Is this bad form?

[Sukistjames]

For the last year I've been working in one school doing regular supply through an agency. The school have asked me to stay on in September, still being paid through the agency, not a contract in sight. I have agreed to this.
However, today I've been approached by a school I have links with. They've asked if I would join their staff in September. This would be contracted through the LA.
So would it be really bad of me to tell my current school I cannot work for them in September?

No not bad at all.

Not at all.

Which school do you prefer? If it's the supply one, letting them know you have the option of a contract may encourage them to offer one to you. I'd be open and say you have the offer and see what they come back with. If nothing, or if you do prefer the new school, then go for them!

Congratulations! It's nice to be wanted.

Presumably the LA position is a much better financial package than supply - teacher's pension, pay during holidays. As PP suggested, I would just be honest about situation.

Thank you all. I don't feel so terrible now! I felt like I would be letting them down if I said I was unable to do what I'd agreed.
There's no chance of a contract at my current school as it's temporary until a teacher returns from ML.
The security of the permanent contract is very enticing. Not sure what year group yet and the workload would increase from what I've been doing this year but I think I'm going to say yes.

I think it's bad form. I work in a school where this has happened more than once and it's a bit shit to do it at this point in the year. School 1 will have no chance of getting anyone for September at this end of term. Is there no chance of getting something in writing from School 1?

We had someone do this to us in the last week of the summer term last year. We didn't find anyone to replace her until after Christmas, and then it has been a string of supply teachers who have not stayed longer than a couple of months.

If it's ML cover then your current school would think you were mad if you turned down a permanent contract. The agency will find someone else to cover the remaining ML.

Have a good think about the extra workload though... Good luck

I agree with MsInterpret Put yourself first and do what's best for you. The first school should've locked you into a contract, but they didn't therefore you have choices.

I don't think YABU - who wouldn't want the security of a contract?? I'm sure your school will understand, you can't stay temp forever. Good luck in your new job!

I think, given the financial climate we are about to find ourselves in, anybody with the option should take a permanent contract.

If you're working for the first school through an agency, then surely the agency will be able to supply them another teacher, do you won't be leaving them in the lurch?

YANBU -that is the nature of supply -they are lucky to have had the continuity of you for so long. They can ditch you at any point - and if you read on TES, they often do!

And this is the kind of trick schools pull
here

Bad form is irrelevant. You do what's best for you and negotiate the best deal you can.

Sukist, look after no.1. The school sure as hell won't put you first.

Agree with Snazarooney and MsInterpret. Apologise to your current school and explain that you cannot refuse the permanent contract. You're covering maternity leave, your current school will understand that better offers come up. Congratulations on your better offer!

YANBU, if the school wants the security of a teacher for longer they need to offer a contract. If they pay supply, they get supply with flexibility for either side to terminate at any point.

Thanks for the responses. Not had the offer fully confirmed yet (should be tomorrow) but I'll definitely be saying yes!

EvilTwins - the school wants a teacher through an agency on supply so they can drop her with no notice if they want and don't have any responsibilities towards her. Why should a teacher feel more obliged to them than they are to her?

Take the job and don't look back.

Fairuza - you're right, I do know that. But having spent the year dealing the the fallout of this exact situation, I think that morally, it's wrong to ditch something you've made a commitment to. I don't blame the OP - absolutely, look out for your own interests, but I think it's a shitty situation to leave the school in this close to the end of the school year.

EvilTwins, if your school doesn't want to be in that position they could offer proper contracts instead of supply work.

The school is purposefully not making a commitment, so why should more be expected of the teacher?

jelly - supply teachers filling posts is the last resort. Believe me, it's not for want of trying.

There are plenty of supply staff out there who actively choose not to make a commitment. We just lost a great guy who was supply teaching as a fill-in job whilst waiting for funding for his theatre company. Our loss. It goes both ways. This year at my school has been very tricky. Supply agencies send through CVs and recommendations and claim that teachers are "looking for long term work" then the teachers arrive and tell us they're only available for 2 weeks/3 months/until the end of May. The agencies are just looking for their fees.

Unfortunately I work with a deputy head who thinks that going through supply agencies is the best way to find staff (as opposed to advertising) but even when we have gone with adverts in the TES or in eTeach, half the time there are no applicants/no one suitable/we can't appoint.

There are plenty of supply staff out there who actively choose not to make a commitment.

But that's usually why people choose to do supply surely? So that they have to flexibility to go when they wish. Long term supply just seems like the worst of both worlds, all the responsibility but without being paid for the holidays, agency taking a huge cut etc.

OP wants a contract and if school A offered one they would still have a teacher.

Sounds like your school would be offering a contract in this situation EvilTwins.

Take the permanent contract. If your current school were that fussed they could have given you a short term contract for the whole of the ML. They didn't (I assume because they don't want to pay you for the summer) so that's their fault.