Feel like an absolute failure - supply teacher

[fraiyayes]

I live in the North West, on the border of North Wales and finished my PGCE four years ago and I have been on supply since - not by choice, just because permanent and even fixed term posts are so competitive around here with over one hundred applications per post. I have no option of moving as partner and I have a mortgage. I'm just lucky he's in a well paid job.

I have been applying for jobs, had interviews but just never the "chosen one". I feel so deflated that July is around the corner once again, jobs are getting less and less as the weeks go by and I still have no job. Supply is looking likely again in September.

I have been in a long term most of this year, and I was in a long-term summer last year but these are mostly PPA covers. I am feeling hopeless. I just want my own class.
As the years go by, I feel out the loop compared to the new ECTs and I just feel I'll never ever have my own class which I am so desperate for.

Partner is very understanding and he earns around £70,000 a year so I do count my blessings there but I just want my own independence and not to feel like the lesser of the two of us. Even though I do get long-terms, the mixture of no holiday pay and some quieter months mean my P60 was around £21,000 in April despite working almost every day.

I honestly think it's causing my anxiety and sadness. I can't sleep at night and I've lost all motivation. Last night, I was in the shower and I just felt blank and useless, like I have nothing going for me.

Two of my friends who are now ECTs have just found jobs. Another of my friends who was a "supply friend" has just found her job after two years. When will my time come???
Sorry for the rant, just feeling really really down with the new academic year soon starting and the unknown to begin again :(

This sounds like a really tough situation. If you are in a very competitive location, you may unfortunately need to cast your net wider, perhaps aiming for those more "difficult" schools. They will be hard but worth it for your CV. If you are making mini teach and panel interview stage, insist on feedback.
Some of your long term posts could help with feedback.

You’re not a failure, please don’t think that. I know it’s often said but you would never talk to a friend the way you’re taking to yourself, and you should try really hard to be kinder to yourself. It will help in your interviews if you come across as a person who is secure in themselves and confident. While you’re doing some supply could you invest in some training to boost your application? This might help so that you won’t feel so out of the loop and will give you something to talk about in interviews. Good luck, I think you’ll find something g permanent soon. My first teaching job started in a January, not September so don’t give up hope yet.

Are you primary or secondary?

What is the feedback from your interviews beside not being the chosen one? If you haven't had detailed feedback, ask for it from your most recent interview, then act upon it.

Supply, especially long term cover, is great for cutting your teeth, but of course you want your own class. In your application, focus on the 'so what' aspect. Whenever you write about something you've done, think 'so what?' and also include what the impact of your actions were. How did the school, the students, the staff, benefit from your efforts?

When I'm looking for a new teacher, we look for impact in the application. This can be hard data for attainment or progress, or softer, more annecdotal data like behaviour, attitudes to learning or confidence.

Good luck, and keep applying!

Get brutal feedback and take it on board. Look for unpopular schools and focus on those. Add something you could bring that no one else could eg a skill to run an afterschool / lunch club

I have been a supply teacher for almost the entirety of my 20 year career (I have of course had my own classes within that time and am currently teaching a y5 class that I took over back in February) and I understand where you're coming from.

Join another agency if the one you're registered with doesn't offer much in the way of CPD. Also, if you go to some schools regularly, ask if you can join in any of their training days or twilight sessions.

Accept all work offered; even call them on a morning to let them know you're available. You never know when a single day may lead to something more long term.

Widen your availability so you can accept work in a range of year groups in a range of areas. Also look at private schools as well as state schools.

Is there any other way for an ‘in’ around me there’s a lot of inclusion work advertisement (offering more pay than you’re on 23-26 a year) and then you can work up from there? A lot of places around me don’t advertise teachers jobs but offer pastoral/inclusion work and that’s how a lot get their jobs as teachers.

I speak only of secondary though. No experience in primary at all - also I am a recent PGCE graduate and only have my teaching job through progression in house. I cannot for the love of me find a teaching job elsewhere despite me looking constantly.

Do you definitely want to do primary?
I am a head of department in secondary and we’ve had the same job advertised 3 times and no applications. We are a good school with a good work life balance but the teachers we need just don’t exist.

I was in a similar position as you OP. I lived in NW Wales and did my PGCE in Chester through Schools Direct (Neston area). It is extremely competitive in the area.

I'm now teaching in Bahrain (Middle East) full time in a British Curriculum school. The pay is good and the work-life balance is great!

Is that something you could consider?

I do feel for you OP.

When I finished my PGCE (30 years ago!!!) I was looking in a very competitive area and got interviews but no job. It was so depressing, I hated walking past schools knowing that I hadn't got a job for September.

I got my job the following April - a teacher had quit because her class were the class from hell. I took them over for the summer term and they really were the class from hell but at least I only had them for one term and then got an easier class in September.

My current job, I took on a temporary contract to cover a maternity leave. When the contract was due to end, they offered me a permanent job there and I've been there for 3 ½ years now.

There's definitely a job out there for you, please don't give up hope!

(And top tip: if teaching an interview lesson, do something really fun if you can and not too earnest. I did a pirate-themed maths session last time, the kids were all laughing and really into it and I think the fact we were all having a good time swung it for me!)