Since the new GCA RM6376 framework launched on the 30th of April 2026, our team has spoken with hundreds of headteachers, school business managers, and trust leaders. You are all asking similar questions about how these changes impact your hiring processes. Navigating government procurement rules can feel overwhelming when you are already managing fixed budgets and striving to enhance student outcomes.
We understand that you need clear, actionable information to make the right decisions for your school. The new framework is designed to help you drive operational efficiency and maintain high standards of compliance across your trust. However, understanding the specific details, from the upcoming September 2026 mandate to the updated fee structures, requires a bit of guidance.
To help you seamlessly transition to these new rules, we have collected the most common questions in one convenient place. This guide will provide you with the answers you need to reduce recruitment costs, ensure your school remains compliant, and confidently secure the best staff for your classrooms.
GCA stands for Government Commercial Agency. It is the UK’s central commercial and procurement organisation, responsible for helping the public sector get the best value when buying goods and services. The GCA replaced the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) on the 1st of April 2026. While the name and branding are new, the core function remains the same.
RM6376 is the official agreement number for the new Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment framework. This framework officially went live on the 30th of April 2026 and will remain active until the 29th of April 2029. It acts as a set of pre-approved terms and conditions that schools can use to safely and cost-effectively hire staff.
The old CCS framework agreement has been completely replaced by RM6376. If you have existing arrangements signed under the old framework, you do not need to worry. Those agreements remain valid until they expire. However, you should make all new bookings under the RM6376 framework going forward.
If you operate a school in England, you will need a DfE sign-in. This is your primary route into the GCA agency selection tool. If you do not currently have an account, you can request access directly through the GCA website. Schools located in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, alongside other public sector organisations, can simply email the GCA team to gain access.
Starting in September 2026, the Academy Trusts Handbook requires single and multi-academy trusts to procure all supply staff through a recognised framework agreement. RM6376 is the live framework explicitly designed to help you meet this requirement.
This depends on your school’s structure. If you are an academy, whether a single-academy trust or part of a multi-academy trust, the mandate applies to you. If you are a maintained school operating under a local authority, the mandate does not apply. Local authority-maintained schools are completely free to use the framework to find vetted staff, but they are not currently required to do so by law.
Non-compliance with the Academy Trusts Handbook is a serious matter. Trustees are ultimately accountable for this, and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) can require remedial action if rules are ignored. Most trusts working with established education recruitment suppliers will already be compliant. The main task for trust leaders is checking for any edge cases, such as a specific school within the trust using an off-framework agency.
The mandate applies to supply staff broadly. It covers much more than just teaching cover. Trusts must map all categories of agency-supplied workers against the framework when planning their compliance strategy. This includes teaching assistants, administrative staff, and operational workers.
The process is straightforward. Sign in to the GCA agency selection tool and enter your school’s postcode alongside the specific role you need. The tool will return a list of approved suppliers within a search radius that you set. You can view each supplier’s fee alongside their name, allowing you to compare costs directly and make data-driven decisions.
Absolutely not. You can sign short order forms with as many suppliers as you like. There is no limit on how many agencies you can use. Most schools choose to work regularly with two or three trusted partners, occasionally bringing in others for highly specialist needs.
Lot 1 is designed for the direct appointment of single workers or small groups. The vast majority of schools will only ever need to use Lot 1. Lot 2 is designed for managed service arrangements. Under Lot 2, a single supplier oversees all your supply needs through their own supply chain, a method typically utilised by larger multi-academy trusts.
Awarding without competition means you simply pick a supplier from the tool, sign a short order form, and you are done. This is the recommended route for most Lot 1 bookings because it is fast and efficient. Awarding with competition means you invite multiple suppliers to bid on your contract and choose the winner. This route is recommended for Lot 2 managed service contracts and larger Lot 1 procurements.
The framework sets strict fee caps to help you reduce recruitment costs. Please note that these caps apply solely to the supplier’s fee. They are entirely separate from the worker’s actual pay and statutory employment costs.
No, the cap is simply a maximum limit. Suppliers can charge less than this amount, and they frequently do. You will often see lower fees for higher-volume bookings or longer-term placements. We recommend always asking for the supplier’s actual fee for your specific situation.
The supplier fee covers everything the agency does beyond paying the worker. This includes sourcing candidates, conducting rigorous vetting, providing ongoing support, handling payroll administration, ensuring KCSiE compliance, and managing your account. The fee does not include the worker’s actual pay, employer National Insurance, pension contributions, or holiday pay accrual. Those items are listed separately on your invoice for full transparency.
Suppliers are allowed to charge for specialised services that are not covered by the framework. However, any bookings made under RM6376 must be billed at or below the published cap. You should always verify that the fee you are being asked to pay fits within the agreed framework structure.
You can hire almost any role required in a publicly funded educational establishment. The framework goes far beyond supply teachers. You can source school leaders, education support staff, administrative personnel, finance officers, IT technicians, maintenance workers, catering staff, and cleaners.
Yes. Suppliers on the framework are legally required to vet all workers in strict alignment with the DfE’s Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) standards. This is a binding contractual obligation, not merely a recommendation. This rigorous vetting process is vital to ensure student safety across your trust.
You certainly can. This is known as the nominated worker route. If you identify a great candidate yourself, you can introduce them to a framework supplier. The supplier will then handle all the required vetting, payroll, and employment administration. You then book the worker through the supplier normally. Nominated worker fees are typically much lower than the fees for fully agency-sourced placements.
Yes, they can become a permanent member of your staff at no additional fee. The worker must have completed at least 12 weeks of work with your school on framework terms, and you must provide 4 weeks of notice. This temp-to-perm benefit is one of the framework’s most popular and useful features for schools looking to build long-term teams.
Yes, any arrangements you signed under the old CCS framework remain completely valid until their official expiration date. You can let those existing bookings continue under their original terms. You only need to ensure that new bookings are made under RM6376.
The new framework is open to a broader pool of suppliers than the previous iteration. The cutoff line for inclusion moved from 150 to 250 named suppliers. You will find that most of the trusted suppliers you used under the old framework are present on the new one. The complete and current supplier list is published directly on the GCA website.
Generally, no. For established suppliers like us, your day-to-day experience will remain identical. Your operational team, dedicated account contacts, and digital booking platforms continue exactly as before. The transition primarily changes the legal framework wrapper, leaving your essential working relationships intact.
Transitioning to the GCA RM6376 framework is a fantastic opportunity to streamline your hiring, protect your budget, and build a reliable network of educators. By understanding these new rules, you are taking a massive step toward securing the talent your school needs to thrive.
At Engage Education, we believe there is nothing more inspiring than a happy and supported teacher. We are named on the RM6376 framework and are ready to help you navigate these changes. If you have a highly specific question that we have not covered here, you can book a quick 15-minute call with our team today!
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