HEADTEACHERS say that schools in Bucks are facing the worst recruitment crisis in years as they struggle to appoint teachers for September.

Just two weeks ago there were 100 vacancies in secondary schools in the county and about 35 to 40 in primary schools.

Bill Richards, head of Sir William Ramsay School in Hazlemere, and chairman of Bucks Upper Schools Heads, said the situation across the county is the worst he has seen in the ten years he has been here.

The position is three or four times worse than a year ago, said Alan Mander, the LEA's head of resources, who is constantly in touch with schools to monitor staffing numbers. And he warned that the problem is likely to recur next year.

Mr Mander said some teachers were being given jobs over the telephone and others appointed might not have got the jobs at other times.

He said: "I make no comment about the quality."

Some teachers are being appointed to jobs where the head wanted a specialist in one subject but has to be content with another.

The situation is gradually improving as new appointments trickle in but big improvements will have to wait at least three years when a rising number of students, now entering training, gets through into schools.

A meeting between a group of upper school heads two weeks ago revealed 90 vacancies in just 12 schools, Mr Mander said.

A series of measures are being considered to tackle the crisis including trying to get subsidised flats for teachers, mortgage subsidies, targeting teachers just out of college, recruiting from abroad, an advertising blitz and a new scheme to encourage older graduates to take up teaching. This produces qualified teachers in a year.

The problem in areas such as High Wycombe is that young teachers simply cannot afford to live here.

The situation is so serious that Buckinghamshire County Council has appointed a teacher recruitment officer on a permanent basis rather than a short term contract, because it knows the problem won't go away. The officer, Christine Spittlehouse, did a similar job recruiting nurses for Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

The county council was given £708,000 this year to help recruit teachers, all of which was passed to the schools. Ninety per cent went to the upper schools and was targeted at those where there are most shortages. Cressex School got between £40,000 and £50,000. The council should get a similar amount next year. In addition there are some national initiatives which could help. Teachers in specialist subjects like maths can pick up golden hellos of £4,000, while non-specialists get £2,000. More announcements about golden hellos for returning teachers are expected.

And a number of schools have had to put up with carrying a non specialist for more than a year.

A meeting between a group of upper school head two weeks ago revealed 90 vacancies in just 12 schools, he said.

Buckinghamshire County Council has been going all-out to attract new staff, in company with other education authorities all over the country.

The council has appointed a teacher recruitment officer on a permanent basis rather than a short term contract, because it knows it is a problem that will not go away. The officer, Christine Spittlehouse did a similar job - only recruiting nurses - at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Young teachers just cannot afford to live In Buckinghamshire and Mr Mander said housing was the most difficult thing to resolve.

In High Wycombe he is trying to get 20 flats at the new Sainsbury development just for teachers at a subsidised rent. He is also talking to the Royal Grammar School about making some of the school's boarding accommodation available for other school teachers.

And he wants schools to use their cash to help towards mortgage subsidies..

Other efforts include targeting teachers just out of college, recruiting about 25 teachers from Canada (a scheme which will be repeated next year), an advertising blitz to get people back to teaching and a new scheme to encourage older graduates to take it up. This produces qualified teachers in a year.

Buckinghamshire County Council was given £708,000 this year to help recruit teachers, all of which was passed to the schools. Ninety per cent went to the upper schools and was targeted at upper schools where there are most shortages. Cressex, for example, got between £40,000 and £50,000. The council should get a similar amount next year.

In addition there are some national initiatives which could also help. Teachers in specialist subjects like maths can pick up golden hellos of £4,000, while non specialists get £2,000.

More announcements about golden hellos for teachers returning to the profession are expected shortly from the government.

Attracting teachers

20 flats at the new Sainsbury development in High Wycombe could be set aside for teachers at a subsidised rent

Discussions ongoing with the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe about making some of its boarding accommodation available to other school teachers

Schools to be asked to use their cash to help towards mortgage subsidies

25 teachers recruited from Canada with more next year

Full-time teacher recruitment officer appointed by county