Long term supply teacher expected to run assembly and have been added to the rota without warning! I don’t want to run an assembly!?

[Se12345]

I have worked in another school in a long term role before and never had to run assembly. This new school has put me onto the rota without even asking me and warning me? Can they do that? I hate running assemblies I’m okay with my own class but can’t do too many people and adults. Hence why I would never see myself going higher than a teacher in a school setting.

I also had permanent roles before and never had to run assembly.

Presumably supply teachers are paid as class teachers not with TLR / head of year / head of key stage money. If it is a big deal you can say no. If that is a big deal to the head, she can choose not yo re-employ you. It probably won't be.

I’m not a teacher but if you are a class teacher I would have thought doing an assembly every so often is part of the role.

If your issue is with being in front of lots of people, could you do the rehearsals with the kids and then be “in the wings” on the day so you’re not on show in front of parents etc but you’ve done most of it?

@minipie class teachers generally do not do assembly's. In any school I've been to / worked at it's SLT, possibly a specialist teacher for a specific occasion Head of Art/History/Sport for assemblies related to their subject.

Ah sorry are we talking primary or secondary? I assumed primary which is done by the class teacher. Agree not in secondary.

If you don't want to do it, just say no. That's the joy of being self-employed isn't it?
They're not likely to replace you with another supply teacher.

Class teachers with no other responsibilities were on the assembly rota at my school so I'm not sure this is relevant.

Is there a chance whoever sorts out rota doesn’t know you’re supply or even thinks, as a long term supply, you might feel left out if you don’t get a turn?!

I’ve recently started doing day to day supply and there’s this amazing coincidence that it’s my turn to do break duty at every bleedin’ school🤣.

I’d not be keen at doing an assembly though..

In many primary schools, all teachers are on a rota for assembly. Doesn't seem fair as a supply teacher but I have found myself as a primary supply, running a parents' session in the daytime in class on how to read with your child. I have taught lessons where parents come in to watch how writing is taught. Both of these have been day to day supply with no warning. Schools don't always realise we are not paid as much as other teachers when working through an agency. I would say you're not comfortable but you run the risk of not continuing in the role. I suspect they will want to keep you on anyway.

@Tutorpuzzle it's always my break duty too!

If you're otherwise happy with the placement, choose a simple story with an appropriate moral. Read it. Ask children what the hidden message is. Remind them of their assembly manners when they all shout out. Short prayer/reflection time. Assembly dismissed.

You can push back on any 'new' expectation in your role that you want to, but you're employed to do the job they want you to do, not to only just do the job you want. Therefore I think you're being unreasonable.

Find a controversial subject to talk about. That might be the end of it.

There are so many resources out there. Just keep it bland. Read a story.

There’s no screen in the hall either to help remember things you will say. How many weeks will I read a book for.

You could teach them all to say Hello in sign language? Or in 10 different languages in a 10 minute assembly. If you have a diverse enough school you could facilitate the children to do it?

Just because you've never had to run assembly before doesn't mean that it never happens or shouldn't happen.
If the teacher you are replacing long-term is on the rota and all teachers take turns then you would be expected to take assembly because you are supplying for that teacher.
You can't just pick and choose what you do.

If it really does bother you, you could go and talk to whoever your line manager is and see if you can get out of it but I doubt they would be impressed.

There are plenty of resources online for taking assemblies and the school will probably have some books somewhere so you could have a look at them.

Or plan something which involves the children and get them to do something that takes up most of the time. Such as reading some poems on a particular theme or a story with a moral.

It depends - how are you paid?

If it's through an agency and day-to-day rates, simply tell them no. The way things are in supply teaching right now, chances are they will back down.

If you are being paid post 12 weeks, i.e. to scale and at normal rates (including pensions and pro rata holidays), you will be expected to carry out all duties of a permanent member of staff, including marking, planning, parental meetings, so can be asked to do assemblies, too.

I did supply in the same school for four months and after about a month they started to add on duties - marking SATs, supervising playtime, creating resources etc. I went to the headteacher and asked about changing my day rate to take the new duties into account. He looked a bit flummoxed and didn't really respond. A few days later it became clear that these extra duties were quietly being dropped.

The day rate for supply is generally not great - the only reason it's worth doing is because you don't have the responsibilities of an employed teacher. If they add duties then it completely negates the benefit. I would just refuse to do it, in your shoes. You could do it out of the kindness of your heart but I'd worry in that case that they'd start taking the piss.

For KS1 Assembly I usually read a book - you can extract some moral from most children's books. We had a set weekly theme for assemblies from the Diocese but it wasn't too difficult to get something to fit. I had a colleague who said that Dogger by Shirley Hughes covered most topics if you tried. Occasionally I made a story up or told it from memory like the Boy Who Cried Wolf.

In Advent I made the Blue Peter Advent thingy from 1960s Blue Peter. It was really ropey with pretend candles and held together with sellotape but the children used to applaud.

We had no screen either I preferred t do it off the cuff anyway. I would walk about rather than stand at the front and appear to look at them all individually to keep focus. Sometimes I chose volunteers to help me and they knew they had to be sitting nicely to be chosen. On St. George's Day I chose all the children called George/Georgia/Georgina/ Jorge to play a part.

I've been retired for 10 years and I quite miss it.

I agree with most (except @Singleandproud - all teachers have taken turns to do assemblies in all schools I've worked in).

It is a normal part of Primary teaching.

If you are on long term supply, then it is part of that role. You have the advantages of a long contract which are balanced by the disadvantages.
It you don't want to be part of the team, then you need to only take short term cover / individual days.

In primary we do! Every class teacher (apart from ECTs) are on the collective worship rota - in my current school that means we do one every two weeks (maybe two or three a term, depending on how long the term is).

In my previous school I did 2 a week, as we were a small staff with 2 ECTs so effectively only 2 teachers plus the head eligible to run one! I did singing assembly every week then my 'rota' assembly. It was a lot!

I've NEVER known supply teachers to be on an assembly rota though!! OP I'd speak to your agency about this!

I’m a primary school teacher and we all do assemblies on a rota. Monday is led by the Head. Tues-Thurs is class teachers on a rota. Friday is singing assembly, also led by a class teacher who plays the piano.

I've NEVER known supply teachers to be on an assembly rota though!! OP I'd speak to your agency about this!

I did supply for a few years. Never did assemblies on day to day but I did on longer term placements.

Oh come on, this can't be real?

It is normal in primary to be part of a rota for this.

And- it is scary, it was one of the most challenging things when I was a NQT (back in the day) but it has got easier, I quite enjoy it now.

I would see what the others do in CW/assembly if possible- some schools follow a fairly consistent format, e.g. with regards to a song or prayer. Some school also have a scheme for it. Will other teachers/staff be there as well?

If it's a church school then https://www.assemblies.org.uk/ can be useful.

The story/book idea is also useful, and also look at newsround for ideas on current affairs. Children often also like it if you talk about something about something personal, you/your family/your dog etc. I often end up expanding on examples from our scheme with either me or my family, because the children listen and it just seems a little bit more relevant. E.g. I got cross this morning because everything went wrong. We woke up late, the cereal box was empty, Fred couldn't find his shoe, all the traffic lights were red on my way to school. Then I shouted at Mr Smith even though it wasn't his fault. It doesn't have to be exactly true, if you prefer a little more 'space'.

And, if you can manage it/bear it, some form of interaction/acting out helps too, even if it's just to get children up to hold a picture, toy, or a word on a piece of paper.