Almost six out of 10 teachers in England took time off sick in 2003, according to new figures.
Each teacher who missed work due to illness had on average a total of 9.6 days off during the year, compared with 9.3 days in 2002.
On average, there were 5.4 days sickness absence per teacher working in maintained schools, compared with 5.3 days the previous year.
Overall, 57 per cent of staff went off sick in 2003, compared with 53 per cent in 1999, figures from the Department for Education and Skills show.
