Supply teachers facing ‘exploitation’, NASUWT warns

The NASUWT teaching union has warned that supply teachers are facing ’a raft of exploitative employment practices’ and are being denied entitlements on pay, pensions and working conditions.

According to a survey carried out by the union, 65 per cent of supply teachers feel that they are not paid at a level that recognised their experience. 61 per cent said they did not have access to training and professional development opportunities, while 91 per cent said they were not always given appropriate information to support them when they enter the school for the first time.

The NASUWT also found that 43 per cent of supply teachers said there had been a decline in the number of days per week they have been able to secure work over the past year, with 58 per cent saying they had experienced problems getting work.

Additionally, 68 per cent of respondents said they had not been made aware of the 12 week rule under the Agency Workers’ directive, which states after 12 weeks in a workplace they are entitled to the same pay and conditions as teachers on permanent contracts, with 11 per cent saying that agencies had asked them to waive these rights.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: “Supply teaching is a tough job, made even harder by the exploitation and poor employment practices supply teachers often face.

“Supply teachers are a vital resource for schools especially in the light of the current recruitment and retention crisis.

“Yet the poor treatment of supply teachers is unfortunately entirely representative of the unacceptable employment practices which are found in too many workplaces across the country and which the government fails to address.”

In response to the survey, a spokesman from the Department for Education said: “The flexibility they offer is important in allowing schools to meet their teaching needs and we trust schools to use them appropriately. There are clear laws in place to ensure supply agencies treat their staff‎ fairly."