Story 66

Age: 34

Teaching Experience: 2-4 years

Contract Type: Fixed Term I graduated from university in 2013 aged 22 and had a successful and stable career outwith teaching, but ultimately knew I wanted to teach.Throughout that time, I saved up to allow me to take a year out to complete my PGDE in 2020.I was finally told where I would be placed for my probationary post at the end of June 2021 and had a supportive and caring mentor, who I will forever be thankful for.

I worked my socks off to prove myself, so that I would be asked to stay at that school – I loved the children and the staff. I applied for numerous jobs at various schools across the local authority and neighbouring authorities, as the end of my probationary year drew closer. I also held out hope that my probationary school would have a place for me after summer

I was not invited to interview for any positions, despite my head teacher and mentor checking over my applications. As probationers, we were told there were no permanent contracts available in the local authority. I was placed on the local authority supply list.

My probationary school asked me to come back after summer 2022 for long term supply (full- time) as a member of staff had began their maternity leave and they were now able to advertise for a fixed term contract. I worked for 2 months full-time supply as a class teacher and then I was able to apply and interview for the maternity-cover position which I was successful in obtaining. I was able to continue to teach the class for the whole year, with my fixed term contract being extended to Christmas, then to Easter and then to Summer 2023. This instability hanging over me for my first two years of teaching was all-consuming. At 32 I was ready to settle down; buy a house, get married, start a family. We bought a house, and I was classed as a dependent of my partner, because my position wasn’t permanent. I felt immense shame.

As summer approached I asked my Head Teacher regularly about the likelihood of any opportunity to stay, and was told that they didn’t know if the position would be there, despite the member of staff my full-time contract covered, returning on a part-time basis. I applied for the few jobs that appeared after the probationers had been allocated their schools, but was never invited to interview. I was told the school had been allocated two probationers for the 2023/2024 session so there would be no place for me to stay. SLT within the school told me that after working 2 years I would be entitled to permanency. I spoke to my union representative, who told me that had recently been scrapped and was no longer the case.During the hour long ‘Meet the Teacher’, where the children moved to their new classrooms and got to know their new classmates and teacher, I sat in the staffroom with a probationer who was in the same position as me, there was no place for them either.

When the bell rang and I went back to my class the children asked me why I didn’t have a class after summer and if I was leaving because I didn’t like it at their school. My head teacher told me they would look out for any positions to send on to me, I was given a lovely send off by my class and my colleagues and was gutted to leave them. 

During summer 2023, a head teacher local to my school contacted me asking if I had secured a position over summer as they were looking for part-time supply for all of term 1. I let them know I was available and would be delighted to work at their school. The head teacher then informed me that when trying to book me, I was no longer on the supply list. I frantically contacted the local authority and found I had been removed in error, if this head teacher hadn’t requested me, I would never have known. I topped up term 1 working supply across the local authority alongside my 2.5 days part-time fixed term contract. I travelled for hours to remote schools to ensure I had work. I got up at 5am and sat ready in my house with my car packed with resources for P1-7 ready for a call or email.

I was determined and prepared and thankful for the work I was able to get. But as the end of term 1 loomed, I frantically tried to find a position for term 2. I applied for 22 positions and was interviewed for 3. One of these positions was for supply at another authority. I was successful in my supply interview and asked if I would be available to work full-time as a class teacher covering a teacher who had been placed on secondment. I did this until the fixed- term position was advertised and I applied and interviewed. I was successful and knew I had a position until summer 2024. The school was incredibly challenging, and had difficulty retaining staff. I was physically and verbally attacked numerous times by children.

I applied for 4 positions before the end of term 4, and was invited to interview for 3. I was successful in 2. I accepted a full-time class teacher fixed-term position at a different school, which currently runs until March 2025, however I have been told the would like to extend it until summer 2025, and they will be asking to do this nearer the time.I have placed my life on hold until I have stability in my career. Throughout the past 3 years I have applied to well over 30 jobs over multiple authorities. Of these, less than 5 were permanent positions. I have interviewed numerous times and have been successful. Yet, none of this has led to a permanent post. I have felt constant pressure these past 4 years, striving to prove myself worthy of permanency.