HUNDREDS more teachers are working in North-East schools than in 1997.
The region has also maintained teacher numbers in the past year, despite falling pupil rolls.
Government figures show that the number of full-time teachers in the region increased from 22,200 in 1997 to 22,700 this year. The number of support staff increased by 4,500.
Secretary of State for Education and Skills Charles Clarke said the significant increase in numbers was a result of recruitment and retention measures, as well as more support staff and workload reform allowing teachers to have more time to teach.
Teachers can also expect better pay with those at the top of the main scale earning £28,005, compared with £21,318 in September 1997.
Mr Clarke said: "These figures show the Government is full steam ahead on reforming the school workforce and measures to boost recruitment and reduce workload. They categorically prove that last summer's predictions of mass teacher and support staff redundancies were wrong."
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