Recruitment agencies rake in millions as schools spend £1.26bn hiring supply teachers to cover sick staff
Overall spending on supply agencies has increased by 42% over three years
RECRUITMENT agencies are raking in hundreds of millions of pounds in commission to cover teacher sickies.
An investigation found that schools spend £1.26 billion pounds a year hiring supply teachers to cover unfilled posts and short term absences.
Of this, £846m of taxpayers’ money went directly to employment agencies who kept up to £253m (30%) in commission.
State schools spent £537,550,343 on agencies, while academies handed over £309,263,000.
Overall spending on supply agencies has increased by 42% over three years. There are around 250 in the UK.
The figures uncovered by ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme refer to government spend on supply agencies for 2014 to 2015.
Three whistleblowers spoke out to highlight just how shambolic the service is.
One said an agency wanted a £10,000 finder’s fee which the school said they could not afford.
They explained: “I applied for a job in an outstanding school through an agency. I had two interviews and they offered me the post.
“Some time afterwards the issue of a finder’s fees came up. They charged £10,000.
“The head couldn’t get them down any more than about £8,000, the whole thing was a complete mess.”
Related stories
Another whistleblower said he had been sent to a special needs school and was told pupils had very mild disabilities.
They said: “On arrival I found out that the children were severely disabled and couldn’t talk and I was expected to know sign language to be able to communicate with them.
“I was asked during the day to restrain one of the children who had become violent.
“I had to tell them that I wasn’t a qualified special needs teacher.”
Supply teacher Peter Block said: “Some agencies are just interested in filling the slot and they don’t really care about who goes there as long as they provide a body.
“The daily rate was about £20 more five years ago than I am earning now.
“I have been sent to the wrong school, been given the wrong address, you’re just left to sink or swim.”
Serge Cefai, a head teacher working at Sacred Heart Catholic School in London said: “Every penny that is skimmed off the public purse further disadvantages pupils in the classroom.”