Let’s start with the facts… unlike teachers’ pay, the workload of teachers on payroll increases year on year. Not only are you expected to be a world-class educator, you are also a pillar of society trusted to instill clear values and behavioural do’s and don’ts; you have a responsibility for continual development of your deep subject knowledge within the curriculum, and to top it off you also need to be a data analyst and ICT guru. Or, as I often referred to it, ‘the professor of spinning plates’
Do phrases like ‘data triangulation’, ‘data capture’, ‘data dashboard’ and ‘capture points’ drive you potty? How about the untold amounts of paperwork to justify your expertise or the different colour pens forced upon your feedback policy? It’s easy to see why teachers are leaving the profession in their droves. Many teachers are leaving the profession for improved work-life balance. Though sadly we lose some great teachers to the business world, many are now getting into supply teaching as an alternative option. So why take up supply work? Yes it has its challenges, but it allows you to get back to basics and enables you to TEACH without bureaucracy. This is probably the reason why you studied so hard to be in the profession in the first place.
Let’s be honest , it’s not easy as a supply teacher going into a school for the first time. It can be a daunting prospect. In addition to the usual ‘will I remember how to teach’ worries, getting to know names, policies, timetable schedules and most importantly, which chair or mug am I using in the staffroom, it can be difficult. As a supply teacher you have no track record with the students, no past relationships to build from, you are at ground zero! Your biggest worry is likely to be associated around behaviour: ‘what happens if a student refuses to do something?’. Based on experience I am sure that at some stage all teachers have felt a little like Russell Crowe donning his armour to face the lions in the Colosseum! I believe, however, that with the right support and guidance this need not be the case.
So this brings us back to the question of the role of the recruitment agency.
My view is that the role of the agency is not only to represent you for jobs but also to prepare you fully for the school that you are about to set foot in. You are more than just a number: you are a professional and you deserve an agency that understands and respects that. For me it is important that the recruitment agency knows as much about the school as you should. Does your agency know who to go to if there is a problem? Who the safeguarding officer is? Can it help provide advice on lesson preparation and dealing with behaviour issues that may arise. A good agency in my opinion is there to support the teacher. Nobody can offer a ‘bullet proof vest’ but at the very least a good agency should offer some form of comfort blanket.
If you’re an established supply teacher, NQT, retired or simply considering a change or return to the teaching you love then we are the company for you. Teachers today prides itself on supplying quality staff to trusted schools. We know what makes a great teacher and also understand the high expectations schools have for their students. We work with trusted schools to understand their requirements. Working closely with staff and schools to develop trusted working relationships in my opinion is the key! Having 15 years experience in schools and understanding the challenges is the cherry on the cake 😉
Working at the coalface of education I have genuine experience of the merry go round of new initiatives forced upon our education system. Whilst some of them are useful, many others are less so, often leaving us feeling like we are tied up in red tape. So my question is, how can recruitment agencies provide realistic help and support for the candidates they seek to place? In this article I explore some of the frustrations associated with teaching in general and why getting into supply teaching can help retain your sanity, allow you to TEACH and create a wealth of broad experience to improve your teaching toolkit.
At Teachers today we won’t equip our teaching gladiators with armour but we can provide those 16 oz steaks to help tame the lions!
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