Not enough supply staff to plug teacher strike gaps, warn agencies

Government plans for an “army of supply teachers” to plug gaps if staff go on strike are “not feasible”, over-stretched agencies say, with some already “turning down 200 bookings a week”.

The National Education Union (NEU) and NASUWT teaching union say they will ballot members for strike action if teachers do not receive an inflation-busting rise next year. Inflation has soared to more than 9 per cent this year.

It seems likely that the school teachers’ review body (STRB) will offer an 8.9 per cent rise to starting salaries next year, but only a 3 per cent rise for most teachers and leaders.