£138 million spent on supply teachers last year
New research has revealed that schools in the UK spent £138 million on recruitment agency fees for supply teachers last year.
Growthdeck, who has released the findings, said that fees spent on agencies increase costs for schools and reduces the budget available for other areas, such as improving classroom facilities and basic equipment like textbooks. Typical recruitment agency fees can be up to 20 per cent of a teacher’s first salary.
This charge is separate from the increasing use of ‘temp to perm’ fees, implemented if a teacher supplied by an agency is made a permanent member of staff, along with another fee for advertising staff vacancies.
Last year, the Education Secretary announced a plan to clampdown on recruitment agencies charging expensive fees. Measures aim to encourage agencies to be transparent about their fees along with a free website to advertise full and part-time teacher vacancies.
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