Recruitment and Retention Working Party 2016

Working with Supply Agencies

The purpose of this document is set out the criteria teacher supply agencies should meet.

It advises the questions you could pose before working with an agency.

Q1) How are Supply Teachers Vetted? / Do your vetting checks include the following?
  • Passport / Visa.
  • Second proof of ID. This can be your driving license, provisional license, marriage certificate or birth certificate.
  • Two proofs of UK address issued within the last three months
  • If change of surname - copy of your deed poll letter or marriage certificate
  • NCTLEmployer Access on-line check for the award of QTS, and matching Teacher Registration Number (TRN) and Date of Birth details
  • Qualification checks (including checking the comparability of overseas qualifications via NARIC) and original or certified copies of teaching qualifications/QTS certificates or official academic transcripts if an NQT.
  • Written references or contact details of referees. Referees should not be older than two years and should include the last employer where possible. If an NQT provide teaching practice reports on letter headed paper with signatures.
  • A policy on how overseas trained teachers will be recruited, vetted, inducted and supported.
  • Enhanced DBS clearances
  • Permission to work checks (this covers the checking of work permits or working holiday visas for non-EU citizens)
  • If you have lived or worked overseas in the last two years for longer than three months you will need to provide us with a police check for that country. If you did not gain a police check from that relevant country, we will need contact details of your employer, so we can gain a letter of good conduct.
  • A CV with no gaps of employment (if not employed, that needs to be stated and how that time was spent)
  • Face-to-face interviews by a trained interviewer specialising in education recruitment, ideally with a teaching background

Q2) Payment Structure? /
  • Do you have a clear/full/transparent/upfront pricing/payment structure?
  • How do your fees compare with the industry average/other agencies?
  • Is there a Preferred Supplier Agreement available that will offer a discount? (Do we still want this?)
  • What are the cancellation notice periods/rates/fees?
  • If the school is charged a fee for a long term placement and that teacher leaves, will the fee be refunded? In what circumstances?
  • What reduction is offered for a placement longer than two weeks/one term/temporary to permanent placement?
  • What is the placement fee for a permanent appointment, for an NQT/experienced teacher?

Q3) Training and Development Policies? /
  • Do your supply teachers have access to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and learning opportunities?
  • Is there an induction programme provided for supply teachers?
  • Is there a process for keeping staff up to date with new initiatives?
  • Is there training/induction specific for overseas trained teachers before you place them in UK schools?
  • Do you provide a staff appraisal system? If yes, can we be given details of the teacher’s performance?
  • How do you make training (both external and internal) available to staff.
  • How do you monitor and support Teachers’ wellbeing?

Q4) Sector Knowledge and experience /
  • What is your knowledge and experience of working in education?
  • Have you recruited for similar positions before?
  • What are the credentials/experience/knowledge of the consultants that will handle my account?
  • Can you provide accurate details of the supply teacher?
  • Do you comply with recruitment industry standards, employment and equality law?
  • How well do you understand the regulations that apply in education recruitment?
  • What role will you expect us to play in the recruitment process?
  • How much contact will we receive from you during the recruitment process?
  • Are you a member of REC (Recruitment & Employment Confederation)?/Do you have the REC Audited Educationgold standard or other similar industry award?

Q5) Organisational Policies / Please provide copies of your:
  • Charging Policy
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Equality/Diversity Policy
  • ICO registration
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Complaints Policy
  • Your policy for dealing with any written requests from an agency worker about any aspect of equal treatment that the agency worker believes they are not receiving

Considerations when using Agencies

If a Recruitment Agency is used, then schools may wish to consider using those which hold the REC Audited Education accreditation which gives certain quality assurances

It’s predecessor, the DfE Quality Mark, was introduced in 2002 to raise standards in the quality of practice amongst recruitment agencies. It awarded recruiters with a certification mark if they met high standards. It was held by 135 companies. However, it was wound up in 2013 as the recruitment industry was expected to make its own independent arrangements to ensure the continuing high standards of teacher recruitment and compliance with legislation.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which has managed the Quality Mark since it began, launched a new standard with backing from the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

REC Audited Education is an audit scheme for recruitment agencies that supply teaching and non-teaching staff to schools, academies and education providers across England and Wales.

To achieve REC Audited Education status, agencies have to prove they are compliant with all necessary legislation and regulations, and that they “operate the very best practice”.

For more information, visit

This is not a preferred supplier list, but a list of agencies which hold REC Audited Education status

REC Audited Education Holder:

Company Name:

4myschools / Pear Education Ltd
ABC Teachers Ltd / PK Education
Academic Appointments Ltd / PPA Education Ltd
Academics / Principal Resourcing Ltd
Acorn Appointments / Prospero Recruitment Ltd
Ambassadors Resourcing / Protocol Education
ANZ UK Teachers Ltd / Provide Education
Athona Ltd / Randstad Education
Bay Resourcing Ltd / Red Box Teacher Recruitment Ltd
Capita Resourcing Ltd / Reed Specialist Recruitment
Celsian Education / Responsible Reliable Recruitment Ltd
Class Cover Ltd / School House Recruitment Ltd
Coba Resourcing Ltd / Stafflex Ltd
Connex Education / Step by Step Education Ltd
County Teachers Ltd / Step Teachers Ltd
Cover People Recruitment Ltd / Strategy Education
Education Staffing Link Ltd / Sugarman Education
Education 365 Ltd / Suryah Ltd
Edustaff Ltd / Teachers UK
E-Qual Recruitment / Teaching Personnel
Faststream Recruitment Ltd / The Education Specialists
Fawkes & Reece Ltd / The London Teaching Pool Ltd
Flourish Education Ltd / The Staff Room
Future Education Ltd / TimePlan Education Group Ltd
GB Recruitment (Staffs) Ltd / Timothy James Consulting Ltd
Guardian Selection Ltd / Tradewind Recruitment Ltd
Horizon Teachers / Valley Education ServicesLtd
ITN Mark Education / Veritas Education Recruitment Ltd
Matchtech Group Plc / Vision TeachingLtd
Monarch Education / Wise Employment Ltd
New Directions Holdings Ltd