What it is Like to Supply / Substitute Teach in London, UK

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, supply teaching has emerged as a flexible and rewarding career option for educators. Supply teachers, also known as substitute teachers in some parts of the world, play a vital role in maintaining continuity in the classroom when regular teachers are unavailable. Here, I will discuss the world of supply teaching in British schools, highlighting its benefits, challenges, and how to succeed in this dynamic profession. 

Supply teaching involves providing temporary classroom cover for teachers who are absent due to illness, training, or other reasons. This role requires adaptability, resilience, and a passion for teaching. Supply teachers can work across a range of age groups and subjects, providing them with a diverse and enriching experience. I have previously been a supply teacher covering short term roles and long term roles in London. Every day was different completing short term roles. I could be in any year group and sometimes the booking could change mid way through the day. The key is to be fine with being flexible because that is what schools want. 

Benefits of Supply Teaching

1. Flexibility: Supply teaching offers unparalleled flexibility. You have the freedom to choose when and where you work. Whether you prefer short-term assignments or long-term placements, supply teaching accommodates your preferences.
2. Diverse Classroom Experience: Working in various schools and classrooms exposes supply teachers to diverse teaching methods, student demographics, and educational settings. This experience can enhance your teaching skills and make you a more adaptable educator. When I taught in London, I was exposed to different phonics schemes and worked at private, state and faith schools. I gained huge amounts of knowledge and understanding from this experience. 
3. No Administrative Hassles: Supply teachers don't have the administrative responsibilities that full-time teachers do. You can focus solely on teaching and supporting students without the added burden of planning, assessments, or meetings. I believe this is true for short-term supply, but this was not the case for me when I covered long-term roles. I got paid more for longer blocks, and with that came all responsibilities such as meetings, planning and report writing.  
4. Work-Life Balance: The flexible nature of daily supply teaching allows for a better work-life balance. You can take time off when needed without the constraints of a traditional teaching contract. This is not often true for long-term supply roles. 
5. Opportunities for Permanent Roles: Many supply teachers eventually transition into permanent positions as schools often hire from their pool of experienced supply staff. It can be an excellent pathway to securing a long-term teaching career. I went onto school contract twice at schools where I was already supply teaching. I wanted to find the right school, and only when I found the right ones I would accept a job offer. I had been there for a quite a while and I was happy as they were. The headteachers asked me if I wanted a school contract opportunity. They needed to pay the agencies a huge fee to hire me, so schools normally prefer not to recruit this way.

Challenges of Supply Teaching

1. Uncertainty: The nature of supply teaching can be uncertain, as you may only sometimes have guaranteed work. I've had bookings cancelled when I was about to enter the gates, and you need to be prepared for that. Some days I would need to take a morning call just after 6am. Sometimes I would get the call at 8:30/9am so it could be very last minute. I registered with a few agencies, so I was always able to get work elsewhere, even if I was a little late if the booking came in late. Joining a few different supply teaching agencies can help you access steady assignments. You also don't know what you will be faced with in terms of behaviour. I have been in some classes with extremely challenging behaviour. Sometimes there is no planning or resources so I  carry a folder of ideas. I prefer it when there are no plans so I can teach my own lesson, but I know some supply teachers hate this situation. 
2. Adaptability: Supply teachers must quickly adapt to new environments, teaching styles, and classroom dynamics. This adaptability can be challenging for some educators. I'm experienced now, so I don't get easily phased, but daily supply teaching could be challenging in my early career years. Sometimes supply teaching agencies would call me to try and place me in secondary schools. It didn't matter to them that I had not trained in secondary, they just needed me to go! I also found that many agencies pushed me to take bookings I did not want just they needed filling. This is another reason to register with more than a couple of agencies so that you can have a choice. 
3. Limited Benefits: Supply teachers often receive different benefits, such as paid holidays, than full-time teachers. You may need to plan for periods of reduced income during school holidays. I used to think I made more money from supply bookings than school contracts in my early career years. This is not the case when you factor in pension and holidays. Now that I am very experienced, the supply teaching rate would never be enough to match my school contact rate. In 2023 I  was paid between £120 and £170 per day for daily work, which sometimes depended on things like the challenging behaviour or the travel distance. For longer-term roles, I would average between £160-£190. There are so many agencies to chose from and I often find myself negotiating the pay rate on a weekly or daily basis!

Tips for Success in Supply Teaching

1. Build a Strong Network: Joining a supply teaching agency can provide you with a network of schools and educators. Cultivate strong relationships with school staff to increase your chances of securing regular work. The ladies in the office often will make the bookings. 
2. Stay Organised: Keep track of your assignments, carry emergency lesson plans and resources in case there are none. Being well-organised will help you excel in different classroom environments. I also used to pay for a Twinkl account in case there were no resources or lesson plans. This gave me a go to for immediate PowerPoints if needed.
3. Continued Professional Development: Invest in your professional development. Attend relevant training sessions and courses to enhance your teaching skills and make yourself more attractive to schools.
4. Flexibility and Adaptability: Embrace change and adapt to different teaching styles and school cultures. Your ability to be flexible will be a significant asset in supply teaching.

I was normally treated with respect and I could see the excitement when the school found out I was very experienced. However, there were times when I felt I was taken advantage of, for example, with no lunch break. Also, occasionally, people were rude. However, that does not bother me; you should not let it either. It is a temporary assignment, so I would not return to school.

Supply teaching mostly offers a unique and rewarding opportunity for educators in the United Kingdom. In areas like Cumberland and Devon there is little work. Cumberland is my home but I had to travel to London to teach as there was so little work there. Many of the schools in areas like Cumberland have their own list of supply teachers which they recruit themselves. In London, there will always be work. 

The flexibility, diverse classroom experiences, and potential for long-term career opportunities make it attractive for those who value adaptability and enjoy working with students in different settings. While it may come with its challenges, supply teaching can be a fulfilling and successful career choice for educators in British schools with the right mindset and preparation.

However, I think it is better to be a supply teacher directly recruited by a school. Recruitment agencies take a considerable cut of teachers' pay and money from schools. The use of private supply teacher agencies I believe is something that is hugely wrong with the United Kingdom's system of covering sickness or other absences. My opinion is that every county should have their own Council supply recruitment agency or a central country-wide government supply agency. It would cost money to employ a government-supply school recruitment team, but it would be worth it. It would probably be cheaper than all the money schools give to supply agencies. This would save schools huge amounts of money, teachers would get fairer pay, and the placements would be better suited to teachers. 

If you are looking for a school contract job in the UK, then Eteach https://www.eteach.com/, Council websites and TES  https://www.tes.com/ are good starting points. For supply agencies there are so many to chose from. I have worked for a few and don't have one that I can recommend. However, if you are coming from overseas it may be worth considering an agency that will support you with the paperwork and visa. Try to register with more than two so that you have more choices. If you are coming over and don't have many things then https://www.sendmybag.com/?affid=467034 could be an option to send a bag or two over.