Over £2 million was spent on agency staff in schools in Wiltshire in a year, according to data from a freedom of information request submitted to Wiltshire Council.
This figure refers to the financial year 2023/24 and covers agency staff employed in various roles depending on the school's needs.
According to the data, the total spent amounted to £2,111,766.40.
Cllr Laura Mayes, cabinet member for education and skills at Wiltshire Council, described the use of supply teachers as a “positive step” for pupils in the event of teacher absences.
READ MORE: Thousands of Wiltshire school pupils "persistently absent"
The three schools at which the highest amount was spent were Fynamore Community Primary School (£129,412.60), Nursteed Community Primary School (£129,396.12), and Bratton Primary School (£128,579.76).
Over £50,000 was spent at the next ten schools included in the data, which were listed as St. Paul’s Primary School, Marlborough St Mary's CEVC Primary School, Neston Primary School, Monkton Park Primary School, Gomeldon Primary School, Hilmarton Primary School, Horningsham Primary School, Luckington Community School, Stanton St Quintin Primary School, and Ramsbury Primary School.
SEE ALSO: Department of Education giving cash to struggling Wiltshire schools
Cllr Laura Mayes said: “The use of supply teachers in schools is a positive step to ensure that pupils are taught by a teacher, wherever possible, in the event of teacher absences.
“Supply teachers may be used to provide cover when a teacher is off sick for a brief period, to cover longer-term sickness, maternity, instances when a school has been unable to recruit a teacher, or when the supply teacher has built up a ‘rapport’ with the pupils during a key period such as the exam season.
“There are many reasons why some schools have more significant expenditure on supply staff, but it is an excellent way to manage the situation of staff absences and to provide continuation of qualified teaching for pupils.”
Nationally, the crisis in recruitment and retention has led to significant challenges within the education sector.
In May, the Education Committee called on the government to invest in programmes to boost recruitment, training and retention in the profession.
This came as statistics showed that targets for recruitment onto initial teacher training courses were missed in 10 subjects in 2022/23.
The cross-party committee had heard evidence about teachers taking classes outside of their subject specialism while vacancies go unfilled, and some schools dropping subjects entirely.
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