APSCo to launch education recruitment standard

RA Now

A best practice standard for education recruitment companies is to be launched by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) in January 2014.

Called Compliance +, the standard is designed to set a benchmark for providing high quality appropriate staff to the education sector and safeguarding children. It comes after the government announced plans to remove the requirement for teaching qualifications in further education.

Consultations have been held between APSCo’s education sector group members and external stakeholders, including the National Association of Head Teachers, the Association of School & College Leaders and the National Association of School Business Managers. The scope of the standard will include professionals working from pre-school to post-year 11 students.

“Professional education recruiters have this unique opportunity to take control of their sector and shape future practices by creating a new and more effective benchmark that manages the expectations of all the stakeholders involved,” said Nick Bowles, APSCo’s head of education sector.

“It is a chance to go beyond the statutory requirements and consider more closely the competency and suitability of every teacher placed. This is why our standard is designed with Ofsted criteria in mind and will provide continuity in the classroom,” he added.

Lorna Harvey, Operations Director at The Education Network said: “It’s great that all stakeholders are committed to designing a standard that will not only ensure child safety but will also improve standards in education.”