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Wolverhampton primary schools spending more than £1m on agency staff

More than £1 million was spent on agency staff in primary schools across Wolverhampton over the last academic year, new figures have revealed.

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The figures relate to 2013/14 and show that casual teachers and admin workers were brought into 52 primary and nursery schools in the city.

Wolverhampton council spent almost £600,000 with just three agencies, while the biggest expense on any single school was £71,000.

The figures do not include academies, which are run independently.

Teachers' union leaders have branded the expense a waste of taxpayers' money, but council bosses say the staff are necessary to cover temporary absences.

Figures released via a Freedom of Information request show that Grove Junior School spent the most on agency staff over the course of the year at £71,443.

Other high spenders were Rakegate Primary at £62,784, Stow Heath Primary at £62,301, Hill Avenue at £46,190 and St Andrew's Primary at £36,803, while D'Eyncourt and Dunstall Hill both spent £35,950.

Teaching recruitment agency Hays Education received £247,871 over the course of the year for supplying staff. Monarch Recruitment was paid £177,667 and Mark Education Ltd received £152,402.

A total of £89,531 was paid to Protocol Education Ltd.

The over-reliance on agency staff has been heavily criticised by unions. The NASUWT has raised concerns that some agencies adopt exploitative practices in relation to supply teachers, engaging in profiteering to the detriment of staff and schools.

Agency staff can cost up to 40 per cent more than those employed full-time, although they are generally paid a lot less.

NUT branch secretary Martin Lynch, said the issue was a major problem on a national level.

He said: "Private agencies are basically ripping off the system. They are exploiting the problems that schools face in terms of staff shortages and making a huge amounts of money.

"It is the agencies that are the only winners here. Temporary staff get paid way under the going rate, but local authorities are paying a higher premium.

"Pupils also suffer. The truth remains that for schools to be able to offer stability they need permanent staff rather than a short-term fix."

Like the majority of councils Wolverhampton no longer has its own bank of supply teachers, meaning agencies can be the first port of call when there is a need to cover absences.

Wolverhampton Council was unavailable for comment.

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