Many schools rely on supply teachers at some point in
the year to cover short and longer term vacancies, or
pay for adverts to recruit the staff they need. Some
agencies charge schools costly finder’s fees if
headteachers want to make supply staff permanent and do
not set out how much they are charging on top of the
basic wages paid to supply staff.
To help combat these costs, the Secretary of State has
announced a free website has been launched to advertise
vacancies, which currently costs schools up to £75
million a year. This website will include part-time
roles and job shares to help keep experienced teachers
working in the classroom and make schools attractive
21st Century workplaces.
In another step to tackle unnecessary costs, Mr Hinds
will launch a new nationwide deal for headteachers from
September 2018 – developed with Crown Commercial
Service – providing them with a list of supply agencies
that do not charge fees when making supply staff
permanent after 12 weeks.
The preferred suppliers on the list will also be
required to clearly set out how much they are charging
on top of the wages for staff. This will make it easier
for schools to avoid being charged excessive fees and
reduce the cost burden on schools of recruiting supply
teachers through agencies.
Today’s announcements follow the Education Secretary’s
pledge at the National
Association of Head Teachers’ annual conference in
May to work with schools and drive down
unnecessary cost pressures so schools can get the best
value for every pound they spend and bring in the best
staff.
Education Secretary said:
Great schools are made by great teachers, so I want
to reduce teacher workload to make it a more
fulfilling profession and help schools bear down on
costs so they can invest more on their frontline.
Every pound that’s spent on excessive agency fees, or
on advertising jobs, is a pound that I want to help
schools spend on what really matters: making sure
every child, whatever their background, is inspired
to learn and to reach their potential.
We have the most talented generation of teachers yet,
and there are record numbers working in our schools.
These measures will help us to build on this, making
it easier for headteachers to recruit the staff they
need and ensuring teaching continues to be an
attractive, rewarding profession.
The vacancies website will initially be launched in
Cambridgeshire and the North East, with a view to
rolling it out nationally by the end of the year.
By 2020, core school funding will rise to a record
£43.5 billion - its highest ever level and 50% more per
pupil in real terms than in 2000 – and the introduction
of the National Funding Formula will address historic
disparities in the system.
Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of steps
taken by the department to help schools deliver the
best value for money and ensure resources can be
targeted at the frontline.
This includes national deals, which can save a typical
school 10% on energy and up to 40% on printers,
piloting new ‘buying hubs’ to bulk buy and help schools
get best value for money from procurement as well as a
network of advisers to working with schools and provide
practical support on how to use their budgets more
effectively.
