Black Country teachers missing more than 52,000 days a year due to illness

The National Education Union is calling on the Government to do more to stop supply agencies charging large fees to schools already struggling financially.

In the last academic year, Wolverhampton schools lost 12,011 days to teacher sickness, according to the latest DfE figures. This equates to 308 days a week over the school year.

In Sandwell it was 16,426 days lost - equalling 421 days a week - and in Dudley 11,157 days were lost, making up 286 days a week.

Walsall saw 13,018 days lost to teacher sickness, 334 days a week on average.

In Staffordshire, teachers miss almost 20,000 days a year due to illness.

If schools covered every sick day with a supply teacher, on the average daily rate of £124, they would be paying £6.6 million per year across the Black Country.

And this does not include the undisclosed fees which agencies charge schools – some up to £100 per day.

Substantial

Andrew Morris, assistant general secretary of the NEU, said: “Supply agencies cream off millions of pounds every year from schools, charging them substantial fees while paying supply teachers appallingly.”

“The DfE is actively supporting agencies when it could be adopting a Northern Ireland model, where a government-backed scheme puts schools and supply teachers in direct contact, saving schools money and paying teachers more.”

Councillor Simon Hackett of Sandwell Council , cabinet member for children’s services at Sandwell Council, said: “Schools try to make sure that children’s education is not affected by staff absence.

"At times this means that headteachers do need to bring in staff at short notice. However, Schools are very aware of the costs of supply staff when a member of staff is absent due to illness.

" As a result schools often make plans to ensure they don’t have to rely heavily on agencies to cover staff absence.

"It is often the case that senior managers or school cover supervisors, who are already on the permanent staff, are used to cover short term staff absence.”

“Due to national funding cuts schools are very mindful of spending scarce resources on additional staff; however, at times this is unavoidable if cover is not available from within the school.”

A DfE spokeswoman said: “We have launched a national deal to support schools with getting value for money when hiring agency supply teachers and other temporary staff.”

“The deal includes a list of preferred suppliers who are open about the rates they charge, and also help schools to avoid finders fees.”