Looking for greater flexibility and an improved work-life balance? Want to continue teaching but need more time for other pursuits or passions? Whatever your reasons and motivations, working as a supply teacher will not only give you that extra freedom, it will also offer more job variety and the scope to grow professionally. Yet while there are many advantages to moving from a permanent teaching role to becoming a supply teacher, you must be sure that it’s the right move for you. Here we explore some of the most common questions for those considering the move.
Do I need any qualifications? What skills do I need to succeed?
If you’ve already been teaching, then you have all the necessary qualifications as you will have already attained qualified teacher status (QTS). So you’re good to go! The biggest change working as a supply teacher is that you will need to be highly adaptable given that you’ll be going into different environments and age groups. This clearly requires first-class organisational and planning skills as you will need to prepare lesson plans and engage with new students. Visiting a new school for the first time can be daunting but if you relish the challenge and variety, the rewards are plentiful.
What are my options in terms of managing my schedule?
You can choose to work as a day-to-day substitute teacher or on longer-term assignments, which would typically last a number of weeks. The former option affords you greater flexibility to choose the days you want to work and frees up your time to pursue your other interests and commitments. In both scenarios, there will still be lesson plans to follow or prepare and marking to be done. You will be taking on more of a permanent teacher’s responsibilities in longer-term placements although you will still, of course, be able to take time off in between assignments.
How is my pay rate determined? And what about my pension?
Pay rates can vary according to the assignment and the agency you partner with. There can also be regional variations too. Note that the amount you get paid, which depends on the day rates of the agency that employs you, is not covered by the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Documents (STPCD) for England and Wales. Supply teachers aren’t eligible to participate in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) – unless they are employed directly by the school or local authority. Agencies must nonetheless offer a workplace pension scheme, which you can opt in or out of as you so wish.
Working full-time at our partnered Trusts through The Supply Register can increase your pay by an average of £5,000 per year. You will receive transparent rates of pay (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) via PAYE, with no Umbrella Company involvement. Our pay rates are based on nationally recognised pay scales, experience, qualifications, flexibility, demand and availability. On registering with The Supply Register, we take these aspects into account and ensure you receive a rate of pay that you are entirely satisfied with and ensures you receive the regularity of work you desire.
What about payment and taxes? Do I have to work for an agency?
You will most probably be paid by your agency who will deduct income tax and national insurance at source via PAYE (‘pay as you earn’). You can also choose to use an umbrella company, who will be your employer and collect payment from your agency or agencies, who will also take care of tax and NI etc. The choice is ultimately yours but do your homework, particularly before entering into any contractual relationship with an umbrella company. Should you be directly employed by the school or local authority, you would need to register as self-employed and file your own tax returns.
Anything else I need to know about pay and conditions?
Whether employed by an agency or umbrella company, you will be covered by the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) of 2010, which means that you have certain rights (among them, being informed of permanent vacancies). The key point to be aware of is that after 12 weeks in post, you will be entitled to the same ‘basic’ pay and conditions as if you were employed directly by the hiring organisation. Note however that while this relates to pay, working hours and annual leave, it doesn’t cover other benefits, such as sick pay, maternity pay (or pensions, as previously highlighted).
Some final considerations
As with any career move, you must do your research and think carefully about whether working as a supply teacher is right for you. Giving up the security of a permanent job isn’t for everyone so you have to factor in your finances and the perks you’ll be giving up. That said, working as a supply teacher has many benefits, notably the added flexibility to dictate when you work and the time to focus on other things. Variety is a big selling point of working as a supply teacher – the plurality of school environments and year groups will test you but develop your professional and interpersonal skills.
Thinking about making the move from a permanent to a supply teacher role? Register today!
