How long does it take to fill a teaching vacancy?

When you have a class without a teacher, speed matters. So does getting the right person, fully vetted. Here is what to realistically expect, and why a good agency can be faster than recruiting alone without ever skipping the checks that keep children safe.

Realistic timescales

These are realistic ranges, not promises pulled from thin air. The exact timing depends on how niche the role is, the time of year, and how quickly interviews and references can be arranged. A specialist agency with a ready pool of vetted educators is almost always faster than advertising cold.

Why an agency is usually faster

• We already know our candidates. Many are vetted and ready to start, so we are matching, not searching from scratch.
• Compliance is already done. Enhanced DBS, references and right to work checks are completed in advance, which removes the biggest delay.
• We handle the admin. Advertising, shortlisting, screening and reference chasing all happen at once, not one slow step at a time.

How we move fast without cutting corners

Speed should never come at the expense of safeguarding. Every educator we put forward is vetted to safer recruitment and DfE standards, with enhanced DBS checks led by our own Head of Compliance, before they set foot in your school. We can be quick precisely because that groundwork is already in place, not because we skip it.