News

Non Profit Supply Agency - 12 Months On

Celebrating a Year of Progress and Momentum in Supply Recruitment

It has now been 12 months since the launch of our partnership with Schools Mutual Services (SMS), and we are delighted to report that the impact is both clear and significant. 

Schools Mutual Services Our mission remains focused on reducing the cost of supply staff for Oxfordshire schools, while simultaneously improving the take-home pay for those working as supply staff. Our initial research identified an opportunity to save up to £800,000 by moving away from traditional profit-focused commercial supply agencies and instead working with a mutual, not-for-profit supply agency - SMS. One year on, this change is proving successful and continues to gather pace.

About Schools Mutual Services

Schools Mutual Services (SMS) is a not-for-profit, mutual recruitment organisation dedicated exclusively to the education sector. The company was founded in response to the high margins charged by commercial supply agencies. Nick Hurn OBE, former CEO of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, serves as the company’s chairman, with a board made up of current education executive leaders. Their primary aim is to ensure resources stay within the sector and that pay and benefits for supply staff are fair - both of which are crucial for maintaining high standards in education.

Core Principles of SMS

- To provide high-quality, reliable support staff and teachers for all schools.

- To ensure fair pay and conditions for staff, whilst remaining highly competitive.

- To give back to schools by ensuring profits are reinvested in education rather than extracted from it.

The SMS philosophy is rooted in its mutual and not-for-profit status, with the interests of both education staff and schools at the centre of every decision. Their sole purpose is to offer supply staff for education at the highest quality and lowest cost, ensuring teachers receive rates of pay in line with their colleagues, and support staff benefit from a fair and transparent structure. SMS also provides enhanced employer pension contributions and an exemplary health and wellbeing package, all while maintaining the lowest operating margins in the market.

Compliance remains a top priority for SMS. They adhere strictly to statutory safeguarding legislation, KCSiE, and public contracts regulations, ensuring all staff are fully vetted before joining the team.

Our Partnership in Practice

As part of our partnership, SMS established an Oxford office and dedicated staff to support all OTSA schools, and the team has been expanded at the start of this academic year.  Jason Shepherd has joined the team and has local recruitment experience. The main contact number is 01865 597 771. Our SMS team consists of:

Jason Shepherd – Recruitment Manager

jason@schoolsmutualservices.co.uk

Georgia Howard

georgia@schoolsmutualservices.co.uk

01865 597 771

Jasmine Mirnam

jasmine@schoolsmutualservices.co.uk

01865 597 771

SMS is continuing to build a suitable candidate pool to support our requirements, with River Learning Trust being the first trust to go live with the service. Their approach and commitment to supporting education has been consistently impressive, and we are thrilled with the investment and dedication shown to this partnership over the past year.

We look forward to building on this success in the year ahead.

Adam Arnell

OTSA Director