NON-EXPERT TEACHERS 'HOLD BACK CHILDREN'

Shortages hit lesson delivery

- MIKEY SMITH

THE schools recruitment crisis has led to a shortage of specialist teachers that risks holding pupils back and having "a real impact on their life chances", Labour warns.

Government figures reveal a dramatic rise in the use of nonexpert teachers - those not qualified in a subject above A-Level.

As many as one in four physics lessons and one in 10 maths lessons are now taught by such staff.

Schools are also struggling to recruit staff for creative subjects such as art, music and drama. And specialist design and technology teacher numbers have almost halved in the past decade.

Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson blamed the staffing crisis on workloads, teachers not feeling valued and the profession not attracting graduates.