Council-run schools across Cheshire West and Chester spent more than £4 million on supply teacher agencies last year.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) revealed the scale of school spending on temporary staff as they looked to plug gaps.

The FOI, which was submitted by a member of the public, showed schools across the borough spent £4,180,724 in total with teacher recruitment agencies in the financial year 2024/25.

Of this total, 18 secondary schools spent £951,263, while 75 primary schools spent £1,914,043, and 11 special schools spent £1,315,417.

The figures only relate to schools maintained by the council, not those which are part of academy trusts, which operate outside of council financial control.

The use of supply teachers has proven divisive.

Backers say they fill a gap in provision which can result from things like staff absence and training days, while also providing new teachers with a 'foot in the door', enabling them to gain classroom experience with a view to securing a full-time contract in the future.

But critics have hit out at the nature of supply work, which sees some of the schools' money going to teacher recruitment agencies, rather than into teachers' pockets.

Research published by the Department for Education (DfE) last year found the average national daily cost of supply teachers was £218 for primary schools, £291 for secondary schools and £270 for special schools.

But the average pay rate reported by supply teachers surveyed was £136 for primary, £150 for secondary and £144 for special schools.

The NASUWT teachers' union said this had contributed to stagnant wages driving teachers away from the profession, with rising costs for schools but no additional money going into teachers' pockets. 

The union said this had been compounded by the cost of living crisis and resulted in many supply teachers leaving the profession, including to non-professional occupations, such as retailing, where pay levels are rising.

Agencies argue they charge for a service, performing things like checks on teacher credentials and ensuring they have undertaken the appropriate pre-employment safeguarding status.