Our Work With Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust

Client Profile

Shireland Collegiate Academy stands as the founding school of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, a name recognised nationwide for its innovative spirit, collaborative ethos, and unwavering commitment to inspiring every individual in its community. As a beacon of educational excellence, Shireland Collegiate Academy has set the standard for creativity and inclusivity, embodying the principles that define the Trust’s mission. Today, Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust extends its influence across the region, encompassing 12 schools and 4 nurseries. Each institution is united by a shared vision of fostering educational excellence while preserving the values of innovation and collaboration that have been at the heart of the Trust since its inception. This partnership-driven approach ensures that every school within the Trust benefits from the collective expertise, shared resources, and a steadfast commitment to achieving outstanding outcomes for students and staff alike.

Smile Education prides itself on going above and beyond the norms of what you can expect from a recruitment agency. We are not only a recruitment partner we deliver a holistic approach to support the Trust as a whole and go above the ‘norms’ of what they would usually expect from a recruitment company. We see ourselves as an extension of the schools we support. We have extensive links with FE/HE institutions and regular partner our Trust schools with new emerging talent within the sector, we also host employability and careers sessions for their secondary pupils.

Dedicated Account Management and Staff Support

Shireland has a dedicated Account Manager and a wider team to implement the process and ensure everything is in place to attract the top talent whilst supporting the Trust with any day-to-day operations. Beyond the Account Manager, Shireland benefits from the expertise of Smile’s wider support team, which includes marketing specialist, finance and accounts team and resourcing specialists. This multi-faceted support system provides a comprehensive approach to recruitment, enabling the Trust to focus on its core mission of delivering outstanding education while leaving the complexities of staffing and operations in trusted hands.

Rigorous Compliance and Safeguarding Protocols: Ensuring the safety and well-being of students is Smile Education’s top priority.

Every candidate undergoes a rigorous compliance process that includes enhanced DBS checks, thorough reference verification, and regular safeguarding training. We are APSCO compliant and our most recent annual audit recognised our outstanding work with a 99.6% score, and we have consistently achieved over 99.5% each year.

Cost-Saving Measures through the CCS Framework

By operating under the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Framework, a quality, compliant procurement process is assured. Smile Education supports the Trust access high-quality staffing solutions at competitive rates. This framework ensures transparency and cost-efficiency, enabling schools to maximise their budgets without compromising on quality.

Dual-Branded Campaigns for Talent Attraction

Smile collaborates closely with the Trust on dual-branded recruitment campaigns. These campaigns highlight the Trust’s values and culture, positioning it as an employer of choice for educators across the region.

5,000 Leaflet Drops targeting key local areas to attract top talent.
Posters placed in local community hubs to boost visibility.
‘Meet the School’ Days where candidates connect with school leaders and experience the Trust’s ethos first hand.

Technology-Driven- Reporting and Transparency

Smile leverages cutting-edge technology, including Power BI, to provide Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust with detailed reporting and real-time insights into staffing operations.

Results

Increased success rate

Achieved 100% fulfilment rate and 95% direct fill on all supply needs across the trust, 1027 days filled last term!

Savings

Temp to perm savings of nearly £25,000

Enhanced Brand Positioning

Strengthened the MATs brand and engagement- attracting top talent for the Trust with a successful geo-marketing campaign used to increase applicants

Conclusion

Cost Savings: Achieved reduction in recruitment costs through streamlined processes and the CCS framework.
Time-to-Hire: Reduced time-to-fill urgent vacancies to an average of 5–7 minutes, minimising disruptions in schools.
Compliance Rates: Maintained a 100% compliance rate, ensuring full adherence to safeguarding standards.
Candidate Quality: Over 95% of candidates received positive feedback from school leadership.

“I've had the pleasure of working with Smile, for the past year. The team is incredibly responsive, professional, and always comes through for me, even when I have very last-minute requests! Smile takes the time to understand our requirements, ensuring that the teachers they send are well-prepared and able to maintain a positive learning environment.”