- Over 585 former teachers have
already come forward to support face-to-face
learning
- Call to arms for ex teachers continues as Omicron
causes higher covid absence levels among school
staff
- 99.9% of schools open and millions of children and young
people back in classrooms after Christmas break
Hundreds of former teachers have signed up with supply
agencies following the Education Secretary’s call for them to
temporarily return to the profession, data published today
(Wednesday 12 January) shows.
Initial data from around ten per cent of supply
agencies shows that 485 former teacher have signed up with
agencies, with some teachers already placed back in the classroom
during the first week of term. A further 100 Teach First alumni
have also expressed interest in supporting the
workforce.
Given the size of the sample, the actual number of ex-teachers
who have signed up is likely to be much larger.
Supply agencies are reporting that the levels of interest they
are receiving represent a marked increase in the levels they
would otherwise have expected in a normal year.
This comes as millions of children and young people returned
to early years
settings, schools and colleges last week
as the Government continues to prioritise face to face
education.
Overall levels of teacher absence are relatively stable compared
to the end of last term, however, the proportion of
staff absent due to COVID-19 is higher than
normal as a result of the Omicron variant and is
expected to remain a challenge throughout the first
weeks of term.
Education Secretary said:
“Making sure all children and young people
can attend school or college remains my number one
priority.
“I want to thank all
former teachers who have come forward to support the
national effort and help keep our children in face-to-face
education. I call on all other former teachers
who are able to do the same to come forward
now.
“The vaccine continues to help us pave
the way out of this pandemic and more than ever it is
absolutely vital that all those
eligible get their booster or second jab, as well
as continuing to test regularly.”
Once teachers have signed up with an agency and have completed
necessary checks they are able to return to the classroom as soon
as an opportunity arises that fits their subject specialism and
local need.
The government continues to work closely with the
sector to make sure every possible route is being
used to keep schools equipped with the teaching staff they
need to maintain with face-to-face education.
Over a phased return during the first week, all
secondary schools were asked to complete one
on-site test for pupils to help reduce the transmission of
Covid-19 after a period of social mixing, and college
and university students,
and all staff were asked to self-test at home
before they returned to the classroom.
Proportionate safety measures remain in place
in schools, colleges and universities to help
reduce the transmission of the virus, including increased
ventilation, testing and good hygiene, with older students
and staff wearing face coverings in the classroom until
the review point on 26 January.
All early years settings, schools, colleges, and
universities are advised to continue to follow the
latest guidance set out by the department which is kept regularly
under review.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Due to uncertainties in the market share of the agencies who
responded, it is not possible to estimate the total number of
sign-ups nationally using this data.
- Given the size of the sample, this will
not reflect the true total and the call for ex-teachers
to return is still ongoing.
- Some volunteers may have also approached schools directly,
thus would not be captured in this figure.
- We estimate 8.8%(106,000) of the
total workforce from open schools were absent on 6 Jan, compared
to 7.6% (93,000) on 16 Dec, this
includes:
-
8.6%(44,000) of teachers and school
leaders were absent from open schools were absent on 6 Jan,
compared to 8.0% (42,000) on 16 Dec.
-
8.9%(62,000) of teaching
assistants and other staff were absent from open schools were
absent on 6 Jan, compared to
7.3% (52,000) on 16 Dec.
