York teaching agency slams scrapping of Quality Mark

A York-based supply teacher agency has expressed anger at the Government’s decision to abolish the industry’s Quality Mark from the end of this month.

Principal Teachers at York Eco Business Park, Clifton Moor, has raised concerns about the effects the move will have on overall child safety and teaching standards.

The Quality Mark was launched in 2002 by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and the Department for Education (DfE) to improve standards in supply teaching.

It requires agencies and local authorities to attain minimum standards in areas such as the recruitment process of supply teachers, the way they check and manage performance and how they remain at the forefront of changes in the teaching sector.

The high standards of the Quality Mark ensure that schools only receive teachers employed using the strictest levels of recruitment practice and safeguarding of children.

However, the Government has announced that the Quality Mark will be abolished from March 31st.

Principal Teachers, which also has offices in Catterick, has been established for 13 years and has held the DfE Quality Mark since it was introduced in 2002.

Becca Morgan is a director of the company and is shocked by the Government’s decision. She said: “I have serious concerns relating to the safeguarding of children and see this as a worrying development. With the Quality Mark, schools are assured that we operate to the highest standards.

“Although Principal Teachers will continue to operate to these standards, many of our competitors may not and I believe that this could place children at risk. It is of great concern to me that there is no planned replacement scheme and that this retrograde step leaves the teaching industry and children in our schools vulnerable and at the mercy of more unscrupulous cowboy businesses. Child safety should always be the number one priority.”

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