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Secret Teacher: supply agencies are giving us a raw deal
I thought being a supply teacher would give me flexibility, but the pay and conditions I』ve had to agree to make the situation unsustainable
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The Secret Teacher
Sat 10 Feb 2018 07.30 GMT
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Becoming a supply teacher initially seemed to make sense. I liked the idea of being in different classrooms while avoiding bureaucracy and the excessive workload driving so many out of the profession. I hoped to be able to balance teaching with other work in the arts. But the reality has left me struggling with long periods of unemployment, job insecurity and low pay.
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Things have been particularly difficult since I moved to a new area and started using a supply agency to get work. The conditions are much worse than my previous set-up, where my work came directly from a school I』d established a relationship with: I was paid in line with the main pay scale and received a pension. Now, there’s no pension and a drop in pay has meant I』m behind with my rent. I sometimes struggle to afford a travelcard to get to work.
Poorly paid work is better than no work. But I often have to accept £110 a day, which feels like an insult to those who work educating children in stressful conditions. It bears no relevance to the importance of the job we do. I want to ask the agency for more money, but I know I can』t – it will just offer the job to someone else.
I once asked to be paid through PAYE, but my agency’s response was to cancel a long-term supply contract (paying me in that way would have cost more money). I was left without work and out of pocket for the upcoming term, and was powerless to do anything about it. Other teachers tell similar stories, with teacher forums and Facebook groups full of examples.
I』ve also been lied to – about the extent of children’s additional needs, or conditions at a school. My agency doesn』t seem to care about much beyond profit, and one even tried to discourage me from attending a funeral so they didn』t have to find cover.
I once asked to be paid through PAYE, but my agency’s response was to cancel a long-term supply contract
Not all agencies operate in this way, but there’s no regulation. The issue of money is made worse by the widespread use of umbrella companies, which allow agencies to avoid employer tax contributions. It is the worker who ends up shouldering the full national insurance and pension payments, which can take a further £20 off take-home pay.
This might be legal, but it doesn』t feel ethical. The NEU advises against supply teachers entering into contracts paid through umbrella organisations, but that’s easier said than done. There are few local authority alternatives and schools often have no choice but to use private suppliers.
Supply teaching is an integral part of educational provision, with an estimated £1.3bn spent by schools in England on supply staff in 2015-16. Much of that will have been diverted into private company profits. There are some signs of change, which offer hope. Ethical supply agencies, such as Transpose Supply, are emerging, as well as some apps linking up schools and teachers. This month, the NASUWT announced a partnership with the Supply Register agency, which offers better terms and conditions. The government has also spoken about establishing a code of conduct and a national pool of trusted supply teacher agencies to help schools crack down on spiralling costs and fees. The companies would be expected to offer supply teachers at a set rate.
Scrutiny of agencies and umbrella companies is welcome, but I also hope that the pay and conditions supply teachers work under aren』t ignored. Right now, it feels like an uphill struggle. Schools are desperate for teachers and agencies are providing them.
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I would have lost my flat if I hadn』t been given an emergency grant from an education charity. I dearly want to do my best as a teacher. I love my time in the classroom and take pride in my work. But unless there’s a substantial shift in how the agency treats its workers , I don』t know how long I can continue.
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本文來源:https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2018/feb/10/secret-teacher-supply-teachers-taken-advantage-private-interests-agencies