the classroom to cover classes and doubling up as lunchtime supervisors and caretakers just to keep their schools open. No-one is monitoring the impact staff absence is having on schools nationally, it’s completely hidden from public view. It’s recorded locally at local authority level but no-one is digging further and looking across Wales to find out what is really happening. Schools cannot continue in this way, staying open with supply staff if you can get them and the goodwill of the staff members that remain. Any hope of rolling out a successful new curriculum, developing a new qualifications system and trailing new Estyn inspection relations is dwindling by the day. Schools simply cannot keep on trying to cope. We aired our concern that the removal of so many mitigation measures in schools was a mistake at the start of September and continue to urge the Welsh Government to review the situation. If the situation continues and no support is offered to schools, staff absence will result in school leaders being forced to close their schools.”
The Welsh Government believe that there are ways for schools to cope with the pressure by employing supply staff.
A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “We thank everyone working across our education system for their continued efforts in supporting learners since the start of term. The Decision Framework for schools clearly sets out the conditions under which additional measures should be introduced to reflect local circumstances, helping maximise learning and minimise disruption to learners across Wales. As set out in the recent Programme for Government, we are committed to a review of the current model of the engagement of supply teachers in Wales, and want to develop a sustainable model for supply teaching, with fair work at its heart. This review follows recommendations made both by the Senedd’s Petitions Committee, and the Wales Audit Office. There are a number of routes in place for schools and local authorities to recruit supply staff, either generally or during periods of increased absence – including recruitment via approved agencies, or directly.”
