The Joy of Supply

Supply teaching in London was an absolute privilege

Many teachers can count the number of schools they've taught in on just one hand. Some stay at the same school for their entire career and might only move on to travel, relocate or retire. For me, one hand just won't cut it. In just two terms, I went to 16 different schools. I taught in private schools, SEN schools, rural schools and faith schools. Before supply teaching, I'd taught in one London primary school and spent four days in another. I'd always been told that all schools are different, but this became even more apparent as a supply teacher. I was thrown into numerous different settings and key stages and saw firsthand how drastically different schools can be. I was able to evaluate what I liked and didn't like, and it was a fantastic learning experience.  

Supply teaching opened my eyes to the different standards of behaviour in schools and the varying expectations, resources and timetables. I really value a tidy, orderly classroom, and it was lovely to see so many aspirational classrooms. Some could have done with a bit of a spring clean, however, and I came across a few teacher desks that were in desperate need of a complete overhaul :). It was a real privilege going into so many different schools, and I would encourage any new teachers to give supply a try. 

As I visited different schools, I began to acquire favourites. If a school has well-mannered pupils, who are respectful and hardworking, you'll likely want to return there again. As you become a regular face at a school, you begin to build relationships with staff, which is a really nice part of the job. I enjoyed getting to know other teachers, and it was really encouraging when my agency received positive feedback about me. After my very first day as a supply teacher, I was invited to interview for a full-time teaching position, and other schools also asked me to join their staff.

Teaching in multiple schools enhanced my practice and shaped my philosophy of education. My philosophy began to develop during my training year (I even had to write an essay on it), and I knew that it would change and evolve over time.

If you decide to become a supply teacher, it's a good idea to register with a recruitment agency. A good agency will be in contact with hundreds of schools and will be able to find you work. There are countless recruitment agencies out there, and deciding which one(s) to register with can be quite daunting. Agencies come in all shapes and sizes, and there's a wide spectrum out there. Some appear quite corporate, while others unashamedly promote fun and teamwork. Although some agencies recruit for numerous different jobs, there are also some specialised teacher and education agencies. Some agencies are run solely by teachers, while others allow you to book your supply days independently, using an online portal.

While searching for an agency, a couple were on my radar, either because they came up after a Google search or because they heavily advertised roles in my area. However, just because an agency is prominent on Google or has enticing advertisements, it doesn't mean that they're a good agency. The advertised roles are not always available, and some agencies are not always transparent. 

During my summer break, I bumped into a teacher that I'd met during my training year. I'd spent four days at her school as part of my contrasting school experience, and it was lovely to see her. I told her that I was thinking about supply teaching and asked her what agencies her school used. Her school was local to me, and she mentioned a couple of agencies that I hadn't heard of before. She thought that supply teaching would be a positive thing for me, and I left the conversation feeling really pumped. She was happy to give me a reference, and I couldn't wait to jump online and sign myself up.

Agency websites often have online forms for people to register their interest. After submitting a form and attaching my CV, I would always receive a call from a friendly recruiter. The recruiters always covered schools in my area, and some had also worked at numerous schools in my borough. One recruiter had taught at 30 schools in my area, which I found encouraging. Chats with recruiters usually lasted around 20 minutes, and they were always really keen for me to visit their office to fully register.

As part of the registration process, there were a few key documents that agencies needed. My passport, proof of address and QTS certificate were among them, along with my national insurance card. An agency helped me quickly apply for a DBS certificate, and I ensured that I paid for it to be uploaded to the online DBS Update Service. Choosing to use the service enables you to keep your certificate up-to-date and allows potential employers to access it easily. It saves you a lot of time and money in the long run and just requires a small annual fee. 

One of the agencies I went to had a huge map of Greater London on one of the walls, which I thought was an absolute masterpiece. It showed all the schools they worked with, and I was able to spot the road I lived on. I wanted to teach in schools in my borough, and I showed my recruiter where I was willing to travel. Some of the areas were covered by other teams, and I was introduced to recruiters who worked in those areas.

By the start of the autumn term, I was ready to begin my supply teaching journey. I'd registered with a couple of agencies, and I was looking forward to exploring different schools and getting out there. Supply teaching was always going to be a brand-new experience for me, and I wasn't entirely sure how it would work each day. I knew that I could be pre-booked for days or telephoned in the mornings when opportunities popped up.

When I began supply teaching, my dad said that I should always get up and put on my 'Batgirl' suit, ready for the day. I loved this analogy, and it helped me get into a routine. Every night I would organise my 'Batgirl' outfit (my clothes) for the next morning, along with my Batgirl bag :). My bag included a notebook and pen, a cup with a lid and my DBS certificate and ID. It was always packed and ready to grab, whenever Batgirl was called on a mission :). My dad would often message me and ask if there was any Batgirl that day, and it was our little bit of fun :).

During one of my supply days, I laughed out loud when a little girl came to me with a Batgirl costume and asked me to put it on her. She had no idea what it meant to me and my parents, and I still giggle about it today :).           

                                            Batgirl costume from a class' dressing up box

September was a quiet month, but by October, the bookings were rolling in. Sometimes I was booked for work the night before, and other times days were booked weeks in advance. On the days that I was available for work, I would set my alarm for 6:20am to get myself ready for the day.  I would often be called between 7am & 7:30am, as opportunities came in. A recruiter would often call me to check that I was still available for work before calling again with an opportunity. In the mornings, I was usually called before 8am with an opportunity, but on rare occasions, I was called a little bit later. The latest call I received was around 9:25am after a teacher was sent home from school ill.

Ensuring that your mobile phone is switched on each morning is super important when you're a supply teacher. As well as getting calls for opportunities, you'll also be called if your pre-booked days are cancelled. After accepting a teaching day, I was sent a confirmation email that included the school's address and directions on how to get there. The directions were really helpful :).

As part of the registration process with each agency, I also had to decide how I wanted to get paid, whether that was monthly through the agency or weekly through an umbrella company. I'd never heard of an umbrella company before, and this was a completely new thing to me. As a supply teacher, your day rate is higher with an umbrella company, but there are fees that you have to cover. Because I signed up with two agencies, I chose the umbrella company option. This meant that all my pay would be coming from one company, and I quite liked the sound of getting paid weekly :).

Umbrella companies also come with a tonne of benefits, such as discount offers and access to an online doctor (particularly useful in today's climate). The two payment options are a little bit tricky to understand, and some more explanations around them would have been helpful. Agencies aren't always transparent about the two methods and often promote the umbrella company as the better option. I always knew that I could leave the umbrella company at any time, which was good to know.

By the end of the first term, I wasn't too impressed with the heavily advertised agency that I'd registered with. I asked them to remove my details from their system, and I also moved away from the umbrella company. As a result of using a third-party company, I came away with less money, which was very off-putting. 

My supply teaching journey was a real privilege, and teaching in London schools felt extra special. As well as giving me a huge insight into different schools, supply teaching was an absolute tonic for my well-being. I relished the freedom that came with daily supply work, and my work-life balance was restored. I wasn't weighed down by work, and I was released from the pressures and frustrations that many teachers endure. The mental freedom was exactly what I needed, and I loved having the evenings free to do exactly what I wanted to :).

As a supply teacher, I met so many teachers who were struggling or disgruntled. They were looking for a way out and were very curious about supply teaching. I often felt like a counsellor as I listened to them and encouraged them. Some of them just needed to give supply a try :).