At SAAF Supply our recruitment team have worked in education too and have been (far too often) in your shoes. We remember painful Friday nights buried under a large pile of marking wishing we could just start the weekend already.
If you’re asking yourself the question why should I become a supply teacher when I have a regular income and routine, then we have the answers.Here are the top three reasons why we think supply teaching could work for you:
Flexibility
Unlike many professions, supply teaching gives you the chance to ‘try before you buy’ and have a shop around your local schools. Too many of us have stayed in jobs we shouldn’t have because we were comfortable. Supply forces you out of your comfort zone and gives you the opportunity to really see what a school is like before accepting a long-term or permanent role.
Supply teaching also gives you your own autonomy – if you wake up on a rainy Monday morning and don’t want to go to work, you don’t have to (unless you are pre-booked of course). Supply allows you to work your own hours, on your own terms, perfect if you have a doctors’ appointment or a delivery to wait in for.
Professional development
NQTs and those with 30 years’ experience under their belt are all still learning and can benefit and grow from observing how other teachers and schools work. Working in one school can teach you a particular way of doing things, but working as a supply teacher allows you to branch out, test new techniques and lesson plans and ultimately become the best teacher you can be.
This of course, also works in reverse. Have you got a really good method for behaviour management? Do you have an excellent understanding of pedagogy? Supply allows you to work with a variety of educators and share best practice – after all, we can never have too many outstanding teachers.
Work/life balance
According to the National Union of Teachers (NUT), 73% of trainee and NQTs have considered leaving the profession and the most often cited reason (80%) is workload. At SAAF Supply we encourage our supply staff to mark lessons and to have a lesson plan in case work is not set. Don’t worry though, the majority of the time work is set before you arrive.
Supply teachers don’t have any extra-curricular activities to join in on, no PTA meetings to attend or any of the other time-consuming necessities that permanent staff must contend with, unless of course you’re happy to get involved. This gives you the time to focus on other things, why not do that MA or start that book that’s been sat on the shelf for a couple months?
Join the SAAF Supply teacher network
Whether you're looking for your next career move or want to get back into teaching, our consultants will take the time to connect you with roles that suit your specific career objectives.
Click here to apply, and join the SAAF Supply teacher and support staff network >
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