May 15, 2024
ESL is 30!
ESL is 30.
May is a momentous month for Education Staffing Link, for 30 years ago this month our late founder, Dorothy Dakin, assigned her first team member to a school as a Supply Teacher.
In truth, the story started a little earlier and whilst it had been a seed in Dorothy’s mind for a while, the first her family learned of ESL was in December 1993.
Our Managing Director, Jonathan (Dorothy’s son), writes:
“The Dakin family met in London to mark both Dorothy’s 57th birthday and her retirement. I recall the weekend not because the itinerary was packed and exciting; a trip to the West End to watch Oliver and a visit to the Tower of London to witness the historical ceremony of the keys but because Dorothy announced, that she sought one more challenge, had a scratch to itch and after celebrating all her families’ successes had something to individually prove. Whilst we, her family, already knew Dorothy was inspirational, honest, trustworthy, a force of nature who epitomised integrity, perhaps more importantly, she did not.
As we returned to South London via Tower Bridge, we discovered, the embryonic plan to found ESL.”
And so it came, in Spring 1994, ESL was incorporated, a license from the DfE was applied for and approved, relationships with suppliers and partners were initiated, offices painted and fax machines were purchased.
Dorothy previously worked for the local education authority. The aim of ESL was to offer schools and members of the teaching profession a high-quality supply service. The philosophy was to ensure the supply team was well supported so that teaching staff could focus on teaching which in turn improves children’s education.
The values that she established are still core to our business which is now overseen by Dorothy’s son and our MD, Jonathan Dakin, who joined in 1997.
ESL operate by the following guiding principles:
Safeguarding, Integrity, Partnership, Financial Fairness, Service & Compliance
Whilst there has been evolution over the 30 years, these base values are both unchanged and are by far the greatest strength.
ESL have traded out of Bournville and Stirchley until moving to their current office in Selly Park.
For over 30 years ESL has had the privilege to work with several hundred schools and many thousands of teachers and teaching assistants. Whilst many supply colleagues remain with ESL for many years, they also work with Client schools whose teachers were once members of the ESL supply team. Perhaps that should be the litmus test of ESL’s success. A structure where colleagues can reach their potential, be it as a career member of the ESL supply team or as a stepping stone to school leadership. Whichever route is sought what is clear is that for 30 years a supportive environment has been created in which colleagues may aspire and make a positive impact on children’s learning.
We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has been involved with ESL throughout the years, every teacher, teaching assistant, lunchtime supervisor, ESL employee (past and present), client school contact and supplier. We would not be here without your support, and we are truly grateful for that.
