Feature: Crisis in our schools

There was a time when teaching was one of the favourite career options for school leavers and graduates.

A regular supply of new blood was attracted by a decent salary, long holidays and job satisfaction.

But recruitment for the profession has hit an all-time low with schools across Sussex reporting a desperate shortage of staff.

The situation has become so dire, one West Sussex school is believed to have advertised for military staff to watch over classes.

The latest copy of the Times Educational Supplement carried a record number of job advertisements.

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "The supplement, weighing 3lb 6oz, descended on school staff rooms with a deafening thud, signalling a record number of vacancies.

"The fact several hundred schools could not even get their adverts in the issue only served to emphasise the seriousness of the recruitment crisis schools face.

"Government recruitment packages have started to attract more graduates into teaching but we are still losing far too many young and experienced teachers from the profession."

East Sussex has about 50 teaching vacancies, evenly split between the primary and secondary sectors.

Last week, the TES displayed more than 25 positions in Eastbourne, one of the worst affected places in Sussex.

It is predicted many more vacancies will become available as town schools prepare for an increasing influx of pupils and it is in Eastbourne that headteachers have united to warn the situation could see pupils sent home.

The town has been hit hard by the success of a council-led scheme to encourage families into the area to change its dowdy image as a retirement location.

Millions of pounds have been ploughed into developing desirable quayside properties and a trendy restaurant quarter to appeal to a younger population.

The flipside of this is a rise in the number of children needing school places.

The county council has received £2 million to expand Bishop Bell School in Langney with new classrooms and 140 extra places.

The Causeway School in Larkspur Drive opened less than three years ago but is already expected to double its intake to 950 by 2003.

Primary schools are also hard hit. The Haven, which plans to take 90 children this September, will have 200 on roll when it is completed in 2002.

Meanwhile, the latest Government figures show teacher vacancies in England rose by more than 70 per cent to 4,980 in the year to January.

Eastbourne's headteachers have become so concerned about the situation they have united to speak out about their fears for the future.

A statement from the headteachers, including Ian Jungius from Willingdon Community School and Mark Trott from Ocklynge Junior School, says: "Currently there is a severe shortage of teachers nationally, presenting schools with immediate and potential recruitment difficulties.

"The long-term outlook for recruitment is bleak with schools facing the possibility of not being fully staffed in September.

"The problem could impact on Eastbourne schools more immediately. Combined with the national shortage of teachers is an equally serious shortage of supply teachers, teachers employed on a day-to-day basis to cover for absent staff.

"When this situation combines with increased staff absence through illness and long-term absence for medical reasons, schools will have to adopt a number of measures to provide for the welfare and safety of pupils while also addressing educational priorities.

"Such measures are likely to include combining classes, suspending part of the curriculum and ultimately, sending pupils home."

The statement says headteachers in the town have been working hard to avoid this situation, taking on extra work and responsibilities so pupils are not affected.

It reads: "Schools in the Eastbourne area have and will continue to adopt strategies to avoid sending pupils home. However, headteachers are aware that there is only so much that can be borne by staff if their and their pupils' welfare is to be safeguarded.

"A decision to send pupils home will be avoided at all costs but it is likely some schools may have no option but to do so once all other options have been pursued."

Industrial action across the country over teacher shortages was suspended at the last minute last week.

Teachers, unhappy about their workload, contracts and cover arrangements, were placated by a Government pledge to attract more teachers into schools with offers of better pay, living allowances and fast-track training. The Department for Education and Employment last week named Greenway School in Horsham as one of 82 selected for "teacher training" status.

It will receive up to £200,000 over two years to tutor the next generation of classroom leaders.

The money will be used to improve observation of trainee teachers, to develop new methods of marking and showing how to make the most of the materials available.

In the long term, it could provide Sussex with young teachers but the results are not going to be a quick fix.

East Sussex County Council has employed recruitment officers to concentrate on how to boost teacher numbers at schools in the county.

A spokesman for the council said: "It's very difficult to fill vacancies in the first place and then keep the teachers. We have got a recruitment manager in place to look at what can be done.

"Current difficulties lie in the areas of maths and science but we have not got as much of a problem as other authorities. Essex has reported schools there may be forced to have four-day weeks because things have got so bad, and we don't want to get like that."