Story 50

Age: 32

Teaching Experience: 5-8 years

Contract Type: Casual Supply (through calls, emails, teacherbooker etc)

I completed my probation year in 2019. This was during the school closures due to covid. I volunteered multiple times at the hub schools. It was a stressful time as I lived with vulnerable family members. I then spent that summer worried about my job prospects as I hadn’t secured any posts for August. The day before schools came back, I received a call to work at school. I was delighted to receive a year contract. By the end of that year, my contract got extended until the following March.

After working hard and countless of unpaid hours at this post, I was saddened to leave mid-year. It was embarrassing and worrying being unemployed from the end of March until May. It was demoralising and I became really depressed knowing my peers were out working and I wasn’t – especially as I had built great relationships with the staff and pupils at the school. I was told by multiple colleagues that my contract gets cut before I reach the 2 year mark as councils do not want to offer permanent contracts. This shocked me that this is openly discussed and accepted.

After weeks and weeks of unemployment, I was delighted to get another post at a different school. It was nerve-wracking turning up at a new work place and time away from teaching. I worked at this new school for – almost 2 years. I loved it there and made some amazing friendships with staff and excellent relationships with the pupils in my class. I was a class teacher but as my contract reached the 2 year mark again, my contract was terminated. This was not only incredibly distressing for me, but my class too. I was at an all-time low as I was mid-year without a job, away from the school that I loved working for and a class I really enjoyed.  It really affected me mentally as again I felt I was back at square one. I am an experienced teacher who is good at their job. I can’t believe that this has become the accepted norm to treat professionals.

To give up so much effort, time, your own money to fund resources and to be ‘rewarded’ with job insecurity, a detriment to your mental health, financial struggles is appalling.