New figures show that Bradford schools lost more than 40,000 days due to teacher illness this year.

The figures, which have been released by the Conservative party today, show that Bradford has the 15th highest level of teacher absenteeism in the UK with 40,650 days lost last year and that on average 208 teachers are absent each day.

Yesterday, right, the T&A reported that a head teacher had recruited a physiotherapist in a bid to slash staff sickness rates caused by bad backs.

More than 700 sick days have been taken by 35 teachers and support workers at Greenhead High, Keighley, because of problems like sciatica, trapped nerves and slipped discs in the last 12 months.

Had the school covered for every day’s absence with supply teachers, it would have cost it £140,000.

Nationally almost three million days were lost due to illness in the teaching profession according to the figures published by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

Shadow Children’s Secretary Michael Gove described the statistics nationally as “worrying.”

Conservative Councillor Michael Kelly, Bradford Council’s Education portfolio holder, said: “I have not seen these figures so cannot comment on them specifically but I am very defensive of Bradford and what is said about it.”

Labour Councillor Ralph Berry said: “Bearing in mind the additional revenue being put into schools we have to ask how they are being supported and how this support is being delivered.”

Liberal Councillor David Ward said: “There are quite a number of things schools can do. At Thornbury Primary School the head teacher initiated a programme to identify patterns of behaviour which could indicate stress and the likelihood of long-term absence in staff and then work with them with a remarkable degree of success.

“Bradford is a tough place to be a teacher and while things are improving we need to raise the attractiveness of our schools to bring in a new generation of young teachers.”

Ian Murch of the National Union of Teachers said: “We know these figures and have been working with the local authority to address the issue. A big factor is the average age of teachers in Bradford, which is higher than the national average.

“Absence among teachers is actually less than that in other public service professions.”

e-mail: paddy.mcguffin @telegraphandargus.co.uk