The coronavirus pandemic has been incredibly difficult for everyone and for teachers, it has increased the pressure put on them greatly. In an article earlier this year, TES claim that “more than 1 in 3 teachers plan to leave the profession by 2026”. Among the most common reasons cited for this is workload and stress. Research shows that “95 percent of respondents say they worried about the impact of workload on their wellbeing”.
These are truly unprecedented times for the education sector that is seeing schools being challenged on a daily basis to deal with a plethora of problems and staffing is without doubt one of the biggest challenges being faced. We do not want to see anyone leave their jobs but for those who are considering a career change and leaving the teaching profession altogether, our message is clear – Don’t! There is an alternative.
The demand for supply teachers is growing and there are some very good reasons as to why you should consider this method of teaching rather than walking away completely;
1. Flexibility – from juggling childcare to booking holidays and long weekends during term time, supply teaching gives you the opportunity to manage your own time effectively.
2. Fulfilment – as a supply teacher you may find some relief in that there are no expectations for you to plan, target set, complete paperwork, attend meetings and that you are just there to do what you love doing…teaching children.
3. Variety – gaining experience in a variety of local schools can be a great benefit. Meeting a wide range of people, gaining new and valuable experiences along the way and hopefully introducing you to a school that you love and want to be a part of permanently. Quite often it isn’t the profession people fall out of love with, it’s the school and there is no better way to be fix this than to teach supply.
4. Semi-Retirement – if full retirement isn’t for you and you are finding it hard to say goodbye to the classroom, then part-time/ad-hoc supply work may be for you. You can still be of great help whilst determining how frequently you chose to work.
5. Returning to teaching – whether you have had a long career break or returning from maternity or paternity leave, supply teaching is a less stressful way for you to gradually get back to doing what you want to do without the need to commit immediately to a permanent role.
If you or anyone you know is at a crossroads in their career, looking at returning to teaching or just keen to secure a better work-life balance, please contact Classic Education. Whatever path you choose, we have been successfully supporting teachers across Kent and South East London since 2005 and are happy to help.
Contact us on 01474 359 333 and speak with our team.
