Published 21 May 2026

Improving trust outcomes with a proven supply framework

From September 2026, academy trusts across England will see a significant shift in how supply staff are sourced and managed. The Department for Education (DfE) now requires all single and multi-academy trusts to procure supply teachers and temporary staff through the latest Government Commercial Agency framework, or an equivalent approved procurement framework.

This reform aims to improved consistency, transparency and value in temporary staffing. Central to the change is the Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment framework, which improves transparency on teacher pay, caps agency margins and ensures strict safeguarding checks. Edwin has secured places on both Lot 1 and Lot 2 of this new GCA Supply Teachers and Education framework, listed as Vision for Education, we are proud to be a part of that.

Understanding GCA Lot 1 Vs. GCA Lot 2

Lot 1 allows you to engage with a wide range of approved recruitment agencies which is great for schools that prefer to maintain their own contracts with multiple agencies or have smaller hiring needs.

Through Lot 2, schools and trusts can take a more strategic approach to supply staffing with the introduction of a managed service partnership (MSP). This is great for those that want a strategic point of contact to oversee all staffing needs, compliance of preferred agencies and consistency of standards across all schools.

How GCA Lot 2 supports multi-academy trusts

GCA Lot 2 provides a structured framework that addresses the most common supply staffing challenges:

Cost control through fixed margins and transparent pricing
Consistency across schools with standardised processes
Reduced admin burden by limiting agency fragmentation
Improved visibility of supply usage and spend
Enhanced safeguarding through pre-approved supplier checks

Trusts can also benefit from flexible staffing options, including 12-week temp-to-perm placement with no additional fees, supporting longer-term staffing strategies.

GCA Lot 2 enables trusts to move away from reactive school-by-school booking and towards a centralised, strategic model.

Delivering more through a managed service partnership

To maximise the value of GCA Lot 2, we support trusts through a managed service partnership (MSP), bringing expertise in trust-wide supply planning and supply chain management.

Through this approach, trusts can achieve:

Cost efficiency: Average savings of up to 50% through standardised rate cards and temp-to-perm agreements
Stronger governance & control: Compliant supply chain managed through consistent policies and compliance audits twice a year
Improved quality of supply: An audited network of supply agency partners to ensure every placement is a high-quality fit. We deliver a 99% fill rate vs national average of 93%.
Simplified communication: Dedicated specialist single point of contact replaced multiple agencies
Safeguarding assurance: 100% safeguarding and compliance pass rate.
Strategic supply staffing planning: Improved forecasting and real-time visibility with our School Portal+ platform.

Working with Edwin through the managed service partnership has brought clarity and consistency to our supply processes, with a transparent rate card and straightforward communication making planning easier and bookings simple and reliable. Any challenges are handled quickly and professionally, reducing pressure on senior leaders and helping the school run more smoothly.

Lesley Barnes, Assistant Headteacher, Corley Academy

Moving from reactive to strategic staffing

By combining the GCA Lot 2 framework with a managed service partnership approach, trusts can transition from reactive staffing to a proactive, strategic supply model. The result is a greater operational efficiency, stronger governance, controlled costs and ultimately better outcomes for student and staff.

Edwin’s support has genuinely improved how we manage temporary staffing by taking the time to understand our ethos and the qualities we look for, helping us build a strong and consistent pool of high-quality staff. Their ongoing communication and support give us confidence in both the process and the individuals placed with us, ensuring greater stability for our pupils.

Faith Grant Ghent, Business Manager, Kitts Green Academy

Managed Service Partnership
Staffing

Let's start the conversation.

Edwin is already a trusted education partner for many schools and multi-academy trusts, so whether you're looking for practical support, fresh thinking or simply somewhere to share ideas with peers, we'd love to hear from you.