Supply teacher bill of over £2.3 million for Shropshire and Mid Wales schools

Schools in Shropshire and Mid Wales spent over £2.3 million on supply teachers in 12 months, it has been revealed.

According to the Shropshire Star, figures obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveal that Telford & Wrekin Council spent £1.36 million on supply teachers during the 2015/6 financial year.

This only applies to authority-run schools, and not academies.

A total of 36 different agencies and organisations were used by Telford and Wrekin Council.

The largest amount of money was spent with Tara Professional Recruitment, which received £408,424 from the authority.

Chris Kowalik, spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council, told the Shropshire Star, that supply teachers were used to cover a range of absences, including staff who were off sick or attending training courses.

He continued: “We would like to keep spending on supply teachers down to a minimum through stable and permanent staffing.

“We also need to ensure that, when there is an absence of a teacher or teachers, children continue to be taught. Sometimes this is only possible through the use of supply staff."