How to find the right education recruitment agency for your school
The National Audit Office (NAO) says demand for teachers in secondary schools and colleges is increasing as the number of students continues to rise. As such, it’s no surprise that schools are struggling to recruit good teachers, making education recruitment agencies seem an appealing option. But how do you find the right agency for your school needs?
What is an education recruitment agency?
Education recruitment agencies are specialist recruiters that source candidates with specific skills and qualifications. This is not limited to teachers and may also include the recruitment of administrators and support staff.
Such agencies tend to have a deep understanding of the needs and requirements of the education sector. They streamline the hiring process for schools by handling everything from initial screening to final interviews, saving schools time versus recruiting new staff themselves.
Agencies also have a large network of potential candidates, including both passive and active job seekers that may be right for a role. A large network of passive job seekers significantly opens up the candidate pool for schools, especially if they are looking for specialist talent or qualifications.
Do you need an education recruitment agency?
It’s not all sunshine and daisies when it comes to recruitment agencies; they often come with a steep fee – sometimes up to 20% of the successful candidate’s salary. It’s worth evaluating the pros and cons of using an agency before committing to such high rates.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Specialist expertise | Cost |
| Time saving | High level of trust required |
| Large talent pool | Misalignment and misunderstandings |
| Tailored support for candidates | Quality of candidates |
| Dependency |
Alternatives to education recruitment agencies
Not sure if a teacher recruitment agency is right for your school’s needs? Take a look at some of the best alternatives that could work better.
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Direct application – run job adverts on your own website and market them digitally with SEO and/or paid ads. This is a relatively low-cost option compared to education recruitment agencies but relies on the right candidates finding your adverts.
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Online job boards – use online job boards such as Indeed or Tes Jobs to advertise roles. This doesn’t offer the specialist expertise of an agency but gets your adverts out to a large pool of candidates.
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Hire from within – you already have a wealth of talent within your school support staff. Why not support them in reaching qualified teacher status? Browse Tes Institute for more information on teacher training courses.
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Tes Staff Management – get access to four times more teachers than the next best alternative with unlimited job adverts and our perfect match Candidate Search feature. Plus, your current staff can enjoy free CPD courses, safeguarding training and anonymous wellbeing surveys.
Learn more about Tes Staff Management
How to find the right education recruitment agency
When looking for the best education recruitment agency for your school, there are a number of factors to consider – don’t just choose the first that appears on Google or the one on your local high street! Consider:
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Reputation and experience – you need an agency with a strong track record of working in education. Ask around your network for recommendations.
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Accreditation and standards – look for agencies that meet DfE guidelines, particularly those relating to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).
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Communication and transparency – take note of agencies that are open and honest about what they can offer. Does it seem realistic? Does it meet your needs? Does it seem too good to be true?
Once you’ve narrowed down your search, here are a few key questions to ask to ensure that the agency meets your requirements:
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What is your experience working in the education sector?
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How large is your talent pool in the education sector?
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Can you recruit for specialist roles?
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How long does it take to fill roles?
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What is your process for recruiting candidates?
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How long do your successful candidates typically stay in placed roles?
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What time commitments would you need from us?
If you’re a candidate looking for an education recruitment agency to place you in roles, read our articles on Tes Jobs about choosing the right supply teaching agency.
Discover Tes Staff Management for effective teacher recruitment
Tes Staff Management is the definitive platform for great teacher recruitment. Our Staff Management subscription gives you access to more candidates than the next best alternative, plus with unlimited job adverts, you’re sure to find the perfect teachers for your school.
What’s more, your subscription gives your current staff access to free CPD courses, safeguarding training and anonymous wellbeing surveys to help better your whole school.
Over 94% of teachers use Tes to find their next role. Advertise directly to them and increase your recruitment potential with Tes.