Education Authority launches recruitment pilot to speed up classroom assistant hiring

The Education Authority (EA) has launched a recruitment drive to help schools fill classroom assistant vacancies more quickly in Belfast, Newtownabbey and Antrim. 

The pilot lets schools pick from a pool of candidates who have already applied and set out their qualifications or experience. 

This is expected to cut recruitment time by around four weeks.

Schools will have full control over which candidates they choose. 

The pilot followed feedback from school leaders and candidates about the challenges of filling classroom assistant jobs.

Matthew Mc Dermott, assistant director of HR at EA, said: “With over 1,300 additional specialist provision places created for September 2025, EA recognises the importance of supporting schools to ensure they have adequate staffing which is crucial for delivering quality education for our children and young people with SEN.

“Potential candidates can apply through a simplified process that recognises diverse experience, from formal qualifications to practical childcare skills. 

“The Education Authority will match candidates to schools, based on location and employment preferences, availability and specific experience requirements.”