Should a supply lead a subject?

[AnneShirley18]

Just that really. I'm a temporary supply abd have been asked to leave a subject. It's the first time I've been asked in four years of supply. Just wondering if it's the norm. Thanks

Hi. Make sure you ask for a pay rise to reflect added responsibility.

Given this and your other post tell the school you’re looking for a permanent job and ask about references. That way you won’t necessarily feel your Summer Prep is wasted. Or use Summer Prep time to find a job.

I have done a fair bit of long term supply the last few years. I do feel some schools view goodwill and flexibility as a one way street.

Look after your welfare. If it’s for 4 months it’s not for ever. Is it a fixed term contract or extended day to day?

Be prepared to leave with the minimum amount of notice you need to give.

I think some schools forget it can be quite difficult to get Supply Teachers in these days.

Ask other teachers in the school. Do they all lead a subject?

My inclination would be to decline - after all what will the school do when you leave at the end of four months? They should be looking at continuity - not hoping to string you along.

Sorry if this seems overly cynical. Also, I’m secondary so others may have more useful advice.

Take care

Oh hi thanks for responding. I didn't realise I'd already asked about subject lead in the other post. I don't ever want to be a permanent teacher again. Every so often I do a longer term position because I get proper scale pay which is a nice cash injection. In all other positions, I think the schools have been used to having supplies for longer term but I'm a bit of a first in this school. I don't think they realise how much what I have been doing is not the norm in supply teachers. I have to take responsibility for that but it is now difficult to back peddle. The other schools, while they expected me to carry out the role of CT and all that involved were also cognisant of the fact i wasn't a staff member and when requests outside of the norm were made, gave extra no contact time or other reciprocal goodwill gestures. I do think subject lead is definitely outside the norm for a temporary supply. Setting up a class in the summer is a bit of a pain but I do have the time but again I resent that it has been assumed that I should give uo my time for free. Even a verbal acknowledgement that this is quite generous would be nice. I had Covid in the summer term and obviously I wasn't paid for my time off but here I am giving up two days free. Rant over I think I just needed the catharsis of writing this down. 😅 thank you

Hi. No you didn’t mention subject lead in your other post but being asked to do unpaid work over the Summer. It’s a bit much I think. Even if you definitely don’t want to do permanent again it might be worth using as a counter. Some schools seem to think Supply teachers are desperate and will do anything. Make sure goodwill isn’t abused. I’ve had burnout trying to do too much for poor pay.

Are you being paid to scale?
If not then a flat out no! If yes then I would probably say it's reasonable on the proviso that you get some non contact time if they expect any sort of monitoring or output.
You definitely shouldn't be working in the holidays though.

If you are supply, are your pension contributions being paid by the employer?