THE number of teachers over the age of 50 in Monmouthshire’s secondary schools has dropped by an average of 15 per cent in three years, according to figures released by Monmouthshire Council.

According to the results of a Freedom of Information request, in 2010, there were 50 teachers at Caldicot School over the age of 50, 43 per cent of the total at that time, compared to 24 now, 28 per cent of the current total.

At Chepstow School there were 33 teachers aged 50 or over in 2010, 41 per cent then, but only eight in 2013, 13 per cent now.

The figure at King Henry VIII Comprehensive, Abergavenny, has dropped from 38 teachers aged 50-plus in 2010, 41 per cent of the total number of teachers then, to 24 in 2013, 32 per cent now.

At Monmouth Comprehensive the number of teachers aged 50 or over has gone from 36, a quarter of the total number at that time, down to 20, 17 per cent now.

All four schools have seen a drop in their total number of staff between 2010 and 2013.

In comparison the number of teachers aged 30 or under has risen at Monmouthshire’s secondary schools.

At Caldicot there were ten teachers under the age of 30 in 2010, 9 per cent then, compared to 12 now, 14 per cent of the current total. At Chepstow School there were five teachers under the age of 30 in 2010, just 6 per cent of all teaching staff then, compared to 15 now, a quarter of all teachers there now.

At King Henry VIII there were four in 2010, just 4 per cent of the total, compared to 14 teachers under the age of 30 in 2013, up to 19 per cent of the current total.

Monmouth Comprehensive has seen the number of teachers under the age of 30 rise from 25 in 2010, 18 per cent of the total, to 34 in 2013, 29 per cent of the total.

The number of teachers aged 30 to 39 has dropped across all four schools, from 34 to 28 at Caldicot; from 23 to 17 at Chepstow; from 29 to 19 at King Henry VIII; and from 44 to 35 at Monmouth Comprehensive.

A council spokesman said schools governors have cut staff numbers in response to a general fall in pupil numbers in recent years. There is no policy to target particular groups, but the opportunity to access pension from the age of 55 means a higher proportion of older teachers who leave.