A FALL in teacher numbers in Scotland is “unacceptable” and shows that school staff need a “properly funded pay increase,” union leaders have said.

Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) general secretary Andrea Bradley hit back at official figures showing a decline of 92 full-time equivalents (FTE) of teachers in Scotland’s classrooms to 54,193 FTE.

This was the first drop in several years but comes at a time when pupil numbers in Scotland have increased.