A new online tool designed to help schools save thousands of pounds on recruitment costs has been launched by the government.

Education secretary Damian Hinds today announced the online tool, which will clearly show the fees that recruitment agencies charge on top of staff wages, so school leaders know what they are getting for their money.

It could also help schools avoid agencies that charge fees for making temporary staff permanent.

In 2016/17, the last year for which figures are available, schools in England spent £825 million with supply agencies.

The news comes after the NEU teaching union called on the government last week to take action to stop supply agencies charging large fees.

The approved agencies appearing on the tool, must set out their costs up-front - allowing schools to compare prices - and conduct rigorous background checks on their staff. The plans were initially set out last year.

Mr Hinds said: “I want to help schools use their resources as effectively as possible. There will always be a role for supply teachers within schools, but schools shouldn’t be ripped off when trying to recruit them. This new online tool will bring much-needed transparency to the fees that agencies charge to enable school leaders to see what they are getting for their money.”

* Tes is part of Tes Global, which owns three teacher supply agencies: Smart Teachers, Vision for Education and ABC Teacher.