Leading Education Recruitment Agency for Schools & Educational Institutes: Connecting You with Top-Tier Staff

⚠ Teacher shortages affecting lesson delivery

⚠ Last-minute staff absences disrupting timetables

⚠ Difficulty recruiting specialist subject teachers

⚠ Time-consuming DBS and compliance checks

⚠ Finding quality support and administrative staff

⚠ Budget constraints limiting permanent hires

⚡ Rapid Response

Need a teacher or support staff member urgently? Our school staffing solutions team can deploy qualified professionals within 24 hours, with same-day emergency placements available.

✓ Fully Vetted & Compliant

All candidates undergo enhanced DBS checks, safeguarding training verification, qualification validation, reference checks, and right-to-work assessments before placement.

🎓 Education Specialists

Our dedicated education recruitment specialists understand curriculum requirements, Ofsted standards, safeguarding protocols, and the unique needs of different educational settings.

🔄 Flexible Staffing Options

Whether you need permanent school staff , temporary school staff , supply cover, maternity leave replacement, or long-term contracts, we tailor solutions to your institution's needs.

🎯 Comprehensive Coverage

From teacher recruitment and teaching staff placement to non-teaching staff recruitment , school administrator recruitment , and support staff for schools , we cover all roles.

👤 Dedicated Account Support

Your dedicated school staffing consultants provide a single point of contact, managing timesheets, compliance documentation, and ensuring consistent quality throughout placements.

📚 Primary School Teachers

Qualified primary teachers for Key Stage 1 (Years 1-2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6), including NQTs, experienced class teachers, and phase leaders with expertise in delivering the National Curriculum.

Specialisms: Literacy coordinators, numeracy leads, SENCO-qualified teachers, Year 6 SATs specialists, early years specialists.

🔬 Secondary School Teachers

Subject-specialist teachers for Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9), Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11 GCSE), and Key Stage 5 (A-Level) across all National Curriculum subjects and examination boards.

Core subjects: Maths teacher placement services , science teacher recruitment agency , English teacher staffing UK , plus humanities, languages, arts, PE.

🎓 Further & Higher Education

Further education lecturer recruitment for sixth form colleges, FE colleges, and vocational education. Higher education personnel agency services for universities and higher education institutions.

Roles include: Lecturers, senior lecturers, course leaders, research assistants, demonstrators, visiting professors, associate tutors.

👶 Early Years Specialists

Early years educator staffing solutions including EYFS practitioners, nursery teachers, Reception class teachers, and early years coordinators with expertise in child development and EYFS framework.

Qualifications: QTS with early years specialism, Level 3-5 qualifications, Montessori trained, Forest School leaders.

🎯 SEN Teachers & Specialists

SEN staffing solutions for schools including SENCO-qualified teachers, autism specialists, speech and language specialists, and teachers experienced in supporting students with SEND.

Experience areas: ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, physical disabilities, social and emotional needs, PMLD, complex needs.

🏫 Supply & Cover Teachers

Day-to-day supply teachers, long-term supply cover, maternity/paternity leave replacements, and short-notice emergency cover for unexpected staff absences across all subjects and key stages.

Availability: Same-day emergency cover, weekly bookings, term-time contracts, planned absence cover.

Teaching Assistants (TA)

Level 2 and Level 3 qualified TAs for classroom support, small group work, intervention programmes, and 1:1 support. HLTA-qualified candidates also available.

Learning Support Assistants

LSAs experienced in supporting children with additional needs, delivering tailored learning programmes, and working with SENCO guidance.

SEN Support Workers

Specialist education staff trained in managing challenging behaviour, personal care, therapeutic approaches, and supporting students with complex needs.

Cover Supervisors

Cover supervisors to manage classes during teacher absence, ensuring continuity of learning with pre-prepared lesson materials.

Exam Invigilators

Reliable exam invigilators for GCSE, A-Level, and internal assessments, trained in JCQ regulations and examination procedures.

Library & Resource Staff

School librarians, library assistants, and learning resource coordinators to manage learning resources and support independent study.

👔 Senior Leadership Team

Headteachers, deputy heads, assistant heads, heads of department, curriculum leaders, heads of year, and pastoral leaders with proven leadership track records and strategic vision.

Leadership qualifications: NPQH, NPQSL, NPQML, NPQLT, Masters in Education, school improvement experience, Ofsted preparation.

💼 School Business Management

School business manager recruitment , school bursars, finance directors, and operations managers responsible for budgets, procurement, facilities, HR, and compliance.

Expertise areas: Financial planning, budget management, strategic resource allocation, compliance, premises management, HR functions.

📞 School Receptionists & Admin

Hire school receptionists agency services providing friendly, professional front-of-house staff, school secretaries, administrative assistants, data managers, and attendance officers.

Skills include: Parent liaison, visitor management, MIS systems (SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom), first aid, safeguarding awareness.

💰 Finance Officers

School finance officer recruitment including finance assistants, accounts managers, and financial controllers experienced in school budget management and local authority financial regulations.

Responsibilities: Payroll, accounts payable/receivable, budget monitoring, audit preparation, financial reporting to governors.

📊 Data & Exams Officers

Exams officers, data managers, and assessment coordinators managing examination administration, pupil data analysis, reporting, and compliance with awarding body requirements.

Systems expertise: SIMS, Go4Schools, Arbor, Bromcom, 4Matrix, examination board portals, DfE census submissions.

💻 IT Support Staff

IT support staff for educational institutions including network managers, technicians, and IT coordinators managing school systems, devices, and digital infrastructure.

Technical skills: Network administration, device management, Google Workspace/Microsoft 365 for Education, GDPR compliance, safeguarding filters.

🍽 Catering Staff

School catering staffing agency providing catering managers, cooks, kitchen assistants, and lunchtime supervisors. Food hygiene certified with allergy awareness training.

🧹 Cleaning Staff

Recruit school cleaners UK services including cleaning supervisors, cleaners, and domestic staff. DBS-checked with experience in educational settings and COSHH trained.

🔧 Premises Staff

Site managers, caretakers, maintenance technicians, and premises officers responsible for building maintenance, health and safety, and site security.

🩺 Welfare & Pastoral

Welfare assistants, first aiders, pastoral support workers, and attendance officers supporting student wellbeing and safeguarding.

🚸 Midday Supervisors

Lunchtime supervisors and playground staff ensuring student safety during break times. First aid trained with child safeguarding awareness.

🎨 Enrichment Staff

After-school club leaders, sports coaches, music instructors, and enrichment coordinators enhancing extracurricular provision.

📅 Temporary & Supply Staff

Duration: From 1 day to full academic year

Best for: Absence cover, maternity/paternity leave, long-term sickness, sabbaticals, short-notice emergencies, peak periods (exam season, report writing)

Benefits: Immediate availability, pay-as-you-go, flexible cancellation, no permanent commitment, suitable for budget flexibility

Temporary school staffing services are our most popular option for managing unpredictable staff absences and maintaining teaching continuity.

✅ Permanent Placements

Duration: Ongoing permanent employment

Best for: Building core team, key curriculum positions, leadership roles, strategic hires, reducing long-term supply spend

Benefits: Team stability, cultural fit, investment in CPD, reduced long-term costs, 6-month replacement guarantee

Permanent teaching staff placement agency services with one-off fee structure – no ongoing costs after successful placement and probation completion.

🔄 Contract Positions

Duration: Fixed-term contracts (typically 1 term to 1 year)

Best for: Maternity cover, project work, curriculum development, school improvement, covering departures until permanent hired

Benefits: Committed staff for defined period, continuity for students, cost-effective for medium-term needs, option to convert to permanent

Ideal for academies and MATs managing staffing across multiple schools with varying needs throughout the academic year.

📊 Temporary Rates

Daily or hourly rates inclusive of PAYE, NI, holiday pay, and pension contributions. Rates vary by role (teacher, TA, admin) and location. Request personalised quote.

📊 Permanent Fees

One-off percentage fee based on annual salary. Typical range: 12-18% depending on role seniority. No additional costs. Six-month replacement guarantee included.

📊 Managed Service

For MATs and large institutions, we offer managed service contracts with preferential rates, dedicated account management, and consolidated billing. Contact us for bespoke proposals.

❓ How quickly can you supply teaching staff for urgent cover needs?

As a specialist teacher staffing agency , Staff Direct can typically supply qualified cover teachers within 24 hours for most subjects and key stages. For same-day emergency cover, call our 24/7 helpline on +44 333 188 0008 before 7:30am and we'll deploy available supply teachers immediately. Our database of pre-vetted, DBS-checked teachers means we can respond rapidly to unexpected staff absences, ensuring minimal disruption to your timetable and student learning.

❓ What qualifications and checks do your education staff have?

Every member of our education personnel agency undergoes rigorous vetting before placement. Teachers hold QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) or QTLS qualifications verified via Teacher Reference Number checks. All staff have enhanced DBS certificates with barred list checks, verified qualification certificates, professional reference checks from previous employers, right-to-work documentation, and safeguarding training (Level 1 minimum, Level 2+ for teaching roles). Support staff hold relevant Level 2-3 qualifications where applicable. We maintain full Single Central Record documentation for every candidate, meeting Ofsted compliance requirements.

❓ Can you recruit specialist teachers like science, maths, and SEN staff?

Absolutely. Our specialist education recruitment solutions include dedicated consultants for hard-to-fill subjects. We actively recruit science teacher recruitment agency candidates (Physics, Chemistry, Biology specialists), maths teacher placement services (including Further Maths A-Level), English teacher staffing UK personnel, plus modern foreign languages, computer science, design technology, and other shortage subjects. For SEN staffing solutions for schools , we maintain a specialist database of SENCO-qualified teachers, autism specialists, and professionals experienced in supporting students with various special educational needs and disabilities. Tell us your specific subject or specialism requirement and we'll match appropriately qualified candidates.

❓ Do you supply non-teaching staff like admin, cleaners, and catering staff?

Yes – our non-teaching staff recruitment covers all school support roles. We hire school receptionists agency services, school administrators, school finance officer recruitment , data managers, and exams officers. For operational staff, we recruit school cleaners UK , school catering staffing agency personnel (cooks, kitchen assistants, lunchtime supervisors), site managers, caretakers, and premises staff. We also supply IT support staff for educational institutions , midday supervisors, welfare assistants, and library staff. All non-teaching staff undergo enhanced DBS checks and safeguarding training as they work in educational settings with children and young people.

❓ What's the difference between permanent placement and temporary staffing costs?

Temporary school staff are charged on a daily or hourly rate basis (typically £120-£250/day for teachers depending on experience and subject). This rate is inclusive of all employment costs (PAYE, NI, pension, holiday pay) and our agency margin. You pay only for days worked with no fixed costs or commitments. Permanent school staff placements use a one-off recruitment fee (typically 12-18% of annual salary) paid once the candidate starts. After this, the staff member is your direct employee – you pay their salary directly with no ongoing agency fees. For long-term needs (6+ months), permanent recruitment is usually more cost-effective. For short-term or unpredictable needs, temporary staffing provides budget flexibility.

❓ Can you help with leadership and senior staff recruitment?

Yes, our school leadership recruitment specialists have extensive experience recruiting headteachers, deputy heads, assistant heads, heads of department, and senior leaders. We understand the strategic importance of leadership appointments and provide executive-level recruitment services including national advertising, confidential candidate approaches, competency-based interviewing support, and leadership assessment centre facilitation. We also recruit school business manager recruitment positions, school bursars, finance directors, and operations managers. For MATs and academy chains, we can support trust-wide leadership recruitment and succession planning. Our senior-level service includes detailed candidate profiling, cultural fit assessment, and extended replacement guarantees.

❓ What geographical areas do you cover for education recruitment?

Staff Direct operates as a UK-wide education recruitment agency with particular strength in London, the South East, Midlands, and North West England. We supply staff to schools, colleges, and universities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. For London specifically, we have deep networks across all boroughs and understand the unique challenges of recruiting in the capital (higher cost of living, competition, transport considerations). For schools in more rural or remote locations, we can advertise nationally and support relocation where appropriate. Our find education staff for colleges service extends nationwide to further and higher education institutions regardless of location.

❓ How do you ensure quality and avoid placing unsuitable candidates?

As quality education staffing providers , we operate a multi-stage quality assurance process. Initial application screening filters for essential qualifications and experience. Face-to-face or video interviews assess teaching philosophy, classroom management, subject knowledge, and cultural fit. We conduct working-with-children scenario discussions and safeguarding knowledge checks. Professional reference calls verify previous performance, reliability, and professionalism. For teaching roles, we review lesson observations and can arrange demonstration lessons where required. Subject knowledge assessments for specialist roles ensure candidates can deliver the curriculum confidently. Poor performers are removed from our database immediately. We maintain regular feedback loops with schools and act quickly on any performance concerns. Our education talent acquisition team are education specialists who understand what makes an effective educator.

❓ What happens if a placed staff member doesn't work out?

For temporary staffing , if you're not satisfied with a supply teacher or support staff member, simply let us know and we won't book them with your school again. We can provide an alternative candidate immediately at no additional cost. For permanent placements , we offer a six-month replacement guarantee. If a permanent staff member leaves or proves unsuitable within six months of starting, we'll conduct a new recruitment search and provide a replacement candidate free of charge. This demonstrates our confidence in our selection process and our commitment to successful long-term placements. We also provide regular check-ins during the first term of permanent placements to ensure satisfaction on both sides and address any concerns early. Our school recruitment specialists view every placement as the start of a long-term partnership, not a one-off transaction.

❓ Can you support with hiring for specialist subjects like science, maths, and computing?

Yes – we have dedicated consultants focusing on shortage subjects. Our science teacher recruitment agency team actively recruits across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, sourcing career changers from science industries and newly qualified teachers. Our maths teacher placement services include specialists capable of delivering A-Level Further Maths and STEP preparation. For computing and computer science, we recruit teachers with genuine programming knowledge and industry experience. We also supply MFL teachers (French, Spanish, German, Mandarin), design technology specialists (resistant materials, textiles, food tech), and other hard-to-fill subjects. Our approach includes targeted advertising in subject-specific channels, university partnerships for trainees, and international recruitment where appropriate. Tell us your subject challenge and we'll develop a tailored recruitment strategy.

❓ Do you work with Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and academy chains?

Absolutely. Our education recruitment consultancy for academies services are designed specifically for MATs managing staffing across multiple schools. We offer trust-wide managed service contracts with preferential rates, dedicated account management, consolidated invoicing, and strategic workforce planning support. For MATs, we can manage supply teacher pools, coordinate permanent recruitment campaigns across multiple schools simultaneously, provide data analytics on staffing costs and trends, support with trust-wide policies and procedures, and offer flexible staff deployment between schools within the trust. Many MATs use us as their exclusive academy recruitment partner, benefiting from volume discounts and consistent service quality. We understand the unique governance structures of academies and can work with CEO, HR directors, school improvement teams, and individual headteachers as required.

❓ How do your costs compare to using in-house recruitment?

Using Staff Direct as your educational staffing services  partner typically reduces overall recruitment costs and administrative burden significantly. Consider: in-house advertising costs £500-2000 per role (TES, Indeed, social media), administrative time (shortlisting, arranging interviews, reference checking) equals 15-20 hours of SLT/HR time, DBS processing and compliance checks require dedicated staff time and systems, unsuccessful hires result in restarting the entire process. Our all-inclusive fees cover advertising, candidate sourcing, vetting, compliance, and replacement guarantees. For temporary staffing, you avoid PAYE administration, pension contributions paperwork, and HR management entirely. Schools using our services report 30-40% savings in total recruitment costs plus significant time savings for leadership teams who can focus on educational improvement rather than recruitment admin. Request a cost comparison analysis specific to your requirements.

"Staff Direct has been our go-to education staffing partner for three years. Their teachers are consistently high-quality, their compliance is impeccable, and their consultants genuinely understand our school's needs. They've saved us countless hours of recruitment admin."

— Helen M., Headteacher, Outstanding Primary Academy, London

"We use Staff Direct exclusively for all our supply and permanent recruitment across our MAT of 8 schools. Their managed service approach, dedicated account manager, and ability to supply specialist teachers (particularly maths and science) has been outstanding."

— David K., CEO, Multi-Academy Trust

"Finding quality SEN staff is incredibly difficult, but Staff Direct has supplied excellent SEND support workers and specialist teachers who truly understand our students' needs. Their vetting process is thorough and we've had zero safeguarding concerns."

—Hannah T., SENCO, Special School, Birmingham