The number of teachers signed off with stress has soared by more than a quarter in recent years, according to figures that are fuelling fresh fears over the Covid pandemic’s impact on staff. Freedom of Information (FoI) responses from 24 local authorities show 2,284 individuals were affected in 2019-20 – up 26 per cent on the 2016-17 total of 1,808. Increases over the period were particularly marked in Edinburgh, the Highlands and the Western Isles. The Scottish Government and standards watchdog Education Scotland stressed £1.5 million had been invested in schemes to boost mental health and help manage Covid-related strains. But the Scottish Conservatives, who obtained the data, said teachers were “feeling overworked and under-appreciated”.