Thursday, 09 February 2012

Supply teachers more confident on pay

Thu, 21 Jan 2010

Confidence among supply teachers is on the rise, according to new research from the contractor services provider giant group.

The poll of over 500 supply teachers shows that 72.3% expect income rises next year, compared to 69.3% who responded to the same survey last year.

The research also shows that 40.9% of supply teachers prefer higher pay to long-term contracts which compares to 32.6% last year.

Matthew Brown, managing director of giant group, says: “Supply teachers are becoming increasingly confident about their prospects going into 2010. When hiring freezes are put in place for permanent staff, contractors often benefit, so with education budgets coming under pressure, demand for supply teachers could rise as schools respond to short-term spikes in demand for teaching skills.”

Readers' comments (4)

  • Liam McCann | Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:30 pm

    I note with interest your article on supply teachers. I am afraid 'supply' teachers are mis-guided if they think the market will improve.

    I have been assisting teachers/teaching assistants secure long-term assignments for the last 11 years. In 2004, the present government decided to remodel the work force. This resulted in the creation of ‘cover supervisors’.

    These cover supervisors are employed on fixed-term contracts to cover teacher absence. The DCSF regulations dictate that cover supervisors must only cover for three teaching days, after which point students should have a qualified teacher. However, it is very apparent that cover supervisors are being used in an on-going capacity. Cover supervisors are paid roughly half a teacher's salary and are expected to plan, prepare and evaluate all students work.

    What is the point of attracting graduates into the teaching profession if they cannot secure positions because schools are employing unqualified teaching staff on half a teacher's salary? I have numerous examples of disheartened teachers and can provide proof from British trained teachers who are struggling to secure assignments.

    It is about time the Unions got involved.

    Best wishes

    Liam McCann, Education Plus

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  • D Buller | Tue, 9 Feb 2010 9:28 am

    I agree with Liam's comments. I had a very odd conversation with a guy at the GTC the other day as we were told we could not place a teacher who failed her induction year into schools in any capacity. When I suggested she could work as a cover supervisor his words were "Well yes, as they are just glorified babysitters". We know of many cover supervisors who plan prep and mark (at home) and cover subjects for a term at a time; the three-day rule is not adhered to.

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  • Richard | Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:44 am

    Forgive me for being naive but being new into the education sector I was under the impression that C/Super's (classroom supervisors) are not allowed to plan or mark - they are just there to effectively ensure the students do the pre-planned work and are "glorified babysitters". As of yet I have not come accross a C/Super who does plan and mark - I do, however, only deal with primary and it seems the C/Supers are more a secondary thing.
    On a side note to D Buller, if that teacher failed her induction then do you really want to be placing her anywhere in any capacity?

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  • D Buller | Thu, 11 Feb 2010 9:39 am

    In general we wouldn't place failed induction teachers. However there were exceptional circumstances and all three NQTs failed their induction at the school which went into special measures. She was a popular teacher with our schools and they knew the situation before she was placed... The system does not support NQTs well in this position and in reality they should have been stopped after the first term when it was clear there were problems. She was a better bet having an MFL degree a years MFL PGCE under her belt than a non-qualified body in the classroom
    C/S are not used in primary the same way they are in Secondary. There are many many C/S planning prepping and marking and it will go full circle!

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