£2m across Dudley and £1.6m across Walsall on school agency workers

Casual workers were brought into to cover sickness absences and maternity leave to ensure children did not miss lessons. A total of £2.14 million was spent across the borough since the beginning of the school year last September to February this year, while the equivalent figure across Walsall was £1.683m.

The head of children's services at Dudley Council described the outlay as a 'relatively small amount'.

The figures, revealed under the Freedom of Information Act, did not include academies, which run independently, but related to primary schools, secondary schools and nurseries in the borough.

The overall figure also incorporated special schools and referral units.

The biggest bill for agency staff was at the Thorns Community College in Brierley Hill, which spent £152,000.

More than 75 schools in Dudley have paid to use agency staff since September.

Councillor Tim Crumpton, who is in charge of children's services at Dudley Council, said it was important schools could replace absent teachers so children's education was not affected.

He said: "It seems like a lot of money but it actually isn't. Schools use agency staff to cover short-term and long-term absences.

"Schools have always had to do that and they control it themselves.

"Hopefully what they get is the best value for money.

"It's vitally important that when a child comes to school there is a teacher there to teach them," he said.

Schools in Dudley control their own budgets and decide when agency staff need to be brought in.

Other big spenders in Dudley included the Coseley School, which spent £84,436 between September and February and the Hillcrest School in Netherton, which spent £73,400 on agency staff.

In terms of primary schools, PrioryPrimary School in Limes Road, Dudley, had the largest bill, spending more than £70,000 since September.

Figures covering the period from September 2013 to April last year, showed that £2.8m was spent on school agency staff in the borough.

Across Walsall the amount of money spent on an agency provider during the period ranged from just £20 up to £89,000.

More than 75 schools and education providers within Walsall local education authority are known to have used agency workers.

Jane Bonner, head of service for school improvement at the council, said: "Agency staff are used for many reasons, ranging from the cover of staff on long and short-term leave or due to illness.

"Agency teachers are adaptable and responsive and we consider that the council recruitment of first class agency teachers is crucial to ensure quality teaching in our schools.

"The educational needs of our children and young people is our top priority and identifying the very best staff to do this is essential."

There has been an overhaul of the education system in Walsall over the last few years which saw the council terminate its £345m contract with private firm Serco, which was running the borough's education services.

The move was announced in 2011 with the authority citing 'major changes to government policy' as the reason for the withdrawal, such as increasing numbers of schools becoming self-running academies.

The contract came to an end in April 2013 and the switch saw more than 350 education and childcare workers transferred back to the council. Many schools in Walsall have now become academies, which gives them greater financial control as they have more of a say over their budgets.

The latest figures come after it was revealed the number of parents in Dudley appealing after their children missed out on their first-choice school had increased.

Around one in five youngsters in the borough were left disappointed after missing out on their first-choice school.

A total of 323 parents appealed the decision on school places for their children during 2014.