Long term supply is not worth it?

[Jorisbohnson33]

I'm currently on an assignment for only a term which is a shame as I really like the feel of the school.
Anyway my agency pays me £482 a week gross (without umbrella) from £117 a day.
FTE is about £25, but what I'd get if I worked a full year is just over 18.5k, based on 39 weeks.

I think it's shocking, especially as ECTs are now on 28k as of September.

It's not right that teachers should have to work full-time in holidays too in order to make up an ECT wage (i do care work in the holidays to make money)
I haven't had more than 4 days off in a row since Christmas 2020.
This is the kick I need to apply for permanent roles. i hope I'll get one!
Does anyone else think supply is a rip off?

Fte is 25k* sorry

It is. It suits some people, but not if you are going through an agency and they are taking a cut.

FWIW I am so old and have taught for so long that no supply agency will come close to matching my salary, so although I've done lots of supply in the distant past I will never do so again. I'm not working for less than my UPS3 salary - I put the years in to achieve that experience and I'm worth it.

Totally. It's only really suitable for anyone who wants the flexibility of avoiding long notice periods. When you consider that long term supply are doing the exact same job and workload as permanent staff the pay is pitiful.

I think it would be better to just do daily or short term. I would also be looking to find a school who will pay you direct and forget the agency. I have ex colleagues who have done this. They have a few schools that they work for. They get better rates.

Some agencies don't take a cut. Staff get paid the same as permanent staff but are employed by the agency, not the school.

The time everyone takes their cut you're not left with much. Schools take you for a term only because after 13 weeks you have the same rights as permanent staff members.

Thank you . I'm going to apply for permanent now, it's so much more money, plus the other benefits like sick pay.
I'm also only paid until 3 but have to stay until 4 2 nights per week so need to sort this out asap with my agency.
I am the only teacher in this subject as it's not a very popular subject so I have to stay for the year 11 revision class.

It’s scarily crappy pay. I was on almost that per day, on a supply contract in 2008!

Wow! It's awful, and I do have the same responsibility as permanent staff.

I would shop around for schools that will pay you directly. I was fortunate enough never to have to get work through an agency, So the money was decent, no-one too a cut and I actually loved supply teaching. Eventually though, one of my favorite schools made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

Would I be best just emailing the school directly? I've never seen any advertising for in house Supply teachers sadly, only cover supervisors (for 17k)

I was paid £100 a day 25 years ago as a supply teacher - it wasn't long term and was in London but still that does seem very low to me.

Def go direct with the school as they save money too! They can then pay you on your grade on the pay scale.
Check your t and cs with your agency though as if you have ever worked there via the agency, the school has to buy you out to go directly 😯

*in my experience

That's crap money. I did agency supply in London in the late 90's and got £100 net per day.