Education chiefs are warning Suttons teacher shortage crisis may be getting worse though the full picture will only become clear in the start of the new school year.

The news came in a report to Sutton Councils learning for life performance committee meeting on Tuesday, which also announced the appointment of a recruitment strategy manager this month.

The role will involve working with headteachers in attracting more newly qualified teachers (NQTs) into the borough.

As reported in the Comet (May 25), education chiefs predicted over 100 posts would remain unfilled at the start of the new year, four months after a survey found 89 vacancies in the borough.

A full survey of unfilled posts takes place in September, but until then officers remain pessimistic.