Universities urged to stop hosting teacher recruitment agencies which are ‘fleecing’ the taxpayer

Universities have been urged to stop hosting recruitment agencies which sign up trainee teachers before they graduate and charge schools up to £12,000 in ‘finder’s fees’.

Headteachers, teaching unions and MPs are also calling on the Government to intervene, amid concern that the practice is wasting millions of pounds of taxpayers money every year.

Universities across the country are allowing agencies to attend their annual jobs fairs, known as milk rounds, where recruiters are able to sign up hundreds of trainees on the spot.

A recruitment specialist, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said some firms are now registering thousands of NQTs annually.

Last night the Department for Education said it was taking steps to tackle the problem, including launching a free teacher jobs website, which is expected to launch in September 2018.

source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/16/universities-urged-stop-hosting-teacher-recruitment-agencies/