Teachers's annual sick bill over £6 million (From Watford Observer)

Teachers's annual sick bill over £6 million

3:17pm Tuesday 30th December 2008 in

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Hertfordshire is losing the equivalent of 330 teachers to sick leave every academic year, figures released today reveal.

Research from the Conservative Party shows that Hertfordshire teachers took 64,400 days off through illness in 2007.

With supply teachers paid about £100 a day, absence is costing the county well over £6 million a year, as well as causing major disruption to children's education.

Shadow Education Minister Michael Gove said: "“It’s very worrying that the number of sick days has risen so dramatically. The Government needs to investigate the reasons so we can make sure there is as much stability as possible in every child’s education.”

Teachers unions argue that the job is so difficult and stressful that it is suprising their members do not take more time off.

Hertfordshire County Council has not yet responded in detail to the figures,but has pointed out that the average of 4.8 days sick per teacher is less than the national figure of 5.4.