Skip to main content
article icon

Facts and figures about supply teaching

Career | Published 1 November, 2009 | By: Helen Beckett

Figures about the number, age and salaries of supply teachers in England.

12,800

The number of supply teachers employed in maintained schools in England, according to a January 2008 census. It was the lowest figure recorded for the annual census in the last eight years, the highest being 19,600 in 2001.
DfCSF

52

Per cent of supply teachers surveyed had 20 years or more of service. This compares with permanent teacher respondents, for whom the corresponding percentage was 28 per cent.
General teaching Council survey, 2007

84

The percentage of supply teachers that is female
GTC supply teacher survey, 2007

69

Percentage of supply teachers that works in primary schools. This compares to a much smaller 25 per cent of the sample working in secondary schools.
GTC survey, 2007

17

Per cent of registered supply teachers opt to join the GTC professional network, in order to access training and support.
GTC, October 2008

1/195

Of an equivalent fulltime salary is the method that local authorities use to calculate the day rate of a supply teacher. Agencies do not offer standard rates.
School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document

36

Pounds sterling is the price of a Criminal Records Bureau report. You’ll need one for the first time you show up at a school and your agency will organise this for you. Some agencies share CRB documents, others do not, so check.
Select Education

 

Need more advice? Visit Supply teaching


Subscribe to the magazine

as yet unrated

Comment (20)

  • 1/195 is not the method used by my local authority! Which means I'm paid £138 per day instead of the £154 I should get - they do an hourly rate calculation based on dividing my annual salary by 1265hrs a year. As this was not explained to me when I started work with this authority I'm at present in discussion with them to try and sort it out...apparently they're not breaking any law as the STPCD is just a 'guideline'...any thoughts anyone?!?!

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    22:17
    7 July, 2009

    raedigger

  • I've tried working out my salary using both above methods you mentioned, and it works out the same in both cases. Not sure what the problem is, or have I missed somehting obvious? Apologies if i have.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    12:15
    13 July, 2009

    johnboy123

  • I recently registered with an agency (supply-desk). Their pay rate is £90 per day, is this an acceptable rate?

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    9:29
    15 July, 2009

    vered

  • I recently registered with an agency (supply-desk). Their pay rate is £90 per day, is this an acceptable rate for an NQT?

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    9:30
    15 July, 2009

    vered

  • I'm not sure what the pay will be for an NQT from September, but presuming its about £21,000, then take £21,000 and divide it by 195days, and your entitlement if you registered with a Local Authority for supply would be approx £108 per day. You would also get pension contributions paid by a local authority. Regarding whether its fair, I suppose it really depends on what you are prepared to take. £90 per day is the lowest I've heard of for Supply Agencies, but I guess they offer less to NQTs?

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    17:16
    18 July, 2009

    johnboy123

  • I worked for Supply Desk and I got £120 per day! Also, I was an unqualified overseas trained teacher. You should renegotiate!

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    11:04
    11 August, 2009

    OntarioCanada

  • I have recently registered in Wales for supply teaching and the rates here vary from £75 - £85. Rubbish

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    16:54
    30 August, 2009

    supermummy176

  • 'I've tried working out my salary using both above methods you mentioned, and it works out the same in both cases. Not sure what the problem is, or have I missed somehting obvious?'
    The problem that comes with the 1265 method is that they only pay for the precise no of hours you teach (or register a class) plus a generous 3 minutes to pick up your timetable, laptop, find classes, have conversations with staff etc etc...just wondered when I started the thread if it's lawful?!?!

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    16:54
    31 August, 2009

    raedigger

  • I work for Vision for Education supply agency in Sheffield and I get £122 per day plus travel and subsistence allowance they are a fantastic agency to work for, extremely moral and supportive - they

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    8:38
    11 September, 2009

    Karen Heywood

  • If you work directly for a school, LEA or LEA-nominated agency, then you should automatically get a daily rate equal to the current annual pay for your spine point (dependent on experience) / 195. If you work through a private agency, you are free to charge anything you feel is a fair rate for the job. If you agree to work for less than the school is paying for the permanent staff you are covering for, the agency will keep the difference, and not tell you! If you haven't had a pay rise this September - like all permanent staff, it's because you haven't asked for one.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:42
    27 October, 2009

    rjthornton

  • I am registered with 3 local supply agencies, all are offering £95 a day plus mileage and meals. Is this lower than other people seem to be getting because I am an NQT? One is another branch of the agency someone mentioned in Sheffield - they ARE very supportive - the only one of the three to give me any work so far this year ...

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:41
    1 November, 2009

    rosaline.mcquade

  • Are some of the contracts you sign when your on supply legal? I am with Capita and if I work for another agency then the school has to pay them a bonus and if I leave I have heard that you cannot work for another company for three months is this right? By the way I do not get holiday pay either and only get £80 a day! I am QTS and NQT. I have been with this company since 2007 you would think I would have had a loyalty payment rise wouldn't you? I am regularly requested by the same schools as they know and trust me to cover their absent teachers etc

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    18:19
    25 January, 2010

    cooksley

  • I live in Norfolk and am about to take the plunge and try supply teaching after several years in the private sector. The last time I did this after maternity leave I got loads of work, but I lived in Berkshire. I'm worried that there isn't the work round here. Anyone out there doing supply in Norfolk?

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    18:02
    26 January, 2010

    TGIW2

  • Relocating to Wells, Somerset. 17 years' experience in Modern Languages and very nervous about taking the supply teaching plunge. Any advice welcomed.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    13:58
    1 February, 2010

    profsnape

  • As an UNQUALIFIED teacher on scale 3, my wages as a supply member of staff have been calculated at 97.73 per day. Surely, this means that now I have qualified I should be able to command somewhat more than the 100 per day an agency has recently offered?

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:58
    31 August, 2010

    fozzinho

  • I've worked for a year and a term on the main pay scale and for 2 terms as a supply teacher. Would I be eligible to go up to point 3 on the MPS if I start a permanent job?

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    12:28
    12 October, 2010

    Jobisan

  • Does the 1/195 rule still apply for teachers on UPS1 (threshold)?
    Thanks

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    23:16
    14 October, 2010

    mbd21

  • Before Christmas I did some supply work in a special school in London. My weekly pay for the term was £150.00 daily. Then lasy week the ams agency sent me to 2 different schools. When I checked on the daily rate of pay I was told it was £135.00 for each day. However, twhen I queried the fact that I had previously been paid the higher rate they increased my daily rate to the higher rate, saying that I was worth it. However I got a text message on Friday evening saying that the school in Westminster were going to trial another teacher on Monday.
    The consultant rang back on Monady evening to rebuke me for informingn the deputy what rate I was being paid and said that the school were going to give the supply work to someone in-house.
    So I have not had any more work from the agency in the past few days.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    12:58
    18 January, 2012

    haedwards

  • It's all a nightmare...

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    14:52
    3 May, 2012

    ALISONWAKEMAN

  • I work part-time at a school and have done so for many years. Occasionally I do extra days for them - what rate should I be paid for this? Does the school decide or the local authority?

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

    15:43
    14 January, 2013

    helenhobbs

Add your comment

Subscribe to the magazine

Related articles

More Articles

Join TES for free now

Join TES for free now

Four great reasons to join today...

1. Be part of the largest network of teachers in the world – over 2m members
2. Download over 600,000 free teaching resources
3. Get a personalized email of the most relevant resources for you delivered to your inbox.
4. Find out first about the latest jobs in education