The government office for London (GOFL) has expanded its preferred supplier list of teacher recruitment agencies for the capital’s local education authorities from six to 15 in a bid to increase choice for schools.

The additional agencies, which include MSM Education and 1st Contact, will provide 33 LEAs in London with supply teachers.

“We always intended to expand the list in time for the start of the autumn term to give schools the best possible choice,” said a GOFL spokesman. “The pilot has been a great success so far and we feel it has given schools quality assurance, teachers with high standards and transparency around value for money.”

The preferred suppliers list is a government initiative to raise the standard of supply teachers in the city. However, there is no obligation on schools to use supply teachers from the list.

The minister for London schools Stephen Twigg backed the scheme: “This will make the market work more effectively to deliver the best quality supply teachers,” he said.

Jane Mercer, managing director of MSM Education, hopes being one of the 15 agencies will boost business. “We have to wait until September but we are very optimistic that it will make a pronounced impact on our business,” she said.