Kirklees Council fork out £4m a year on supply teachers for schools

Aug 30 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SCHOOLS in Huddersfield are spending nearly £4m a year on supply teachers from private companies.

Seven high schools paid out more than £100,000 for agency teachers last year.

And a union official has revealed that, on average, each teacher takes eight days sick leave each year.

Figures released this week under the Freedom of Information Act show the 185 schools in Kirklees spent £3.98m on agency supply teachers in 2009/10.

The biggest spenders were:

Spen Valley Sports College – £177,523

Fartown High School – £164,540

Moor End Technology College in Crosland Moor – £162,776

Shelley College – £158,309

St John Fisher Catholic High School in Dewsbury – £149,347

Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College in Cleckheaton – £147,497

Almondbury High School – £143,087

However, many primary schools spent nothing on agency supply teachers in 2009/10 including Reinwood Infant School at Oakes, Emley First School and Farnley Tyas First School.

Figures for 2008/09 were also released this week after a Freedom of Information Act request by Amanda Walker.

The total bill for that year came to £4.23m.

Shelley College spent the highest amount in 2008/09 at £225,662, followed by Carlinghow Junior and Infant School in Batley on £206,214 and Spen Valley Sports College on £204,750.

Another 12 schools spent between £100,000 and £200,000 on agency supply teachers in 2008/09, including King James’s School in Almondbury; Royds Hall High School, Almondbury High School, Fartown High School, Moor End Technology College, Honley High School and Mirfield Free Grammar.

None of the figures above include the amount schools spent on the council’s in-house supply teaching service.