Supply teaching can be both a pragmatic and rewarding way to utilise your training in a way that works for you. It can allow you to broaden your educational palate, meet new teams, work in different environments and develop your pedagogy. Here we discuss the advantages of working in supply. We also provide a short guide on your rights and pay as a supply teacher. 

• Benefits Of Supply Teaching
• How To Become A Supply Teacher
• How Will You Be Paid As A Supply Teacher
• Working Through An Agency
• Umbrella Companies
• What Rights Do You Have As A Supply Teacher?
• Our Top Tips For Supply Teaching

Benefits Of Supply Teaching

1) Greater Flexibility

If you are having to re-evaluate your current teaching role because of new developments that have arisen in your life such as the arrival of children or caring for a relative or loved one then supply teaching can be an excellent option. If you are willing to forgo the regular salary and routine associated with a permanent position then you have the opportunity to dictate the hours and days of the week that you are available to work. This allows you to take back control and invest more time in those around you. 

Supply teaching on a shorter term basis will also allow you to relinquish many of the labour intensive tasks that teachers rightly have to undertake as part of their responsibilities. So if you are not required to plan, attend meetings, mark and set targets then this could free you up for school pick up and homework support. 

If you are developing a business but have not yet been able to fully rely on the income it generates, then supply teaching offers an important financial top up preventing you from falling into the red. 

Equally if you are seeking a phased retirement then supply teaching offers you the prospect of using your skills to boost your income whilst having more time to follow new hobbies or pursuits. Some teachers genuinely find it difficult to say goodbye to teaching and welcome the opportunity to continue their involvement with schools but on their own terms. 

2) Increased Variety

Everyday is different when it comes to supply teaching. This can be both exciting and anxiety inducing. You will inevitably work in entirely different contexts. This might include mainstream, secondary, middle schools, primary and SEN settings. This presents new challenges, widens your experiences and can also sharpen your practice. 

3) A Chance For You To Test The Waters

If you have been in a single teaching position for a long period of time then you might be considering a move to a new setting. Supply teaching offers you a way to experiment and test drive other schools without the need to commit to a permanent contract. 

This way you can really start to work out the type of school that works for you and aligns with the values that you possess. This “try before you buy” option is one of the primary reasons that many teachers opt to work in this way and this is especially useful if you are looking to work in a radically different school. Ultimately it can enable you to make more informed career decisions about your future. 

4) Boost Your Continuing Professional Development 

Due to the fact that you will regularly be working at different schools there is an increased chance that you will be exposed to a greater range of educational research and pedagogical theory. This will offer you the chance to stay up to date with new forms of practice as well as procedures required by the Department for Education or Ofsted. 

It will enable you to be more aware of some of the key priorities and pressures facing schools in the current climate and ultimately staying on top of all this makes you a more appealing prospective for employees both inside and outside of the school system. 

5) Sharpen Your Practice 

If you are a new teacher fresh to the profession. Then in some ways supply teaching can offer you the chance to improve your practice by experiencing a range of contexts. Although the learning curve is steep, it is almost always useful. If the supply agencies and schools that you work in acknowledge the fact that you are ECT and provide the required support this can be a great way to increase your agility, adaptability and also foster a resilience that will stand you in good stead for the whole of your career. 

You will face challenges especially when it comes to behaviour and you will develop strategies to make your practice more effective, a blessing when it comes to securing a permanent position. It means you can quickly move onto developing your subject knowledge and other aspects of your practice. It can also bolster your CV by demonstrating a greater breadth of experience giving you an edge over other candidates that you are competing with. 

Overall undertaking supply early in your career can help you manage the dynamic and unpredictable nature of full time teaching roles further down the line. 

6) Networking Opportunities 

It is a great way to develop professional relationships within a specific geographical area and this is especially useful if you have recently moved into an area. It can be a truly great way to grow your reputation as you collaborate with new colleagues including teachers, senior and middle leaders and admin staff across a range of schools which may lead to future job opportunities.

How To Become A Supply Teacher

There are 3 main ways in which teachers can find work in supply teaching. The options are 

1. Being employed directly by the Local Authority, School (in all their forms) or an Academy trust 
2. Being employed by an employment agency or umbrella company 
3. Working as a contractor on a self employed basis

Each of these will affect the amount of pay you receive. 

How Will You Be Paid As A Supply Teacher?

In the case of direct employment with a local authority or school then teachers are employed under the provisions of the Schools Teacher’s Pay and Conditions (STPCD).  In this case you must be paid in accordance to the pay scales to which you are entitled. This is calculated on a pro rata basis on the assumption that your working year consists of 195 working days. 

Daily rate = X(annual salary) / 195  

As a supply teacher, you are advised not to accept in any shape or form, payment of less than the salary to which you are entitled divided by 195 days for a day’s work as a supply teacher. 

You can contact schools directly and get registered as one of their preferred supply teachers. This will enable you to be paid in accordance with the STPCD and also enable you to contribute towards the Teacher Pension Scheme. 

Working Through An Agency

If you opt to work in supply through a supply agency then obviously you are not being employed directly by a school and therefore are not covered by the STPCD. The pay rates are determined by the agency which will be lower than the supply teacher rates earned through direct employment. 

Rates vary from  £125 to just above £150. Where schools are trying to reduce costs then their savings are often transferred onto the supply teacher. If you earn more than £520 per month working for an agency then you will qualify for a statutory pension scheme in which the employer pays 3% and you 5%. You can opt out of this should you wish. 

The major education unions do not endorse supply agencies and are lobbying to find alternative ways for schools to work with supply teachers. 

Umbrella Companies

Some employment agencies use umbrella companies to help them with cash flow, remain tax compliant and to oversee the administration of employment benefits such as sick, maternity and holiday pay.

If this is the case then you will actually be employed by the umbrella company and not by the supply agency itself. In such a scenario it is usual for a small amount of your salary to be withheld to cover these benefits which will then be paid back to you at a later date, in this way you will receive some holiday pay during the school holidays. 

What Rights Do You Have As A Supply Teacher?

Supply teachers are protected under the Agency Workers Rights (AWS) government regulations. The purpose of them is to ensure that agency or supply teachers have the same rights as permanent employers. This means that from day 1 it is your right to use the same collective facilities as other teachers in the building. If you work in the same role on a longer term basis then you are entitled to the same pay, conditions and employment as employed teachers or staff. This means you will receive the same basic rate of pay, hours of work and breaks and annual leave.

Therefore if you are working for an agency in the same position then after 12 weeks your pay should increase in level to meet the AWS requirements. If they do not then we advise you to contact them.  

Those Who Can

Our Top Tips For Supply Teaching

• If you can, try and secure direct employment. The National Union has some excellent advice on this. 
• Always be enthusiastic when working with schools. 
• Be clear on permanent vs long time supply preferences.
• If you decide to work for an agency, do some research on Google and speak to a number of them to find out which ones you feel suit you the most. Check to see if they have quality accreditations like Recruitment and Employment Federation (REC) or Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) 
• Be aware of the statutory daily rates of supply agencies may not pay that much but they are important for negotiation.
• Always be clear on your non-negotiables – in terms of geographic area, types of schools and days of the week on which you are willing to work. 
• Ensure you are provided with a Key Information Document (KID) when working for an agency. This should contain information on pay and it is vital to read this before signing any documents.