Walsall schools spend £1m on agency staff in five months
More than £1 million was spent on agency staff at schools across Walsall in just five months, it has emerged.
The outlay on temporary workers was made in the borough between January and May, according to latest figures.
Around £1.09m was spent on covering sickness absence, maternity cover and staff who are off site for other reasons.
Some schools used a number of agencies and the amount spent ranged from £8.38 to £46,101 in the period January 1 to May 16.
The figures relate to 71 of more than 120 schools across the borough from mainly primaries but also including secondaries, nurseries and special schools.
Councillor Mohammed Arif, portfolio holder for children's services at Walsall Council, said there are occasions where schools have to use supply staff.
"Making sure that children have the very best chance to learn and achieve well every day is a key priority in every Walsall school," he said.
"From time to time teachers and support staff may be supporting off site activities, involved in professional development or on sick leave.
"Where there are gaps that can't be filled internally, schools will make use of supply staff, through their delegated school budgets."
It comes after an overhaul of the education system in Walsall which saw the council terminate its £345 million contract with private firm Serco, which was running the borough's education services.
The move was announced in 2011 with the authority citing 'major changes to government policy' as the reason for the withdrawal.
The contract came to an end in April last year and the switch saw more than 350 education and childcare workers transferred back to the council.
They were released by Walsall Council under the Freedom of Information Act. It does not include academies as they are run independently.
