I want to explore why an ECT would do this. What does an agency offer them to make them think this is a good way in? Where are ECTs getting advice to go through an agency? There’s a grip that recruitment agencies have on the profession atm that no one is talking about. It’s not helpful. Hmmm. - ThreadSky

carlywaterman.bsky.social • 3 days ago

I want to explore why an ECT would do this. What does an agency offer them to make them think this is a good way in? Where are ECTs getting advice to go through an agency? There’s a grip that recruitment agencies have on the profession atm that no one is talking about. It’s not helpful. Hmmm.

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drmarcushill.bsky.social•3 days ago

Also, agencies are actually great for ECTs on supply, and they can then tout the teachers on their books to schools for permanent roles. For Primary and non-shortage Secondary subjects, a nontrivial portion do start that way, especially if they are tied to an area like London or NW England.

carlywaterman.bsky.social•2 days ago

Hmm that’s interesting. Thank you. Still not sure it’s what schools would prefer and I worry about multiple fixed term contracts impacting on a good induction.

drmarcushill.bsky.social•2 days ago

Oh, it isn't ideal for anyone, but if an ECT can't get a first job in a school they want, it's less bad to be on supply when you can walk out with no notice than trapped for months somewhere that isn't right for them. Conversely, a school needing cover for a month won't be able to recruit directly.

teakayb.mathsy.space•3 days ago

I'm not an ECT but I get a CONSTANT stream of messages on LinkedIn from recruiters asking me if I'm considering moving to a new school in September because they're working with a school to recruit someone exactly like me. I'm assuming it's something like this.

evilflea.bsky.social•2 days ago

Are these schools "in your area" by any chance? I got loads when I was looking for a new teaching job due to moving from Watford to Devon. Almost all of them were the result of an algorithm/search looking at my current address and ignoring the bit about where I was looking for work.

evilflea.bsky.social•2 days ago

("in your area" still often meant well over an hour's commute from where I lived in Watford as well)

teakayb.mathsy.space•2 days ago

Yep. Every message is algorithmically generated.

carlywaterman.bsky.social•3 days ago

That’s really useful to know. Thank you. Will definitely be hard for ECTs who are looking for a role to resist.

philosophicellie.bsky.social•3 days ago

If there were less majorly different forms, and less likely to miss more of your placement, I can see why it would be attractive.
Also recruiters are at careers events and give application advice/ harder to get independent careers advice, trainees may not know it is ok to approach schools direct.

carlywaterman.bsky.social•3 days ago

Really good point. I agree. Thank you.

mrmountstevens.bsky.social•3 days ago

Is it because it's perceived as a short-cut and schools are so desperate to recruit that they can get away with it? When I look back on the effort I put into applications when I was training, and compare it with the candidates you have to consider today when recruiting, it makes me want to weep.

mrmountstevens.bsky.social•3 days ago

Not that all candidates take short cuts, just to be clear. Plenty still work very hard on it. But it still gets me down when you see how many don't.

carlywaterman.bsky.social•3 days ago

That’s a fair point.. maybe that’s because there wasn’t so much of a recruitment crisis back then? You had to make the effort? Now maybe the lure of an agency doing the work for you is attractive? Schools could make things easier for ECTs. Recruitment processes are all different & time consuming.

mrmountstevens.bsky.social•2 days ago

I know, I know. I just find it very hard not to feel frustrated that people aren't willing to put in the effort. It's not like employers in other sectors all have the same application processes to make it easy for candidates. But I need to get over myself.

danielstucke.bsky.social•3 days ago

I can kind of understand. The whole recruitment process in schools is a farce. Awful long app forms, visits and then lengthy day(s) full of activities. So onerous compared to outside the profession. Whilst so much energy is required I can see why they take shortcuts.

evilflea.bsky.social•2 days ago

Ah it's been a while now since I had to fill in a form in Word 97 format that someone filled with carriage returns to make the spaces for answers.

Although agency forms were often as bad as the school ones.

carlywaterman.bsky.social•3 days ago

That’s a very good point. It is a farce. Needs to be better

tmarstonht.bsky.social•3 days ago

And I think agencies are signing people up at uni - they will find then work but it is soul destroying to be passing money out of the system.

carlywaterman.bsky.social•3 days ago

It is indeed

gordenpope.bsky.social•3 days ago

Most trainees I worked with on Primary PGCE would be applying to numerous schools, each with their own lengthy form (a while ago now, perhaps things have improved).
I can see how completing one form with the promise of access to numerous schools would be an attractive proposition.

carlywaterman.bsky.social•3 days ago

I don’t think things have improved. I think it’s a fair point and makes me think there’s a lot more we could do as a profession to make applying easier - which doesn’t involve schools paying out to agencies.

hannahpinkham.bsky.social•2 days ago

Also interesting to consider what support training providers are putting in place to ensure that the applications their ITT/ECTs are submitting aren't nonsense + advice around using agencies etc

mrlockyer.bsky.social•2 days ago

I can tell you one such reason - the agencies pay ITT Colleges and Universities large amounts to host open afternoons, aka signing up with them. It is totally immoral, but does happen.

carlywaterman.bsky.social•2 days ago

Such a cynical thing to do!

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