REC Audited Education Goes from Strength to Strength

It’s been one year since the REC responded to market demand and launched the REC Audited Education product. In that time we have been delighted with the response from REC recruiters and education sector. Over 40 agencies are working towards or have achieved REC Audited Education status and there are another 30 in the pipeline. At the current rate of interest, we are on course to have just as many members signed up to REC Audited Education as were part of the Quality Mark in its whole ten year history.

REC head of compliance, Angie Nicholls said: “When the Department for Education withdrew support for the Quality Mark, we knew that we had to respond quickly, building on all that we had learnt from delivering the Quality Mark over the last decade,”
“We have put that experience to really good use by creating something that is even more robust than the government-initiated offer and recruiters tell us that this is what has given schools confidence in the product which is the most important thing.”

Member feedback has been equally positive. Director of PK Education, Karl Housley FIRP, said:
“Yes the new standards in REC Audited Education are tough and certainly put us through our paces but it was asking for nothing more than I would expect from a high quality agency. The fact that the REC team was with us for a whole day meant that we had  plenty of opportunities to ask questions and really hone in on what we could do to improve our levels of service.”

A really important part of the development of REC Audited Education has been the ongoing support, advice and guidance of the steering group. The group is chaired by Prof John Howson of the University of Oxford and steering group members include the Department for Education (DfE), the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), Voice the Union and The Schools Network (SSAT). The Steering group has helped the REC keep fully abreast of developments on the frontline of the education system and in turn, we can share these insights with members.

The regular REC Education sector group meetings continue to be the best channel for members to hear the latest advice from the steering group. Given the changes to the guidance on safeguarding in schools, DBS checks and at Ofsted, it has never been more important to keep up with developments in the sector. For more information on the last education sector group meeting in Birmingham on 13th May you can contact David Geary – david.geary@rec.uk.com.