The Times Educational Supplement is delighted to announce that field trials of its new online applicant tracking system for schools have been brought forward to February in response to strong demand from schools and Local Authorities. The new system, to be called TES HireWire, will be completely free and will allow schools to handle all stages of recruitment electronically.
TES HireWire will give schools access to best practice recruitment methods, and allow Headteachers to track the effectiveness of their job marketing costs. In demonstrations and early trials through the autumn a wide range of education professionals said that the easy-to-use system, designed specifically for schools, was exactly what was needed to make recruitment more efficient.
Requests to participate in the field trials were oversubscribed, and 30 schools have now been selected to participate in the next phase of TES HireWire roll-out. TES HireWireis the result of over 18 months of market research, software development and extensive user testing between the TES, Headteachers, Local Authorities and their staff.
TES HireWire is a web-based tool and the software is being made available to schools completely free of charge. It was unveiled publicly at the BETT Education Exhibition in January, and school leaders welcomed the TES initiative and the benefits the product will bring to the sector.
The tool will support the entire recruitment process from placing an advertisement to making an appointment. Key benefits include:
- Completely free of charge and easy to use
- Tool designed specifically for education and customised for school needs
- Advertising effectiveness and management reporting included as standard
- Gives schools competitive edge by providing a better service to candidates
- Ensures compliance with best practice recruitment and legal checks
- Will save schools money and time
Gerald Haigh, former Headteacher and Governor, said: "Having been involved in all aspects of teacher recruitment I know just how much time and energy it all takes, and I was happy to work with the TES to set up a recruitment tool that's going to make the whole process of matching people to jobs so much easier for schools to manage.
"The TES developers have worked hard with experienced school leaders, absorbing their views and their experience, and I’m sure the care they’ve taken has resulted in something that will enable education professionals to focus on finding the best possible teachers for their schools. After all, what could be more important than making sure the right people are teaching and caring for our children?"
The TES has been serving the education community in the UK for nearly 100 years, and aims to improve the quality of UK education. As Britain’s leading educational newspaper and job board, the TES has used its knowledge and expertise in teacher recruitment to custom-build a web-based solution that not only helps schools save time and money but also provides them with the ability to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of their advertising.
TES Business Manager Sarah Woddis explains: "The TES understands the education world better than most, so it was a logical next step for us to develop a service to help schools who often face very complex and time-consuming recruitment challenges. Our extensive links with schools and the wider education community mean that we are uniquely placed to deliver such a valuable service."
The field testing phase begins this month. John Martin, Headteacher of Cheslyn Hay Sport & Community High School, comments: "I have seen the new TES recruitment service, and I believe there will be clear benefits for our school. We look forward to participating in the pilot."
For further information please contact:
Sarah Woddis, TES Business Manager
Email: sarah.woddis@tsleducation.com
Tel: 020 3194 3111