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ClassCover CEO Ben Grozier explains how the platform can help schools simplify teacher recruitment and strengthen teacher retention
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A race against time
The NSW Department of Education has predicted some public schools may effectively run out of teachers in the next three years, with 28% of available teachers set to reach retirement age by 2024.
“Add to this the 5% of teachers that leave the industry each year, and you’ve got a recipe for trouble,” Grozier says.
In the words of one teacher, Sally, in WA: “I believe teachers are leaving the profession as they feel unable to make the changes needed to meet the diverse needs of children, particularly those in the early years of primary school. Teaching the curriculum is very difficult and challenging when many children are struggling socially and emotionally. I believe that society is changing, but the education of our youngest ones is not evolving quickly enough, which is causing the loss of experienced and knowledgeable teachers.”
While there’s no denying that issues like the teacher shortage impact some schools more than others, Grozier says ClassCover acts as a great equaliser, giving all schools using the platform the same access to talented, local educators.
ClassCover has been connecting schools across Australia and New Zealand with casual relief teachers for over 10 years. Its user-friendly app democratises the booking process, eliminating the need for costly agencies, giving all schools access to talented educators in their local areas.
With Australia’s largest database of casual teachers – 97,000 and growing – and its focus on teacher experience and development, with features like an online PD platform, ClassCover keeps educators engaged and at the top of their game.
Used by both individual schools and enterprise clients such as the NSW Department of Education and Brisbane Catholic Education, ClassCover is the perfect solution for every school.
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“Without new blood, things are starting to look dire as more and more existing teachers head towards retirement age”
Ben Grozier,
ClassCover
“Society is changing, but the education of our youngest ones is not evolving quickly enough, which is causing the loss of experienced and knowledgeable teachers”
Sally,
WA teacher
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IN FEBRUARY 2021, a major inquiry into the teaching profession in NSW found that “profound changes” in teachers’ work since the previous inquiry in 2004 had led to unsustainable workloads, an increase in issues related to health and wellbeing, and a greater number of teachers leaving the profession.
With the new school year underway, widespread teacher shortages coupled with booming student numbers present some glaring challenges for school leaders who are trying to ensure their workforce strategy for 2022 goes as planned and that this year is markedly less disruptive than the preceding two.
For principals, the ability to quickly find the ‘right fit’ staff to fill crucial roles will be key to achieving this.
According to the ClassCover CEO, many of the factors that are contributing to the teacher shortage are nothing new.
“Rather, these are long-term trends that have gone unchecked and are now poised to have a serious impact on education,” Grozier tells The Educator. “First and foremost is a drop in the number of new teachers joining the industry.”
He points out that while numbers have been trending down for a while, this has accelerated in recent years, with some
Helping schools where it counts
Grozier says the company – which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2021 – continues to go from strength to strength because of its consistent focus on innovation.
“For us, innovation is everything. As I mentioned earlier, the teacher shortage has been brewing for a while, and it has helped shape the future direction of the platform,” he says.
“Our goal has always been to connect schools with the best educators and facilitate relationships in the process. For ClassCover, this vision in the not-too-distant future will see
While the company will still focus on education, Grozier says it will also continue to introduce features to help boost the growth of schools and educators alike.
“This includes some exciting improvements to our professional development platform for teachers, a dedicated online networking space for educators to share ideas and forge relationships, and greater integration of technology to make the hiring process even easier for schools, as well as greater insights for hiring managers,” he says.
ClassCover is currently surveying the teachers on its platform about their experience with schools. The results of the survey will be published on The Educator soon.
“Without this new blood, things are starting to look dire as more and more existing teachers head towards retirement age,” Grozier says.
“We will also be developing new tools to help teachers apply for jobs, like AI résumé screening and improvement tips.”
Grozier says that at a time when schools across Australia are struggling to find teachers for their classrooms, having a database of casuals to tap into to help fill the gap is a handy solution.
“And because more and more schools are leveraging tools like ClassCover to minimise the impact of the teacher shortage, casual relief teachers are finding themselves with options on where to teach,” he says.
“For this reason, it’s more important than ever to make sure your school provides a great experience for every teacher that walks through your gates.”
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People
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Higher Education
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Higher Education
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Best in Education
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People
About us
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Higher Education
In 2011, former teacher Ben Grozier co-founded ClassCover to help simplify relief teacher bookings and teacher recruitment for schools in Australia and New Zealand. Today, ClassCover has a database of more than 95,000 casual relief teachers, ready to help fill crucial resourcing gaps.
“The real power of ClassCover is in this network effect,” he says. “As every new school or group of schools is added to the platform, engagement among existing teachers in your area increases, while new educators are drawn to the platform, benefiting every school in your area.”
ClassCover has also introduced a new jobs platform designed to make the recruitment process easier for schools.
“From the same app you use to book casual relief teachers, you can advertise for full-time, part-time and contract roles,” Grozier says.
“Unlike generic online job boards, when you post a job on ClassCover Jobs you know it’s going to reach the right audience.”
Hosts a networking space for educators to share ideas and forge relationships
Enables teachers to be transitioned to full-time with no restrictions
Provides a centralised calendar, availability tracker and reports
Allows schools to post full-time, part-time and contract positions
How ClassCover helps schools
ClassCover at a glance
Hosts a networking space for educators to share ideas and forge relationships
Enables teachers to be transitioned to full-time with no restrictions
Provides a centralised calendar, availability tracker and reports
Allows schools to post full-time, part-time and contract positions
How ClassCover helps schools
suggesting enrolments have dropped by as much as a third, while up to half of all students who do study education fail to graduate.
us continue to grow from what you might call a 'vertical' job platform, catering to the education space, to a deep job platform.”
us continue to grow from what you might call a 'vertical' job platform, catering to the education space, to a deep job platform.”
19,800
2 min
17 sec
97,500
Average bookings per term
82,000
Average time to book a casual teacher on ClassCover
Number of teacher profiles on ClassCover
97,500
Number of applications for roles on ClassCover Jobs in 2021
19,800
2 min
17 sec
Average bookings per term
ClassCover at a glance