A chronic shortage of teachers has left schools across England scrambling with just days before the new academic year begins as fears are raised over non-specialist staff being drafted in to teach unfamiliar subjects.
Vacancies have been posted, re-advertised and ultimately left unfilled as schools struggle to attract new recruits and watch their experienced peers leave for pastures new.
A simple online search reveals there are currently thousands of empty positions at schools and colleges spanning the breadth of Britain - with clear shortages emerging in the number of people applying for physics, maths, design, chemistry and computing.
Shocking figures released in a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders revealed the majority of schools were having to turn to supply staff or even non-specialist teachers to plug the gaps.
