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Supply Agency
OTSA has partnered with Schools Mutual Services (SMS) to provide high-quality, low-cost, supply and recruitment services for partner schools and trusts.
At the request of partner schools, OTSA investigated the possibility of establishing a school-led supply agency. As part of our research we came across a successful school-led organisation already operating in the north-east.
Schools Mutual Services is a mutual recruitment and supply organisation, owned by member schools. As a non-profit organisation SMS offers better pay and better employment conditions for supply staff, whilst significantly reducing costs for schools.
Finding that our values aligned, OTSA and SMS have agreed to work in partnership to offer supply and recruitment services for partner schools from November 2024. We will grow this area of work gradually to ensure we maintain quality and will increase the number of member schools as capacity allows.
More About SMS
Schools Mutual Services (SMS), a not-for-profit mutual recruitment organisation dedicated to education, was established to keep more money in schools and trusts whilst improving pay and benefits for supply colleagues.
SMS was established by executive leaders of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, Chief Executive Officer, Nick Hurn OBE and Chief Operating Officer, Louise Levy.
The SMS Approach
- Provide qualified, dedicated and hard-working supply colleagues
- Ensure 100% safer recruitment compliance
- Fair pay & conditions for all colleagues and the lowest cost for schools
- No agency fees for permanent appointments, after 12 weeks of employment
- Always not-for-profit and give back to member schools
Members not Customers – SMS is owned by member schools
Efficient Sourcing – mutual working to source the best talent
Ethical Supply – lowest costs, full transparency
Compliance
SMS are committed to safer recruitment and meet all statutory requirements for keeping children safe in education.
People before Profits
SMS is managed and governed by education leaders with an unwavering commitment to compensating our teaching and support staff fairly and transparently, whilst ensuring our schools and academies achieve the best rates.
PAYE Contracts
All SMS supply colleagues are paid through PAYE, which provides complete transparency, ensures supply staff are treated fairly and schools and trusts are compliant with tax legislation.
Schools Mutual Services is owned by member schools, not shareholders, meaning that any surplus funds stay in the education sector rather than disappearing as profit.
Meet the Oxford Team
A key step in the partnership with OTSA is the opening of an SMS office in Oxford and the employment of local staff to support member schools.
Leigh Rackham, Business Manager
leigh@schoolsmutualservices.co.uk
Georgia Howard
georgia@schoolsmutualservices.co.uk
Jasmine Mirnam
Information for Schools
Schools Mutual Services is a not-for-profit mutual set up by education leaders to provide schools and trusts with a transparent and quality focused recruitment service that provides the best use of public funds and returns any profit back into education.
SMS operates as a mutual organisation, whereby the company’s customers are also its owners. The organisation is chaired by Nick Hurn OBE, CEO of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust and vice-chaired by Sir Ken Gibson of Harton Academy.
SMS provide recruitment solutions from short-term temporary bookings to permanent positions for all educational roles, including teachers, teaching assistants, technicians, and office staff.
All supply colleagues employed by SMS are provided with health and wellness support, a unique offering that sets them apart from other organisations.
What their clients say...
“Schools Mutual Services have been very reliable at organising our supply cover. Our needs are dealt with promptly and professionally, and we have been extremely happy with the standard of candidates put forward.”
Sean Woods, Headteacher – Sacred Heart Primary School, Gateshead
“From the first phone call to the interview, it has been the easiest and most pleasant experience with Schools Mutual Services. I have always been answered promptly, they are constantly telling me how happy and proud they are of me which is just the icing on this ‘job finding’ cake.”
Hannah Davison, Teaching Assistant
Information for Supply Staff
SMS would like to hear from colleagues looking for short-term, long-term or permanent work, as well as part-time or semi-retired colleagues who would like to boost their income with occasional work.
Schools Mutual Services are owned by schools and not by commercial stakeholders. As such, they put any surplus income into ensuring colleagues receive the highest levels of pay, access to high quality professional development from OTSA and enhanced health and wellbeing support.
The benefits of working with SMS...
- Excellent rates of pay linked to experience
- Careful matching to the right role
- Career support including finding permanent posts
- Statutory induction for ECTs with OTSA
- Professional development with OTSA
- Weekly payment through PAYE
- Enhanced employer pension contributions
- Access to online GP consultations 24/7
- Nurse support service and physiotherapy
- Mental health support and counselling service
- Financial advice and free will service
