• Teacher supply agency fees are justified

    Teacher recruitment agencies play a vital role in short-notice school staffing, argues Samantha Hurley, who says they deserve to charge for the service Headteachers have the freedom to recruit directly should they wish to. However, the reality is that many rely on the skills, experience and networks of professional recruiters to ensure that classes have…

    5.00 May. 5th, 2018 | Opinion

  • It's time to end exploitative supply agency fees

    The fees charged by agencies that provide schools with supply teachers are becoming untenable. Stephen Tierney has some simple, practical advice which could save heads a packet Squeezed budgets combined with a tight labour market means that teacher supply agencies are having a field day at schools’ expense right now. The ethical problem here is…

    5.00 May. 5th, 2018 | Opinion

  • National supply teacher agency database open from September

    A new government project will help schools get value for money when hiring agency supply teachers. Developed with the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), schools will get access to a new national list of preferred suppliers when recruiting supply teachers and other temporary staff. The list is expected to be available from September and will cover…

    15.00 May. 4th, 2018 | News

  • Do schools have to pay agency buy-out fees for supply teachers?

    Schools are complaining that staffing agencies can levy thousands of pounds whenever a supply teacher is offered a permanent contract, even if the full recruitment process is followed. Ramona Derbyshire looks at what the law says Like any commercial entity, a school is subject to public procurement rules and at liberty to contract with other…

    5.00 Feb. 26th, 2018 | Opinion

  • Government to step in over supply teacher costs

    The government is planning to step in and establish a national pool of ‘trusted’ supply teacher agencies in a bid to help schools cut down on spiralling agency bills. The government’s buying arm, the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), is developing the pool alongside the Department for Education (DfE) to get a better deal for schools…

    5.00 May. 19th, 2017 | News