Children want teacher for Christmas

All I want for Christmas is ...

Children at a Cambridgeshire primary school have an unusual request this Christmas - they are asking for a teacher.

And instead of writing to Father Christmas, they have sent their letters to 70 teachers on the county's supply list they hope might be interested in applying for a vacancy in their school.

Beaupre School in Outwell, near Wisbech, has been struggling to find cover for a teacher who is away after being injured in a car crash.

After a series of supply teachers, the school now wants to appoint a teacher on a short-term contract, but despite advertising there have been no suitable applicants.

Head teacher Steven Hales says that the difficulty in finding staff is a reflection of a national problem in recruiting teachers.

And he believes that rural schools such as his can have extra difficulties in attracting applications.

'We will look after you'

The school has been searching for a teacher since October - and now the eight- and nine-year-old pupils are putting their request into writing.

And as an extra incentive to any teachers considering applying, the children include in their letter the promise: "We can be lively but we will look after you."

There have been warnings from the Conservative party that many schools are facing staffing shortages this winter, with the prospect of schools being forced to adopt four-day weeks.

But the government has argued that it has put in place long-term solutions to the teacher shortage and that there will be no crisis this winter.

According to government statistics published this month, there are 7,400 more teachers now than two years ago.