How much can a Supply Teacher expect to get paid?

Question

I guess they're paid by the hour- but
What is the average going rate?
Are there different rates according to subject?
Are there different rates according to how long they've been a teacher?
What are the general/average terms and conditions of working as Supply Teacher?
What pitfalls should a Supply Teacher look out for?
Are they paid gross or net?
Do they pay their own N.I.?
I'm guessing they're not covered if they're off sick, take a day off etc - but am I right?

Answer 1

Supply Teachers do not get sick pay and they don't get paid if they take a day off. They also do not get paid during the school holidays, unlike teachers who are on a contract with one school.
The work is not always regular, as it comes in on an "as and when required" basis. However, you can usually find a decent amount of work if you sign on with several supply agencies, and you can also sign up to go on the supply list for Local Education Authorities in your area.

You could find a long term supply job such as filling in for someone on maternity leave or someone taking a sabbatical. More usually, supply teachers will fill in at a school for anything from one day to two weeks, most commonly to cover for a teacher who is off sick. You can make yourself available to an agency on an "on-call" type basis as well, so that schools can call you in on the same day - the agency might call you at 7.30am and say School A needs someone today, and if you are available you would immediately set off for that school.

As for NI contributions, "the basis for the payment of a supply teacher (other than for teachers engaged by an agency) is the teacher’s correct point on the salary scales set out in the annually revised Schoolteachers’ Pay and Conditions Document, and this is determined in the same way as for all other teachers. It is unusual, but not impossible, for supply teachers to receive allowances for anything other than qualifications and experience." (ATL union)

So the amount you would be paid varies according to the level of experience you have, and where you are on the pay scale. As a guide, supply teachers would earn approx £100-£150 per day depending on the pay scale appropriate to their experience and qualifications. Your pay rate does not differ according to subject.

As for tax, you can choose to be self-employed as a supply teacher, in which case you will be paid gross and will be responsible for your own tax and NI payments. More usually your agency, school or LEA will deduct tax and NI from your pay, therefore you will be paid net.

The life of a supply teacher is very changeable. You may be in different schools from one day to the next, so you will often be travelling all over the place - you will have to be sure you are skilled at finding new places and don't get lost! You may not stay at one school for very long so it can be a lonely job as there isn't time to make friends. Some staff rooms are really friendly and welcoming, others can be clique-y and people will just ignore you. The same can be said for the children - you may have to teach at a "rough" inner city comprehensive full of young yobs who make your day hell, then the next day you could go to a lovely school full of great kids. As a supply teacher many of the more "naughty" kids will take great delight in seeing how far they can push you - they think you don't know the rules, you don't know the school and you don't know them, so they can do what they like in the classroom. You need to be good at instilling discipline, which can be difficult when you don't know the kids. This is easier on long-term supply as you will obviously get to know the school, the kids and the other teachers.

One thing to remember is you may not always get the chance to teach your subject. In high schools, you will usually be supervising the classes, who will have been given cover work by the teacher you are filling in for. This is usually something that they can get on with without their teacher being there, and you are there to supervise them in the classroom. This can be frustrating after a while if you enjoy actually teaching - you can even feel like nothing more than a security guard. In primary schools this is slightly different, as you are more likely to do some actual teaching. On long term cover jobs in high schools you will probably be engaged as a subject teacher, and will be delivering the curriculum yourself.

The job can be unreliable in terms of your income, especially as you don't get supply work over the long summer holidays, and would need to find another source of income at that time. Some supply teachers I know actually sign on during the summer holiday. It's not as easy as you'd think to find summer jobs that fit into the school holidays, as most temping agencies want you to be available for a minimum of three months these days!

Supply teaching can also be flexible as you can fit it in around other careers. For example, I know one supply teacher who is a professional actress. She has been on TV shows such as "The Bill" etc and is trying to build her acting career. She is also a qualified teacher and is registered with several supply agencies. She does supply teaching when she doesn't have any acting jobs, and that way is able to still pay her bills. She can fit the supply teaching around her acting jobs or auditions, so it is very useful for her.

So if you still want to go for this job as a result of reading all that, go for it! Teaching is a very rewarding profession. I am not a supply teacher myself, I am a singing teacher, but I know quite a lot about supply teaching as my dad, who is a retired history teacher, now does some supply work.

Answer 2

Supply Teacher Rates

Answer 3

Supply Teachers Pay

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How much can a Supply Teacher expect to get paid?
I guess they're paid by the hour- but
What is the average going rate?
Are there different rates according to subject?
Are there different rates according to how long they've been a teacher?
What are the general/average terms and conditions of working as Supply Teacher?
What pitfalls...

Answer 5

Um, it's not the teachers who 'require' these things it's your school board that tells the teachers what is needed. Go to your child's teacher and school principle and tell them you can't afford this. I'm sure there's either a parents council or a contingency fund to help parents cover costs. BTW what grade is your child in? In the good old days the school provided alot of those things, not computers of course or calculators. And there are misguided yuppie board members who think every parent has this stuff because they do. Make it known to your teacher, your principle and schoolboard trustee that this is a bit much. There must be second hand books you can find or the school should be able to find for you. But don't automatically blame the teachers, trust me without them your little darling probably wouldn't amount to a hill a beans. Nobody would without good teachers! So kknock off the attiude.

Answer 6

It will depend to a great extent how many years of teaching they have behind them and also the grade they were on.

Obviously, a graduate in a specialised subject with extensive teaching experience will command more than a newly qualified Primary teacher.

Unfortunately, schools which are strapped for cash will always opt for the newly qualified as that helps with their school budget. It is irrelevant if this is best for the pupils or not.

Briefly, you will have to submit to criminal record searches. be paid a gross salary if you do not pay income tax, no sick pay, no paid holiday and be paid monthly in arrears.

Pitfalls; you should expect to be landed with the most unruly classes, be expected to conform to the school's rules, regulations, curriculum, attend out of school hours staff meetings, prepare lessons in advance and submit them to the Head for inspection and face the animosity of 'some' of the existing staff.

Answer 7

This was the best information I was able to find on the net - I hope this helps:

Daily Pay Rates for Supply Teachers, as of April 2005


Years teaching experience Daily pay rate
0 – 3 years £132.40
4 - 5 years £141.30
5 - 6 years £151.09
7 years £161.63

http://www.brent.gov.uk/teachers.nsf/24878f4b00d4f0f68025663c006c7944/f8e2bd239f12489680256baa003ec691!OpenDocument

Answer 8

Supply Teachers are paid a daily rate, Tax and NI are then taken off.

Usually you would not be covered if you were sick! There are lots of agencies though, who might provide a lower daily rate, but might also cover sickness and holidays.

Answer 9

I was told that it ranges from £80 - £130 per day depending on the agency. If you go freelance then you earn the top amount as you don't pay agency fees, but then it must be hard to get the clients in.

Answer 10

1