AN in-house system for recruiting temporary teachers is to be extended in County Durham.

Like almost every other local education authority in the country, Durham County Council was having serious difficulties finding suitable supply teachers for its schools.

It found that profit-making recruitment agencies were often expensive and not always able to meet its requirements. So the authority set up its own in-house agency on a trial basis six months ago.

Now, according to the authority's education director, Keith Mitchell, there are clear signs that the Durham Supply Teacher Partnership is working.

As a result, the council has approved its extension by recruiting more staff to the pool, increasing the range of teaching specialisms included and improving the quality of staff on call.

Mr Mitchell said: "Previous arrangements often meant teachers coming into a school to provide cover in a particular subject had no training or experience in it, so the role they fulfilled was little more than classroom supervision.

"We have sought to make supply teaching more of an attractive option for people thinking about coming back into the profession, and either making more of a career out of it or using it as a route back into full-time teaching."

The council's own not-for-profit agency has proved so effective that almost 70 per cent of its schools and 400 supply teachers have decided to sign up to it.

Mr Mitchell said: "Our scheme offers full rates of pay and free training in new and current strategies, and best practices, so supply teachers' skills are on a par with their full-time counterparts.

"We are very pleased with it. It has led to improved practice in the private sector, where some agencies are now offering improved rates of pay and training."