Story 86

Age: 27

Teaching Experience: 2-4 years

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

I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was a child.

After completing the undergraduate and then going onto my probation year, I was filled with hope that I would soon have my own class and be part of a school community.

After joining a supply list over 30 miles from home as councils around me were not hiring or opening their supply lists, I have had sporadic and inconsistent supply work for the last three years. I was lucky enough to secure six months of long-term supply at one school which was then extended to another five months.

Shortly after completing this, I found myself back on daily supply with no work for the following month. Since then, I have had little to no work each month despite applying for jobs and being available for supply. From February 2024 to May 2024, I have had 15 days of supply before bring able to secure 10 weeks of work.

I willingly travel by public transport by up to 2 hours to find and attend work as I cannot afford to learn to drive with no consistent income. I cannot rent or mortgage a house due to the financial difficulty that being on supply brings.

My 10 weeks of work has now come to a completion and I am yet again without work for the foreseeable.