You don't have to look far in the news to find alarming reports of full-time teachers of all seniority levels leaving the profession.
However, it's not all bad news. The shortage of teachers has led to a surge in demand for supply teachers, with recruitment agencies offering flexible opportunities. This means a supply teacher can choose when and where they work while still making use of their passion for teaching and years of training.
The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) study revealed that full-time permanent teachers work an average of 54 hours per week, and only around 20 are spent teaching - the rest is spent on lesson planning, marking, data collation and admin tasks. Teachers are often envied under the misconception that they are home each day by 4 pm and on holiday for 13 weeks a year, but the reality is that they do more unpaid overtime than any other industry. It's one of the reasons why one in five teachers is estimated to be considering leaving full-time teaching.
The ability to remain in the teaching profession yet alleviate the pressure of extended working hours has led to a growing number choosing to work as supply teachers.
What Are The Main Benefits of Supply Teaching?
-
Flexibility
The wide choice of contracts makes supply teaching an ideal career path for those who want to balance work with other responsibilities. Some teachers move into supply teaching to fit around family life, while for others, becoming a supply teacher helps them return to work after a career break. Supply teaching is also popular with teachers who have taken early retirement but still enjoy making a difference in the classroom, while topping up their pension. For teachers seeking a career change, supply teaching provides regular and rewarding work that can fit around studies or other part-time commitments.
Whatever your reasons for seeking part-time or temporary work, supply teaching offers the flexibility to create a satisfying work-life balance.
2. Experience
The diverse nature of supply teaching means you can gain a large amount of experience working in a variety of different schools in a short amount of time. This helps supply teachers build confidence across different age groups and subjects, while also giving them the chance to evaluate which schools offer the best working environments.
Supply teaching is also ideal for newly qualified teachers. Taking on roles as a supply teacher helps them strengthen their CV and gain practical experience in a variety of schools. Working through a specialist education agency providers access to expert support and guidance, helping new and experienced supply teachers thrive. Over time, supply teaching also helps professionals build strong relationships with schools, increasing the likelihood of securing a permanent post.
3. Extensive Job Opportunities
Partnering with an agency opens doors to a broad range of teaching roles. Whether you're looking for short-term assignments or long-term placements, supply teaching can help you find schools that align with your career ambitions. For many, working as a supply teacher offers the stepping stone to progression, while still keeping flexibility intact.
4. Reduced Workload
Unlike permanent staff, supply teachers typically follow lesson plans provided by the school or use pre-prepared lessons suited to the subject and age group. While a supply teacher benefits from arriving early to get to know the school before classes, they can usually leave at the end of the working day without the burden of marking mountains of work or attending unpaid meetings.
Supply teachers may still be responsible for marking classwork, but the reduced administrative load makes supply teaching much more manageable.
5. Attractive Pay Rates
On average, supply teachers can earn up to £200 per day, depending on experience and contract length. With a wide variety of assignments available - from daily cover to long-term placements - it has never been easier to enjoy a sustainable career through supply teaching. Whether you are newly qualified, experienced, or returning to the profession, becoming a supply teacher offers both stability and freedom.