NEARLY 350 teachers are failing to turn up to work at Hampshire’s schools every day after calling in sick.

The figures mean the county’s schools are forking out millions of pounds each year hiring supply staff to cover absences.

The statistics also reveal the extent of disruption to children’s education, with each day off meaning youngsters are not taught by their normal tutor.

Teachers took a total of 67,850 sick days in 2007, the latest year government records are available for, with an average of 347 not in work every single day of the school year.

With replacement supply teachers costing from £103 to £210 a day, it means anywhere between £7m and £14.25m was taken from schools’ budgets in 12 months to pay for them.

Education bosses have also been warned of a sickness bug that is expected to cause huge disruptions as teachers and pupils return to the classroom today for 2009.


READ MORE IN TODAY'S DAILY ECHO