How to see supply teaching as a career

For some people, thinking about supply teaching as a career choice may not be the first thing that comes to mind following completion of your PGCE. However, at Yorkshire Education, we are seeing an increase in the number of people choosing supply teaching over permanent teaching and pursuing that path throughout their career. We thought it would be useful to provide an insight how you can have a successful career in supply teaching.

A career is an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progression. Such opportunities are available for supply teachers as well as permanent staff.

The opportunities supply teaching creates

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) As a supply teacher, you will still have opportunities for Continuous Professional Development to enhance your knowledge on specific topics related to teaching. For example, behavioural management and talk less teaching. By developing skills in specific areas, you become more appealing to the schools you work in and are more likely to be offered work there regularly. Find out more about Continuous Professional Development here.

Earn as you learn If you are studying for an extra qualification to develop your career, for example working with SEND pupils, you may need to support it financially. Supply teaching provides an effective way to do this. Not only will your experience of working in schools provides relevant knowledge to complete the assessment tasks but you will still be earning an income.

Development If you work in the same environment your teaching style could become limited. Supply teaching allows you to talk to other teaching professionals and develop your teaching and assessment methods by experiencing different ways of working. You can also share resources and introduce new activities into the class to make lessons more engaging. All this varied experience will develop your skills in different areas, making you a more sought-after supply teacher.

Retirement You can slow down your career by reducing your hours when you don’t want to completely stop. Schools value the experience of long serving teachers and as there is an increasing need for supply teachers, there will be lots of opportunities for you to work if you want to.

To allow us to find you supply teaching work, the first step is to book a registration appointment at our York office.

01904 481800

office@yorkshire-education.co.uk