THE number of 'support' staff working in Barnsley schools has increased by more than 50 per cent in five years.
Meanwhile the number of qualified teachers has dropped by 81 - a reduction of 4.5 per cent.
Even so, figures show the wage bill for teachers rose by almost £10.5m in four years. The cost of using support staff went up by £8.3m, or 67 per cent in the same period, but failed to keep pace with teachers' salaries.
The figures were revealed to the Chronicle under freedom of information rules.
