Interview with Secondary Education Recruitment Specialist: Matt Byrne-Fraser
08 Jul, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- Insights into secondary education recruitment.
- The challenges currently facing secondary schools.
- Where the latest secondary education jobs are and how to apply for them.
In our feature blog, ‘Interview with a recruiter’ we’ve been hearing from recruiters at Spencer Clarke Group to uncover insightful advice for successful hiring and candidate guidance across our specialisms.
This time, we’re speaking to Lead Consultant, Matt Byrne-Fraser, who specialises in secondary education recruitment and has enjoyed a successful career in recruitment since 2011.
Throughout this interview, Matt shares his insights into the challenges facing secondary schools today, from budget restraints to the increasingly important focus on mental health in schools.
Matt, tell us about yourself
I’m just about the right side of 40, a husband and a very proud dad of two. I’m also a self confessed golf addict, who loves the game but I’d say still needs to improve a lot.
I have worked in recruitment since 2011 and I’m not sure what I would be doing if it wasn’t recruitment.
How did you end up in the world of recruitment?
After graduating from university, I began working in football as a Sports Therapist. Over time, my role shifted and since my work was mainly during evenings and weekends, I found myself with more free time during the day.
With several family members working in education, they encouraged me to consider the sector, believing I’d be a good fit. I did some research and came across an opportunity for an unqualified Teacher position. I applied, was successful and began working on supply across secondary schools in the Fylde Coast - I absolutely loved it.
Not long after, the agency I was working with advertised a Recruitment Consultant role. True to my nature, I went for it. Out of 15 applicants, I was offered the position and that’s how my journey in education recruitment began back in 2011.
Since then I have also had experience recruiting in the accountancy and finance sector and after joining Spencer Clarke Group in 2019, I haven’t looked back.
What does your role entail at Spencer Clarke Group?
My role is incredibly varied, but ultimately it's centred around one goal; connecting schools with the best education talent available. I’m responsible for attracting and registering qualified Teachers, Cover Supervisors, and Teaching Assistants. This includes carefully screening, interviewing and vetting candidates in line with strict safeguarding and compliance standards.
Day-to-day, I work closely with school leaders and key decision-makers to build strong relationships and gain a clear understanding of their specific needs and school culture. This allows me to provide tailored staffing solutions that genuinely work for each individual setting. I also proactively reach out to new schools, attend meetings and explain how we can support them with both short-term and long-term staffing requirements.
A unique aspect of my role is that I regularly work in schools myself as a Cover Supervisor. This hands-on experience gives me a deeper insight into the environments I’m placing staff into and helps me identify which candidates will thrive there. It’s something I genuinely enjoy and believe adds real value to the service I provide.
In addition to filling daily, short-term, and long-term bookings, I also support schools by advertising their education jobs and helping attract the right candidates to their roles.
Who do you work with?
I work with secondary schools across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast as well as secondary schools across Wigan and Bolton. Within these schools I typically liaise with Cover Managers, Ops Managers and the Senior Leadership Team.
Can you give us an insight into how your market works?
The education recruitment market is fast-paced and highly reactive, with demand fluctuating daily due to factors such as staff illness, maternity leave, resignations, student numbers and school budgets. My role places me right at the heart of this, ensuring that schools are consistently supported with the right staff at the right time.
A large part of my work focuses on day-to-day supply cover. Schools often need cover at very short notice, sometimes as late as the evening before or first thing in the morning. I have to act quickly to match pre-vetted, compliant candidates to these roles, often within a tight timeframe, ensuring minimal disruption to pupils’ learning.
I also support schools with short-term and long-term placements, usually to cover planned absences such as maternity leave, long-term sickness, or staffing gaps during recruitment.
These bookings allow me to work more consultatively with schools to understand what they’re looking for in terms of experience, subject knowledge and personality fit.
In addition to temporary staffing, some schools ask for support with permanent recruitment. In these cases, I help to advertise vacancies, proactively source and shortlist suitable candidates and guide both parties through the interview and hiring process. I regularly promote roles to my network and use a targeted approach to attract high-quality applicants.
Ultimately, success in this market comes down to strong relationships, speed and a deep understanding of both client and candidate needs. I pride myself on delivering a responsive, personal service that schools and educators can rely on.
What is the best thing about being a recruiter within education, specifically working with secondary schools?
The best thing about being a recruiter within education, especially working with secondary schools, is knowing that the work you do has a direct and meaningful impact on students' learning and school communities.
Every placement matters. Whether it's finding a Cover Supervisor for the day or securing a long-term Maths Teacher, you’re helping ensure that pupils receive consistent, quality education.
Secondary schools are fast-paced, diverse environments with a wide range of staffing needs, which makes the role exciting and varied. You're not just matching CVs to job specs, you’re learning the culture of each school, understanding their challenges and delivering tailored staffing solutions that make a real difference.
What I find especially rewarding is building long-term relationships with both schools and candidates. You get to see the positive results over time, whether that’s a candidate growing in confidence and experience or a school thriving because you placed someone who truly fits. Being part of that journey is incredibly fulfilling.
Additionally, working in secondary means no two days are ever the same. The mix of subject-specific roles, behavioural needs and urgent demands keeps you on your toes and sharpens your ability to adapt and deliver under pressure - something I genuinely enjoy.
What are the current challenges facing the education sector, specifically secondary education?
Secondary schools in the UK are currently facing a range of serious challenges. Tight budgets are forcing staff cuts and limiting resources, while recruitment and retention issues, especially in key subjects, continue to strain schools.
Rising pupil mental health concerns, increased behavioural issues and poor attendance post-pandemic are putting added pressure on staff. At the same time, schools are struggling to support a growing number of students with Special Educational Needs (SEN), while also grappling with safeguarding risks linked to social media.
How does Spencer Clarke Group help overcome these challenges?
At Spencer Clarke Group, we understand the complex and mounting pressures facing secondary schools across the UK. From budget constraints and staffing shortages to rising behavioural issues and safeguarding concerns, schools are being asked to do more with less.
That’s where we step in - to provide flexible, responsive support that helps alleviate some of these day-to-day and long-term challenges.
When it comes to recruitment and retention, we provide high-quality, fully vetted teaching and support staff, often at short notice, to ensure pupils’ learning isn’t disrupted. Whether schools are struggling to recruit in subjects like Maths or Science or need experienced Cover Supervisors and Teaching Assistants to fill gaps, we offer tailored staffing solutions that meet their specific needs.
We also support schools facing rising behavioural and school avoidance issues by placing staff with strong classroom management skills and resilience. Many of our candidates have experience working with young people who present challenging behaviour, helping to maintain stability in the classroom and reduce pressure on permanent staff.
In response to the growing number of students with SEND, we supply specialist support staff, including Teaching Assistants with experience in Autism, Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) and other additional needs. This ensures students receive the one-to-one or small group support they require, which in turn improves inclusion and outcomes.
With tight budgets in mind, we work flexibly with schools to find cost-effective solutions, whether that’s providing day-to-day cover to avoid permanent recruitment spend, or helping schools hire the right candidate first time to reduce costly turnover.
In terms of safeguarding and social media risks, our vetting process is rigorous and fully compliant with DfE and REC standards, giving schools confidence that every member of staff we place is safe and prepared for the realities of working in today’s classrooms.
We see ourselves as an extension of the schools we work with. Our consultative approach means we listen, adapt and work in partnership to help schools navigate these challenges and focus on what matters most - providing safe, supportive and high-quality education for every student.
What advice would you give to an education professional looking for their first position in a secondary school?
If you're looking for your first position in a secondary school, gaining classroom experience, even on a voluntary basis, can make a big difference. It shows initiative and gives you a real feel for the school environment.
Tailor your applications to each role, highlighting any relevant experience working with young people and aligning your skills with the school’s values. Make sure you’re familiar with the UK secondary curriculum and key areas like safeguarding, behaviour management and SEND support, as these are often discussed during interviews.
Consider working with a specialist education recruitment agency who can offer guidance, interview advice and access to local opportunities. Be open to starting in roles such as Cover Supervisor or Teaching Assistant, which often lead to long-term positions.
Finally, engage in Continuous Professional Development where possible - short courses in safeguarding or classroom management not only boost your CV but also show your commitment to professional development.
What does the future hold for you at Spencer Clarke Group?
The future for myself at Spencer Clarke Group is really exciting. I’m focused on continuing to grow my desk, building strong relationships with schools and expanding the support which we offer. I want to continue to be the first person schools think of when they need reliable, high quality staff, whether it's for day to day or longer term roles.
I also want to continue to expand my knowledge around the education system and continue to make a difference with the schools which we work with. The education sector is where I started my recruitment career and it has always been and always will be my passion.
Teaching, school support staff and school facilities jobs
If you’re searching for a new career opportunity, why not take a look at the latest education and school facilities jobs, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant job opening becomes available.
Recruit teaching, support and facilities staff
As a specialist education recruitment agency, we support mainstream and SEND schools with their recruitment needs.
Whether you’re searching for teaching, support, or facilities staff, we have exclusive access to some of the best educators in the North West.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, why not get in touch with one of our team to see how we can help?
- Primary schools - Jimmy Callagher
- Secondary schools - Liam Jones
- SEND schools - Jamie Heath
- School facilities - Emma Dobson
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
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