story 6

Age: 24

Teaching Experience: 0-1 years

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

I did the undergrad degree and completed my masters so was at uni for 5 years graduating in 2023. I sadly lost my dad during this time in my 3rd year and just after had to complete a 6 week placement and continue on with the rest of the year.

I decided following this to keep going with uni and not take any time out so I worked extra hard and managed to graduate with a first class honours and a masters with distinction. Throughout this COVID hit and two years of my degree were online as well. It was really difficult to push through to get my degree but I did it in the end and I was proud of myself.

I then started my probation year in 2023 in a lovely small school in East Ayrshire and had a really great year, my confidence grew massively in my abilities and I finished it feeling ready to go out there and be a teacher. Fast forward to now, since the start of the year I have had one full week of work in my probation school along with a few other days and I have got a point 1 contract with them for half a day a week doing some support groups.

This is better than most as I know so many of us haven’t had a single day or work but I do believe the work that I have got has been pure luck/chance. I cannot live on a point 1 contract and it is not the experience that I want after having a successful probationary year.

I have applied for countless temporary jobs and been rejected. People don’t understand that even temporary contracts are not ‘good’, as much as I’ll take what I can get it won’t provide any of us with any stability it’s just that it’s all we actually have available to us, that’s if you even get past the application process. I’m on the supply list and sometimes see work for other schools so I apply but I never get the job.I’m fortunate to live at home and I don’t pay rent/bills however I cannot progress with my life, I’m in my 20s and I want to think about moving out to live with my boyfriend and going on holidays etc but I can’t. I also worry for my future having not had much work my experience is going to be limited so even getting a permanent job will be so difficult.

I’ve now started to look at going abroad but I can’t really see anything at the moment that I would go for as I would be moving with my boyfriend too. I agree with many of the other posts I have seen. I feel really low, disheartened, angry and embarrassed by this situation.

I feel there is no purpose in my life just now as I can’t do what I studied and trained so hard to be. I try to see the positives of this group and the hard work that people are putting in to get our voices heard but if eventually changes are made it won’t be a quick fix and will still mean many of us could be waiting a while before any sign of permanent jobs.