Skip to main content
Gifts from The Morning Star
Education unions launch blistering attack on the cost of supply teachers in Wales
School children in a classroom

EDUCATION unions launched a blistering attack today over the use of private agencies supplying teachers to schools in Wales and the government’s failure to act on pay.

School leaders’ union NAHT Cymru was responding to figures that show 16 councils spent more than £78 million on supply teachers in 2023/24. 

NAHT Cymru’s Laura Doel said: “This huge bill is shocking but not surprising — many schools are struggling to make budgets add up, they cannot magic the permanent teachers they need out of thin air.

National Education Union Cymru’s Nicola Fitzpatrick said: “The sum spent on private agencies is scandalous, compounded by the fact that some local authorities make their schools use agencies because they won’t payroll supply teachers themselves.”

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Counter-protesters in Wales, August 18, 2025
Counter-Protest / 18 August 2025
18 August 2025
Siddhant Kumar
Plaid Cymru / 12 August 2025
12 August 2025
Prison
Britain / 11 August 2025
11 August 2025