018 to 88.

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Councils reported 224 fewer permanent teacher vacancies at both primary and secondary schools this September, compared to the previous year.

Education secretary John Swinney said: “This encouraging data shows that primary teacher vacancies have more than halved compared with the same time last year, and overall vacancy rates are now less than 1 per cent of all teaching posts.

“Secondary vacancies have also fallen, with advertised teacher vacancies reported at their lowest level since 2016.”

He added: “We have worked hard to make teaching an attractive career with the recent pay deal, increasing autonomy and expanding development opportunities in the classroom.

“We have increased routes into teaching and our Stem bursary programme for career changers is making it easier than ever to start a career in teaching.”

The Teacher Vacancy Survey found Aberdeen city was the area with the most unfilled posts at secondary schools in September 2019 with 35 vacancies advertised, followed by Fife and Glasgow city on 29 and 27 respectively.

The figures, which do not include headteachers or deputy heads, show there were no permanent secondary vacancies in Inverclyde, South Ayrshire or East Ayrshire, and 11 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities were not advertising permanent primary posts.