A TROUBLESHOOTER from BAA Stansted is coming to Harlow to help solve local teacher shortages.

In recent weeks it has been rumoured that because of the shortages, schools in the town may soon have to introduce a four-day week.

The human resource specialist from BAA, who is yet to be named, will work alongside Church Langley Primary School head teacher Chris Rippon for nine months.

BAA Stansted managing director John Stent said: "As a preferred local employer, BAA Stansted is committed to education and skills training, which we see as a vital part of local regeneration.

"Our commitment is demonstrated by the appointment of our human resources director, John Norman, to the board of the new Learning and Skills Council for Essex."

BAA Stansted's contribution to the teacher recruitment project will help ensure that the recruitment process is streamlined and student teachers who train in Harlow return to take up posts after qualification.

Speaking yesterday morning (Tuesday) he said BAA took a long-term view and the education given to young people in Harlow could make them employees of the future.

At present only five per cent of the airport's 10,000 staff come from the town. Mr Stent said that through a range of initiatives the airport hoped to raise that to ten per cent.

The specialist has been seconded at the request of Harlow MP Bill Rammell who said: "I'm very pleased that Stansted accepted my proposal to help us meet the teacher recruitment challenge in Harlow. I'm grateful to Stansted and it shows how the private sector can work to help state schools.

"This follows the £70,000 to three Harlow secondary schools to help with recruitment and retention, the teacher housing allowances which are being established and the teacher training salaries which have increased teacher training recruits for the first time in eight years.

"I'm determined to work with Harlow schools to meet the recruitment challenge. We have good teachers in Harlow and we need more."

Essex local education authority's head of localities development Jo Smith said: "The Harlow Headteacher Recruitment and Retention Working Group is delighted BAA is able to support its initiatives and work.

"We hope this activity, alongside a range of others, will help us to deal with aspects of the recruitment and retention challenge which currently face Harlow."