Usually when a vacancy cannot easily be filled, temporary solutions are found - for instance using supply teachers.
But occasionally the difficulty filling a vacancy can have a direct impact on students.
Lochgelly High School in Fife has been trying to recruit a new computer studies teacher since June - the person who held the post before moved to another school in Fife much closer to their home.
Because a new teacher has still not been appointed, there is no National 5 class in computer studies this year.
Those studying for a Higher or Advanced Higher are having to stay behind after 4pm so they can be taught by a teacher from another school, who is being paid overtime.
S6 student Shaun Young is studying for an Advanced Higher in Computer Science. He hopes to put his love of the subject to good use by studying games development at Abertay University before he gets a job in the industry.
Because there is no computer studies teacher at the school, Shaun stays back until 6pm twice a week. A teacher from another school in Fife is travelling to Lochgelly at the end of their day to teach Higher and Advanced Higher students.
Shaun stressed that he did not mind remaining back late but it was obviously not ideal.
Head teacher Carol Ann Penrose said the school first advertised for a new computer studies teacher in June but received no applicants. There are no other current vacancies at the school.
She said she was not a surprise that the school had found it hard to fill the post as this had been a problem in the subject before.
Ms Penrose said she took steps to find a "creative solution" to help students once it was clear a new teacher would not be in post for the start of term.
The post is still being advertised and the head teacher hopes to attract suitable applicants. She describes Lochgelly as a "fantastic school" and believes teaching is an excellent, rewarding job.
She said some other schools in Fife had seen problems recruiting in STEM subjects but that the council had been proactive in trying to deal with them.
Across Fife there were 17 vacancies for secondary school teachers at the start of term although most were not causing any immediate difficulties.
The totals below include head teachers as well as primary and secondary teachers.
Total number of secondary vacancies - 336.
But occasionally the difficulty filling a vacancy can have a direct impact on students.
Lochgelly High School in Fife has been trying to recruit a new computer studies teacher since June - the person who held the post before moved to another school in Fife much closer to their home.
Because a new teacher has still not been appointed, there is no National 5 class in computer studies this year.
Those studying for a Higher or Advanced Higher are having to stay behind after 4pm so they can be taught by a teacher from another school, who is being paid overtime.
S6 student Shaun Young is studying for an Advanced Higher in Computer Science. He hopes to put his love of the subject to good use by studying games development at Abertay University before he gets a job in the industry.
Because there is no computer studies teacher at the school, Shaun stays back until 6pm twice a week. A teacher from another school in Fife is travelling to Lochgelly at the end of their day to teach Higher and Advanced Higher students.
Shaun stressed that he did not mind remaining back late but it was obviously not ideal.
Head teacher Carol Ann Penrose said the school first advertised for a new computer studies teacher in June but received no applicants. There are no other current vacancies at the school.
She said she was not a surprise that the school had found it hard to fill the post as this had been a problem in the subject before.
Ms Penrose said she took steps to find a "creative solution" to help students once it was clear a new teacher would not be in post for the start of term.
The post is still being advertised and the head teacher hopes to attract suitable applicants. She describes Lochgelly as a "fantastic school" and believes teaching is an excellent, rewarding job.
She said some other schools in Fife had seen problems recruiting in STEM subjects but that the council had been proactive in trying to deal with them.
Across Fife there were 17 vacancies for secondary school teachers at the start of term although most were not causing any immediate difficulties.
Teacher vacancies by council
BBC Scotland asked councils how many teaching posts were being advertised on 17 August.The totals below include head teachers as well as primary and secondary teachers.
- Aberdeen - No response
- Aberdeenshire - 41
- Angus - 21
- Argyll and Bute - 24
- Clackmannanshire - 6
- Dumfries and Galloway - 4
- Dundee City - 8
- East Ayrshire Council - 41
- East Dunbartonshire - 18
- East Lothian- 27
- East Renfrewshire - 19
- Edinburgh - 44
- Falkirk - 25
- Fife - 23
- Glasgow - 48
- Highland - 63
- Inverclyde - 9
- Midlothian - 6
- Moray - 34
- North Ayrshire - 11
- North Lanarkshire - 65
- Orkney - 12
- Perth and Kinross - No response
- Renfrewshire Council - 9
- South Ayrshire - 25
- Scottish Borders - 24
- Shetland - 11
- South Lanarkshire - 20
- Stirling - 14
- West Dunbartonshire - 7
- West Lothian - 28
- Western Isles - No response
Total number of secondary vacancies - 336.
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