The new CPC-approved provider has responded to the UK school absence crisis by offering fast, insured payouts and comprehensive wellbeing support.

Schools UK Appointed as Supplier on CPC Framework for Staff Absence Protection and Wellbeing Support

As schools across the UK struggle with rising absence rates and staff burnout, Schools UK has been appointed as a supplier on the Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC) Staff Absence Protection and Reimbursement Services framework. This will provide schools, academies, and multi-academy trusts (MATs) with a trusted and compliant route to secure essential absence protection and wellbeing support.

According to recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Department for Education, workforce absence has reached critical levels in the UK. In 2022, the country saw its highest sickness absence rate since 2004, with 2.6% of working hours lost due to sickness or injury. This equates to a record 185.6 million days lost across all sectors. In schools specifically, recent figures show that on July 21, 5.5% of teachers and school leaders and 5.1% of teaching assistants and other staff were absent for any reason. This paints a clear picture of ongoing disruption in the education workforce.

The 2023 School Workforce Census also reflects the mounting pressure on schools, reporting a 20% increase in teacher vacancies from 2022 to 2023, as well as a rise in pupil-to-teacher ratios and the highest number of temporarily filled posts in recent years. These figures highlight the urgent need for dependable absence protection and staff wellbeing services in schools.

The appointment of Schools UK to the CPC framework comes at a critical time, offering schools fast, FCA-regulated absence insurance with added human-first wellbeing support. This is all delivered through a pre-vetted route that schools can trust.

Schools choose Schools UK via the CPC framework for several key features, including:

– AXA-underwritten absence insurance
– Average payment time of just 3 days for valid claims
– 100% of valid claims paid – no exceptions
– FCA-regulated & FSCS-protected – built-in financial security
– Secure, paperless claim portal with live claim tracking
– Gold Wellbeing Programme, provided by Schools UK Health – supporting staff, governors, and close family members, even if they are not included on the staff absence insurance policy. This programme is included free with every policy as standard.

With over 27 years of experience and thousands of schools already supported nationwide, Schools UK delivers practical solutions that support both operational continuity and the wellbeing of the education workforce. Their FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected insurance-backed absence protection provides schools with real-world support that is secure, simple, and responsive to the current climate.