Aberdeen City Council looks at 'teacher incentive payments' to fill posts 10 July 2013 Last updated at 12:20 Aberdeen City Council is considering extra "incentive" payments for teachers worth thousands of pounds to tackle staffing levels. The Urgent Business Committee will hear on Thursday that between 30 and 40 primary and secondary posts are unfilled. The proposal is to offer successful candidates, who are new to the city, an additional payment on taking up a post. There would be a further payment at the end of an agreed period of service. It is estimated the initiative could cost about £260,000. The staffing situation for primary schools, and in some subject areas in secondary schools, is described as "looking extremely challenging." National interest The report notes: "It is recommended that committee approve the use of recruitment and retention incentive payments for hard-to-fill teaching posts. This proposal should allow the city to attract high-quality teachers, which will ensure that a positive learning experience for pupils in the city's primary schools, and help to raise attainment. It adds: "There is likely to be interest from the public and from other local authorities in the proposal to pay additional monies to teachers. As the first local authority in Scotland to be proposing such a move, it is likely that there will be national interest in this initiative.