Not just another agency
Teaching has long been regarded as a profession requiring great skill and expertise. It is invigorating, challenging and rewarding. Passionate and committed teachers are driven by developing lessons that encourage pupils to enjoy learning, and indeed provide teachers with a sense that their hard work is important.
Teachers work hard.
The occupation is exhausting both physically and emotionally and the expectations placed on teachers are of tremendous importance. Its profound importance renders teaching most certainly an all enveloping career; class time is in fact, the least demanding part of the job. It is the many hours that go into preparation, marking, developing schemes of work, attending parent evenings and courses and the sheer sense of responsibility, that contribute to teacher exhaustion, which, invariably, leads to absence. Why is it then, that the professional teacher who replaces this exhausted and overworked colleague, is deemed less capable, simply because they are referred to as a ‘supply’ teacher? It is a well-documented fact that schools in London and its surrounds, simply would not function without the teachers provided by agencies.
So what sort of teachers register with agencies? Teachers with little time to spare because, despite being efficient time managers, are so committed to their pupils and schools, that in order to successfully fulfil the role they play, simply do not have the time to research the hundreds of jobs advertised and fill in superfluous application criteria – it detracts from their teaching. Instead, they approach a reputable agency, and they know that their careers will be in safe hands. Talented Overseas Trained Teachers (OTT) register with agencies because they provide personalised ongoing support.
The corporate world highly values the role agencies play in recruiting top quality professionals and schools too, albeit more slowly than their corporate counterparts, are beginning to make use of professional recruiters. It is sometimes difficult however, to determine which agencies use sales gimmicks and which actually understand education. Reputable teacher recruitment agencies such as Axcis Education, have deliberately steered clear of employing salespeople, in favour of experienced teachers, who understand schools and education and are passionate about carefully matching teachers to schools. Over 80% of Axcis staff are teachers, with an average seven years’ teaching experience behind each team member. Their recruitment experience is equally as impressive, with a number of team members having operated their own recruitment companies. They are all highly skilled in, and committed to, carefully matching teachers and schools.
The reputation of Axcis is based largely on the quality of the last teacher it recommended – a teacher recommended by a teacher. Axcis will only work with committed professionals and the level of investment in the company, allows it to focus on providing quality teachers to schools with a personalised service. The financial backing the company does have, allows it to offer many of the benefits larger agencies claim to offer but simply cannot, because of their size. The first benefit is a particularly competitive rate, if not the most competitive rate, while still paying teachers considerably more than other agencies. Cutting edge marketing targets teachers from around the world and so despite being relatively new to the market, Axcis has over ten thousand teachers on its books. This phenomenal number gives the Axcis team the luxury of being very discerning about the teachers it recommends. Another bonus is that an Axcis team member will always find the time to visit its schools and teachers. In order for schools to ensure that they do not miss out on the high level of service and calibre of teacher provided, they should reassess their perception of agencies and the types of teachers registered with them, especially teachers from overseas. After all, an estimated 10% of teachers come from abroad and their first port of call is agencies. These are not teachers unable to find work through other means, they are teachers who know they are valuable and are seeking the services of an agency so that the agency can match them with a suitable school. Axcis knows it has been entrusted with significant responsibilities.
Schools can rest assured that Axcis will take care of their recruitment needs, knowing that the agency holds the Quality Mark. This badge of quality is an absolute guarantee that the agency abides by strict guidelines as to checks carried out on teachers. The Quality Mark is awarded only after a thorough assessment has been carried out and is reviewed regularly. Axcis not only meticulously checks all paperwork, but the stressful and costly tasks associated with recruitment are also taken care of. Consultants will ask detailed questions about vacancies and the type of staff required. They will advertise schools’ vacancies on their own website, in addition to other recruitment websites. Experienced consultants and resourcers will shortlist and interview candidates face to face and only when a suitable match is found, will schools receive candidate details. If that match is not made, then Axcis will not waste your time. These services are all provided as standard and at NO CHARGE. Schools only pay if they appoint.
Axcis applies the same thorough vetting and interview procedures to candidates whether they are considered for supply (day to day and long term) and permanent positions. Axcis teachers often begin on a day to day basis only to be kept on by schools because they are so impressed. Schools are certainly beginning to realise that teachers who teach in schools on a ‘supply’ basis, contribute immensely to the smooth running not only of the schools but to pupils’ education. On several occasions Axcis teachers have been commended for doing, ‘so much more than was expected of a supply teacher,’ and that is because teachers who do supply are doing so because the choose to are professionals, plus have been carefully matched by Axcis. It is wonderful that attitudes to ‘supply’ teachers are changing and with this, schools are becoming more open to using agencies. Axcis is honest in their approach and requests feedback from schools as to the quality of teachers they provide and how they can improve their service to schools. Axcis provides professional development for its teachers, regardless of whether they are permanent or contract – another service that is provided free of charge.
Schools have a choice and an obligation to ensure that they are receiving the best value for money and providing pupils with the best teachers available. Axcis Education Recruitment is just what its name suggests – a company focussed on recruiting education specialists. Competition is healthy and schools are urged to give Axcis a try rather than struggle on their own or continue to be disappointed with and disenchanted by the service provided by other agencies.
Axcis Education, for professional teachers.
