The non-stop hustle and bustle of London isn’t for everyone and, for many people, claustrophobia can quickly begin to set in. If you’re fed up of feeling like a tightly packed sardine, there’s an ocean of opportunity to be found in Scotland,  including picturesque hills and scenic beaches. And with more than 51,000 teachers already in Scotland, you’ll be in good company.

But while you’re never far from stunning natural beauty, there’s also excitement to be found in Scotland’s city streets. From the Edinburgh Fringe to the Glasgow Film Festival, there’s never a dull moment. 

To get a better idea of what teaching in Scotland is really like, we gathered some essential facts and spoke to some teachers about their experiences there.

Education

13.5 per cent – The compound pay increase agreed for teachers in Scotland over the next three years.

13.6 – The average number of pupils per teacher (significantly below England’s national average of 17.9).

5.4 million – The population of Scotland. 

51,959 – The number of teachers in Scotland, including early learning and childcare.

Lifestyle

£149,461 – The average cost of a property (well below the national average for England, at £243,128).

£23,630 – The average cost of living per household (below the UK average of £25,766).

Edinburgh is 5th in the list of UK cities with the most income after household spend.

What is it like living and working in Scotland?

We asked teachers what they enjoy about the region.

Adam Black is a class teacher of a mixed stage additional support needs class within Eastmuir Primary, Glasgow

I love teaching in Scotland. There is a certain freedom in our curriculum; it’s far from perfect but allows teachers to make professional judgements and plan to suit the needs of the class in front of us.

We have lots of community groups here who are always happy to have us in to do projects and work alongside them. For example, my school works with a local allotment twice a week and offers a different take on health and wellbeing, with links to sustainability.

We’re also keen to use our outside spaces, and have many parks and woods where we tackle conservation work. Last year, my class worked with a park ranger to help conserve areas that needed some love.

Children everywhere are brilliant but children in Glasgow have a certain patter and charm which makes the job worth doing on days when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed. 

Glen Fraser is a newly qualified teacher of English at Bishopbriggs Academy, Glasgow

My home city of Glasgow has a vibrant culture. Every country and city has its stereotypes for better or worse, but you’ll never find two Glaswegians identical in character. The much-used adage is “people make Glasgow” and this is very true.

Personally, I enjoy Glasgow for its eclectic offering of bars and restaurants (many of which are puppy friendly), meaning there’s always something new to try socially.

Additionally, as a teacher, there can be nothing more stress relieving than a walk, cycle or jog down the River Kelvin’s walkway.

Scottish education policy has, in recent years, demonstrated an increasing commitment to creating a truly inclusive school experience: to take one example, the Scottish government’s recent promise to integrate LGBT education into the curriculum.

As with any education system, things are far from perfect in Scotland. But I’m inspired by the constant desire to reflect, experiment and improve. I know that as a teacher, I will certainly have stressful phases, but I will never have a dull day. I am extremely grateful for that.