Classroom job vacancies have risen, according to new totals

More than 400 jobs were vacant for over three months and most vacancies were in English, maths and modern studies.

Ministers insisted the number of vacancies was low.

However, the Scottish National Party argued the Scottish Executive was in danger of missing its own target of cutting class sizes.

The new statistics have suggested that 4% of English teaching posts need to be filled and 3% of maths jobs.

Ministers stressed, though, that 2,770 newly qualified teachers were starting their careers this month and more were in training.

There's an army of new recruits waiting in the wings ready to bring their skills and expertise into schools Peter Peacock MSP Education Minister

Education Minister Peter Peacock insisted he was on target to cut class sizes in Senior I and 2 English and maths - and also to boost teacher numbers to 53,000 by 2007.

"We're committed to attracting increasing numbers of high-quality teachers into the profession, enabling us to cut class sizes and target resources where we believe they can make the most difference," he said.

"Despite the fact that school rolls are falling dramatically, we're increasing the number of teachers in our classroom and there's an army of new recruits waiting in the wings ready to bring their skills and expertise into schools."

But the Scottish National Party's education spokeswoman, Fiona Hyslop, said: "Cutting class sizes was a laudable pledge but making it knowing you would fail is unforgivable.

"The end result is continuing teacher shortages, constant streams of supply teachers disrupting education and staff shortages.

'Failing miserably'

"Head teachers have to pick up the pieces, teachers have to take the strain and pupils who deserve the best education they can get are the ones who could lose out."

She accused the minister of being complacent, as 40% of teachers were due to retire in the next 10 years.

"The executive started late and proceeded slowly in initial teacher recruitment and is failing miserably to tackle workforce planning," Ms Hyslop said.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman, Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, said: "This data is more evidence of the need to devolve far more responsibility to schools themselves over their budgets.

"It would enable them to attract and retain the staff they need in their own particular circumstances.

The SNP's Fiona Hyslop criticised ministers' recruitment policies

"Central planning and the political straitjacket imposed by national and local politics is not the way to create a teaching profession for the 21st century."

Almost 30,000 registered teachers were staying away from the classroom despite staff shortages in schools, the BBC learned in June.

The General Teaching Council (GTC) was to survey probationary teachers to discover why they were failing to apply.

Discipline problems and too few permanent posts were thought to be to blame.

Education convener at council umbrella body Cosla, Ewan Aitken, said at the time: "In the bad old days when money was tight we did try to save money by offering short contracts but only one or two authorities do that now.

"We realise we have to make posts attractive to staff."