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The Complete Guide to the GCA RM6376 Framework for Schools and Academy Trusts
Understanding the Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment Framework
Schools and academy trusts are under increasing pressure to ensure that recruitment procurement is compliant, cost-effective and operationally efficient. The introduction of the GCA RM6376 framework represents one of the most significant changes to education recruitment procurement in recent years.
Yet many school leaders, trust executives and business managers are still asking the same questions: What is the GCA framework? What does RM6376 mean? Is the framework mandatory? What changed from CCS? How does this affect existing recruitment agency relationships? What are supplier fee caps? What should schools do next?
This guide explains everything schools, trusts and education leaders need to know about the GCA RM6376 Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment framework, including how it works, who can use it and what it means for education staffing moving forward.
What Is the GCA RM6376 Framework?
The GCA RM6376 framework is a public sector procurement framework designed to help schools, academy trusts and other education organisations source temporary and permanent education staff through approved recruitment suppliers.
Officially titled:
Supply Teachers and Temporary Staff Framework Agreement RM6376
the framework provides schools with access to pre-approved recruitment agencies that have met specific standards relating to: safeguarding, compliance, pricing, supplier quality, procurement standards, transparency and contractual terms
The framework was developed to simplify recruitment procurement for schools while helping ensure consistency, compliance and value for money across the education sector.
What Does GCA Stand For?
GCA refers to the Government Commercial Agency, which now oversees framework procurement arrangements previously associated with Crown Commercial Service (CCS).
Many schools still refer to the framework as:
- the CCS education recruitment framework
- the CCS supply teacher framework
- the CCS RM6376 framework
However, procurement management and framework oversight now sit under GCA branding and governance structures.
Because the transition is still relatively recent, many education leaders continue searching using both CCS and GCA terminology.
What is RM6376?
RM6376 is the framework reference number assigned to the Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment framework.
Framework reference numbers are used across public sector procurement to identify official agreements and approved supplier arrangements.
When schools refer to: RM6376 / the GCA framework / the education recruitment framework or the supply teacher framework they are generally referring to the same procurement agreement.
Benefits of Using a Framework Supplier
Procurement Confidence
Framework suppliers have already undergone a formal approval process, helping schools reduce procurement complexity.
Safeguarding Assurance
Framework-approved agencies are expected to meet specific compliance and safeguarding standards.
Commercial Transparency
Framework pricing structures can help improve visibility and reduce unexpected costs.
Simplified Supplier Selection
Schools can access approved suppliers without running lengthy procurement exercises from scratch.
Trust-Wide Consistency
For MATs, frameworks can support more centralised recruitment governance and supplier management.
Why Was the RM6376 Framework Introduced?
The framework was introduced to address several long-standing challenges within education recruitment procurement, including:
Rising Supply Staffing Costs
Schools and MATs have faced increasing pressure from rising agency fees, inconsistent pricing, lack of transparency and varying mark-up structures
The framework aims to create more predictable and transparent commercial arrangements.
Procurement Compliance
Academy trusts and public sector organisations are expected to demonstrate compliant procurement processes.
Using approved framework suppliers helps schools reduce procurement risk, simplify supplier selection, align with public procurement expectations and evidence due diligence.
Safeguarding and Vetting Consistency
Recruitment suppliers on the framework must meet specific compliance and safeguarding requirements.
This helps provide schools with greater assurance around DBS processes, right-to-work checks, reference procedures, safeguarding standards and vetting protocols.
Operational Efficiency
Frameworks are designed to reduce administrative burden for schools by providing access to pre-approved suppliers under standardised contractual arrangements.
This can simplify onboarding, procurement approval, supplier comparison, tendering requirements and commercial negotiations
Who Can Use the GCA RM6376 Framework?
The framework is available to a wide range of publicly funded education organisations, including:
- academy trusts
- maintained schools
- free schools
- local authority schools
- colleges
- further education providers
- other eligible public sector bodies
Multi-academy trusts (MATs) are expected to become one of the largest user groups due to the increasing focus on procurement consistency and centralised staffing strategies.
Is the RM6376 Framework Mandatory?
This is currently one of the most common questions schools are asking.
The answer is nuanced.
While not every school is legally required to use RM6376 exclusively, many academy trusts and public sector organisations are increasingly expected to demonstrate compliant procurement practices and value-for-money decision making.
For many trusts, framework usage provides clearer procurement governance, reduced compliance risk, simplified supplier management and stronger audit positioning
Individual trust policies may also mandate or strongly encourage framework usage internally.
As procurement scrutiny across education continues to increase, many schools are proactively moving toward framework-approved suppliers.
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Frequently asked questions
RM6376 is the framework reference number for the Supply Teachers and Temporary Staff framework agreement.
No. The framework can also support recruitment for broader temporary and permanent education staffing requirements.
Schools should review their own procurement policies and governance requirements. Many trusts are increasingly prioritising framework-approved suppliers.
Framework pricing controls may improve transparency and budget management, although recruitment costs can still vary depending on staffing requirements and market conditions.
No. Schools should still assess agencies based on:
- quality
- safeguarding
- responsiveness
- candidate networks
- education expertise
- service delivery
As education recruitment procurement continues to evolve, schools and academy trusts need recruitment partners that understand both compliance requirements and operational realities.
The most effective recruitment partnerships combine:
- framework compliance
- safeguarding excellence
- sector expertise
- responsiveness
- transparency
- long-term staffing support
For schools navigating RM6376, choosing the right recruitment partner is about far more than procurement alone – it is about ensuring consistent access to high-quality education professionals while maintaining confidence in compliance and governance processes.
RM6376 is the framework reference number assigned to the Supply Teachers and Education Recruitment framework.
Framework reference numbers are used across public sector procurement to identify official agreements and approved supplier arrangements.
When schools refer to:
- RM6376
- the GCA framework
- the education recruitment framework
- the supply teacher framework
they are generally referring to the same procurement agreement.
CCS stands for Crown Commercial Service. CCS was previously responsible for managing a range of public sector procurement frameworks, including education recruitment agreements used by schools and academy trusts.
GCA stands for Government Commercial Agency. GCA now oversees procurement frameworks and supplier agreements relating to public sector recruitment and commercial services.
CCS and GCA are both government procurement bodies connected to public sector commercial frameworks. Many schools still refer to older CCS terminology, while newer procurement guidance and framework management now sit under GCA structures.
The Supply Teachers and Temporary Staff Framework is the official procurement agreement that allows schools and academy trusts to access approved education recruitment suppliers through compliant procurement routes.
RM6376 is the framework reference number assigned to this agreement.
The framework is managed through government procurement structures designed to support compliant supplier selection and public sector recruitment governance.
RM6376 was introduced to improve:
- procurement compliance
- supplier transparency
- safeguarding standards
- pricing consistency
- value for money across education recruitment
The framework can be used by:
- academy trusts
- maintained schools
- free schools
- colleges
- local authorities
- other eligible public sector education organisations
Yes. Many MATs are expected to use framework agreements like RM6376 to support centralised procurement, governance and staffing consistency across multiple schools.
Schools should follow their own procurement and governance policies. However, many trusts are increasingly prioritising framework-compliant procurement routes to reduce risk and improve commercial oversight.
Supplier fee caps are pricing controls introduced within the framework to support greater transparency and help schools manage recruitment spending more effectively.
No. The framework can also support recruitment for temporary staff, support staff and permanent education roles depending on supplier arrangements and framework lots.
Framework “lots” are categories within the agreement that organise suppliers based on service type, recruitment model or geographical coverage.
Lot 1 generally relates to direct supply staffing and recruitment provision through approved suppliers.
Lot 2 typically relates to managed service or neutral vendor recruitment models, although schools should review official framework guidance for exact definitions.
Schools should review internal procurement requirements and governance expectations. Many schools and MATs are increasingly moving toward approved framework suppliers.
Schools do not usually need to formally “join” the framework. Eligible organisations can access approved suppliers through the procurement agreement.
Schools can ask recruitment agencies directly for confirmation of framework status and approved lot participation.
Framework pricing structures may help improve transparency and budget control, although actual staffing costs still depend on role type, market conditions and recruitment demand.
Framework suppliers can help MATs improve:
- procurement governance
- supplier consistency
- safeguarding assurance
- commercial transparency
- operational efficiency
Schools should assess:
- safeguarding standards
- education expertise
- responsiveness
- compliance processes
- candidate quality
- regional coverage
- operational support
—not just pricing alone.