Schools in three council areas spent £18m

Figures show schools in three council areas spent £18m in a year on staff covering for absent teachers.

Concerns have also been raised about sickness levels among teachers after it was revealed that tens of thousands of working days have been lost, a large proportion of which were long-term absences.

The figures came as a national survey of teachers found that more than 90 per cent believe classroom behaviour has worsened, while 81.2 per cent have experienced stress, anxiety or depression.

The 2010 Behaviour Survey also said more than a third took time off work.

The Northern Echo investigation found that schools run by three councils which responded to requests for information – North Yorkshire, Darlington and Sunderland – spent £18m between them in the past academic year on supply staff.

The figure in North Yorkshire for 2009-10 was £11,065,251 and in Darlington £1,444,870. Sunderland said it spent £5,438,417, although this figure included some nonteaching staff.

Emma Boon, campaign manager of lobby group Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “With the current strain on public finances, schools must do all they can to deliver value for every penny of taxpayers’ money.

“Local education authorities also should not rely on supply teachers for long periods, and should try and help teachers who are on long-term sick leave to find ways that they can come back to work.”

But Trevor Blacklock, secretary of the County Durham branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), who taught at Hermitage School, in Chester-le-Street, defended schools’ spending on supply teachers. He said many schools were cutting costs by using unqualified teaching assistants.

He said: “Schools cannot spend enough money on having a teacher in front of the class as far as the NUT is concerned.”

Councillor John Watson, deputy leader of North Yorkshire County Council and executive member for schools, said: “Supply costs in North Yorkshire are high and maybe there is something there to look into. But this figure does not fill me with alarm, nor is it surprising as we have about 400 schools in the county.”

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said: “The costs of providing supply teachers has reduced by approximately £327,000 in the last two years.

“In addition to this, there has been a reduction in staff sickness absence.

■ Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Newcastle councils were unable to answer requests for information.

North Yorkshire County Council said 13,627 working days were lost in 2009-10 because of long-term sickness.

More than 2,870 teachers were absent because of sickness for at least one day in 2009-10, of which 198 were absent for 20 days or more, defined as long-term sick.

Darlington Borough Council said 5,065 working days were lost because of sickness, of which 1,782 were classed as long-term sickness.

Sunderland said that 21,665 working days had been lost to sickness in 2009-10, of which 12,739 were long-term sick.

In terms of teachers, 1,599 were off sick for at least one day and 193 were absent long term.

Durham County Council, which employs more than 4,000 full-time teachers, said each was absent for sickness for an average of 7.1 days, below its target of 8.75.

A total of 29,294 days were lost because of sickness, of which 6,652 were long-term.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said 4,486 sick days were taken by teachers, of which 2,226 days were longterm.

There were 501 teachers who were off because of sickness for at least one day, 55 of which were long-term.

Stockton Borough Council said 6,904 working days were lost because of sickness, of which 3,009 were long-term.

Some 1,418 teachers were off for at least one day in 2009- 10, with 65 off for 20 days or more.