The number of vacant posts fell in the last year, figures show

Vacancies unfilled for more than three months fell from 439 to 245 in the past year, the statistics said.

The number of vacant English teaching posts fell from 39 to 13 and unfilled maths posts from 33 to 10.

Education Minister Peter Peacock called the results "outstanding" and said the executive could achieve its target of 53,000 teachers by 2007, a year early.

The figures showed there were 52,179 teachers in Scotland, a rise of 892 from the previous 12 months.

Almost 4,000 new teachers are preparing to begin their careers in August.

We're investing heavily in recruiting the brightest into our classrooms Peter Peacock Education Minister

"These are outstanding results," said Mr Peacock.

"Teachers are the lifeblood of our schools, helping to inspire, motivate and inform a new generation of ambitious, confident Scots.

"That's why we're investing heavily in recruiting the brightest and best into our classrooms, boosting teacher numbers at a time when pupil numbers are falling."

The minister said children's education would improve and that the executive was "on track" to meet its target of cutting class sizes and increasing the number of teachers to 53,000.

The executive plans to use the additional teachers to reduce class sizes in P1 to a maximum of 25 and to no more than 20 for maths and English in S1/2.

'Fresh enthusiasm'

Teaching union the EIS said the figures showed that progress had been made in the last year.

Ronnie Smith, general secretary, said: "We need to be aware that this is just a snapshot of one given day but the figures are very much more encouraging than they were this time last year.

"In particular, very real progress has been made in reducing vacancies in English and Maths in secondary school.

"I welcome the evidence that we are moving in the right direction."

Mr Smith said that one or two authorities still had high levels of unfilled posts, which had caused some concern.

The local authorities' body Cosla also welcomed the figures.

Education spokesman councillor Rev Ewan Aitken said: "Despite the fact that school rolls are falling in most council areas, we are continuing to recruit more teachers to bring down class sizes and drive up standards of education.