You’ve sent off your application to a teaching agency and now you’re waiting. Maybe you’re refreshing your email every hour or wondering if your CV even made it through. Just like you, most aspiring teachers have no idea what happens after they click submit.
The truth is that teaching agencies run a surprisingly hands-on recruitment process that most candidates never see. And we know that understanding what happens behind the scenes can ease your anxiety and help you prepare better for each stage.
That’s why this article shows you the entire process of application review and ongoing support after you start teaching.
So let’s go backstage and see how education agencies actually operate.
What Happens When You Submit Your Application to a Teaching Agency?
Once your application lands at a teaching agency, a chain of checks, reviews, and matching steps begins almost immediately. Even though most candidates imagine that their CV is floating in a database, the process is far more active.
Even if they seem lax from the outside, they’re actually doing their job well, and over 80% of supply teachers in the UK find work through agencies.
Here’s what actually happens behind the scenes.
Your Profile Gets Reviewed by Real People
A recruitment consultant screens your qualifications and teaching experience first. Instead of an automated system that rejects you because you missed a keyword, a real person checks if you match current school vacancies in their network.
For example, if you’re a maths teacher with A-level experience, they’ll immediately flag your profile for secondary schools requesting exactly that. And most importantly, the teacher recruitment process starts the moment your application arrives, not when it’s convenient for them.
Background Checks and DBS Verification
The agency begins your DBS check and reference verification right away, because it’s the longest part of the process. They contact your previous schools to confirm employment and teaching performance.
Government agencies process your clearance while other necessary checks continue. All these run in the background while you’re doing phone interviews and meeting consultants. And it saves weeks off your timeline.
Your Details Go Into the Matching System
Your profile gets added to their candidate database with specific tags, like Netflix recommendations, but for teaching jobs. Schools access this system when seeking qualified candidates for positions. And the system alerts consultants when schools post jobs matching your skills.
For example, if a primary school in Manchester suddenly needs a Year 3 teacher who speaks Spanish, and that’s you, your consultant gets pinged within minutes. It’s a much faster system than refreshing job boards every morning.
How Does a Teaching Agency Match You With Insight Education?
Teaching agencies match you with schools through understanding your strengths, teaching style, and preferred environments. Then they compare those to the needs of partner schools. This makes sure that placements are where you can actually succeed, instead of temporarily filling a gap.
Take a look at the details on how they match your CV to send them to Insight Education.
They Analyse Your Teaching Style and Personality
Consultants assess if you’re a good fit for different school cultures. For example, some schools want teachers who follow the curriculum to the letter. But others prefer creative teachers who’ll try new things in the classroom.
That’s why agencies consider your classroom management approach and student engagement methods. Your interview reveals whether you suit traditional or progressive educational institutions. So that you can find schools where you’ll actually enjoy working and stick around longer than one term.
Your Consultant Prepares You for School Interviews
They share insight about the school’s values and important ethics. For instance, one school might care deeply about pastoral care while another focuses heavily on exam results.
Plus, you receive guidance on common interview questions and demonstration lesson expectations. The consultant explains the unique requirements each school looks for, specifically. This insider knowledge means you’re not walking in blind.
Location and School Culture Preferences Get Prioritised
Agencies only present schools that match your location and commute preferences. Because there’s no point interviewing for a job that takes 90 minutes each way (especially if you’ve got young kids at home).
That’s why they consider whether you want primary, secondary, or special education settings. For example, if you’re passionate about Montessori methods, they won’t waste your time with strict academies.
Supports You Get After Accepting a Placement
When you work with a teaching agency, you’re never left to figure things out alone. The support continues long after you start your first day. Agencies stay in contact to make sure your first few weeks go smoothly and to help resolve any classroom or timetable concerns.
Here are some types of support you’ll get after your placement.
Your Consultant Stays in Regular Contact
Your dedicated consultant checks in weekly during your first term of teaching. Instead of quick “how are you” texts, they genuinely want to know if the school matches what they promised during the interview.
They address any challenges you face with students or school staff. Let’s say you’re struggling with a particularly difficult Year 8 class, or the head of department isn’t giving you proper resources. Your consultant can actually step in and sort things out before they get worse.
Top talent doesn’t stick around with agencies that disappear after placement, so they work hard to keep you happy and supported throughout the year.
Free CPD Training Keeps Your Skills Current
Agencies give you online courses that cover safeguarding and classroom management techniques. Most teachers don’t realise this training comes at no cost to you. Rather, access to professional development helps you achieve qualified teacher status faster.
These courses actually teach you practical strategies you can use on Monday morning, and boost your teaching ability in the classroom. Good agencies invest in developing their teachers because it benefits everyone involved.
The Agency Handles Any Placement Issues
On top of this support, they also manage all paperwork between you and the school administration. If schools need cover teachers, the agency fills positions quickly. This means you might get offered extra days at schools you already know and like.
Your consultant assists with contract negotiations and ensures fair employment terms. One supply teacher told us that her agency spotted an error in her holiday pay calculation and got her an extra £400 back. That’s the kind of attention to detail that saves your day.
How Long Does Top Talent Take for the Teacher Recruitment Process?
The teacher recruitment process usually takes four to eight weeks, depending on your documents, subject specialism, and how quickly you respond to your agency. Some steps move faster during peak hiring seasons, while others (like DBS checks) take a fixed amount of time.
Here’s a clear breakdown of the typical timeline:
- Initial application review: The initial application review is completed within three working days, and during busy hiring periods, it is often processed even faster.
- Phone screening: Then, the phone screening is usually scheduled within one week and typically lasts 20-30 minutes to discuss your preferences.
- DBS checks: After that, DBS checks usually take two to four weeks, depending on your address history, recent moves, or any time spent abroad.
- School interviews: Finally, school interviews are arranged. It generally happens one to three weeks after you pass the phone screening.
Agencies work hard to match candidates faster during peak hiring in England. For instance, September and January start to see the quickest turnarounds because schools need teachers urgently.
The timeline also varies based on your subject specialism and location of interest. For example, top talent in high-demand subjects like maths move through faster. Secondary science teachers also get placed quickly because there’s a national shortage.
Note: Universities and independent schools may take longer because their interviews involve panels, governors, or trustees.
Your Next Steps in the Teacher Recruitment Process
Working with a teaching agency doesn’t have to feel like a mystery anymore. You now know exactly what happens from the moment you submit your application to the ongoing support you’ll receive months into your placement.
The entire recruitment process takes four to eight weeks on average, but that timeline speeds up when you respond quickly and stay flexible about locations.
Remember, good agencies offer more than just job placements. They provide interview preparation, CPD training, and someone to call when things get difficult at school.
So if you’re ready to start your teaching journey, research agencies that prioritise finding you the right job where you’ll want to stay and grow your career. And if you need more support on teaching jobs, visit OTJR Online.