In the first of a new series of articles, supply teacher and former Chair of Voice Nardia Foster, talks about the highs and lows of being a supply teacher, and how her love of the profession has been revived.
When I began my teaching career full of energy, excitement and with a sense of destiny, little did I realise that down the road I would be working as a supply teacher. I believed I would be a teacher, despite the Deputy Head of my secondary school suggesting I become a nurse because my "sister was a nurse". Teaching is a vocation not just a job. When I watch inspirational films like Freedom Writers, Coach Carter, and Stand and Deliver (about a dedicated mathematics teacher) they remind me of my teaching desire.
I have taught successfully from Primary to Tertiary either full time, part time or as a supply teacher.
"Are you a proper teacher?", "Are you looking after us?" "You're not a proper teacher!" Some of the thoughts from students I have met while supply teaching. A teacher is a teacher once they have qualified and met the requirements. Whether teachers work full time, part time or as a supply, they have been through the required process to be treated as a professional.
As a teacher, I disapproved of colleagues who assumed by their discussions that parents who did not attend their 'child's assembly' were letting their child down, without knowing the full facts. Many mothers/fathers have to work and cannot get the time off. I too, wanted to see my children in their school productions, and if it meant working part time or doing supply, then so be it.
Many supply teachers left full time employment to pursue personal interests. I've met musicians, sports people as well as those who just wanted to get "my life back." Being a supply gives you the opportunity to reflect on life and the chance to genuinely organise your work life balance for yourself and your family.
There is more autonomy as a supply teacher without getting involved in school politics. With this sense of autonomy comes less stress. Supply teachers do not have to attend early morning or after school meetings, or take work home to mark. Also with this autonomy the love of the profession is often revived. By blending into each school's style, ethos and management needs, the supply sees much good practise and learns new things.
The report writing season is exhausting for all the key stages and this requirement coupled with parent evenings is very demanding for all the staff, as they continue to teach during the day and complete reports in the evenings, as PPA is never enough.
Another stressful time for teachers is attending professional reviews with line managers. No matter how sensitive the line manager is, this can still be a very stressful time.
Also, by the governments continually changing education policies, contracted staff have become more stressed and uncertain about their future, but this is less so for supply teachers.
Unfortunately there are a few negatives that I believe undermine the profession. Teaching agencies have increased and teachers who work through them have taken a pay cut, sometimes as much as £50 a day. Also there are contract teachers who display an unprofessional attitude towards supply teachers, and it is important that this is not transmitted to the students, as it will undermine the supply teacher in the classroom making the job even more challenging.
Supply teachers miss regular pay, and some miss the seasonal activities with a class such as Harvest time, Christmas and Easter. I use to love taking Christian assemblies.
I have been fortunate in developing many strings to my bow such as, being a supply teacher, an author, a psychologist, a motivational speaker and life coach, plus more, which means I can work towards achieving my full potential.
For more information on supply teaching, try these factsheets:
To read the other articles in this series, follow the links below:
