Supply teachers held to same standard?

[AnneShirley18]

Hi I reluctantly agreed to do a term of supply for a primary class as I got on well with the head (normally I do daily supply). They are known to be a challenging class with challenging parents. Their teacher last academic school year resigned after a breakdown caused by the stress she was under. I'm managing to keep my head above water, have made good relationships with parents and children alike, but that requires constant attention. Lunchtimes are spent resolving conflicts and having restore and repair conversations so thar our afternoon lessons can happen. My maths marking is done as a class. My English I mark very closely myself. I've been pulled up for not marking to policy in maths. I just don't have time! In every other aspect i think I'm doing really well. Why am I even under this level of scrutiny when I'm leaving in six weeks, working really hard and I'm a bloody supply?!?! Whole I get SLT have a duty to monitor work, can't they see that it's pretty decent, maths might not be marked to same standard of English but it's good quality and she's doing her best. She's going in 6 weeks anyway we've been lucky to have her. Just a rant really

Difficult - for those kids, you are their "real" teacher for as long as you are there - although from your point of view, you can leave any day you choose to, without notice, so SLT have a balancing act - provide the children with a "real teacher" experience, without annoying you so much you leave. There isn't a way to keep everyone happy in this situation

Thanks for your reply. I completely take the long term approach. I think the balancing act I do with behaviour is less visible to SLT than the books. Perhaps I need to bring more of the children's issues to SLT's door so I have time to spend on writing a useless comment in 35 maths books. That's right 35!

I dont know what to suggest! peer marking - stamps that say 'well done', or 'good try'?
It sounds like too much

We go through everything together and then i pink or green the WALT. The quality and volume of work they are producing since September has improved enormously because there is zero lost learning due to fall outs and children on crisis. It's just frustrating. They can't see further than their own noses and their memories are clearly too short. What's the point? Thanks for listening to my rant anyway 😄

If you’re day to day supply then it really isn’t down to the supply teacher to mark the work. If it is long term, then yes it is I’m afraid. If they have concerns over the marking policy then you could ask them to let you know what it is you’re doing wrong so that you can follow the correct process yourself going forward.
Although you only have 6 weeks left in that time you are building a reputation for yourself- you surely would want to leave a good impression so that if there is any other opportunities in the future, you are the first person they call.

I think this is exactly the kind of reason that schools struggle to keep hold of teachers! You are doing an amazing job, and all they can do is nitpick about one tiny thing. I am a big fan of maths marking as a class - it saves valuable time and gives kids immediate feedback.

I think this all depends, doesn't it? It sounds like OP is happy doing day supply and not struggling for work. In lots of areas, day supply is still like gold-dust! And equally if enough teachers start refusing work at a particular school, they can end up at the bottom of the list with agencies.

It sounds like OP has gone above and beyond what's expected of long term supply in many ways, so picking her up on the marking just feels petty, to be honest.

Thanks for reply. ZERO desire to work full time I like day to day supply but I'm experienced and I tend to get asked to do longer stints off the back of doing days because I do create a good impression and I know my stuff - well English, maths and behaviour. I'm hopeless at plenty of other aspects. I usually say no but every now and again a head wears me down.

And you'll find that this is the real reason they don't have a permanent teacher. It's generally not about the kids (even challenging ones) but about SLT who are unsupportive and inflexible in their approach.
It's amazing to me how many non class based SLT are out of touch with how much effort and mental/emotional energy goes into being a full time class teacher.

The school are being short sighted. It is not hard to see why they are struggling to keep teachers. I would be tempted to say that unfortunately you will not be able to do this level of marking so would they prefer to find someone else? Say it in a charming regretful manner and wait for the answer. You can always find another supply job. They will find it much harder to get a long-term decent supply.

Thanks all. I had a rant to the headteacher (because he'd been informed that I wasn't receptive to the feedback) he listened but didn't really hear what I was saying. It didn't help that I was a bit wobbley and teary. He decided to throw money at the situation which was a bit frustrating when all I wanted was acknowledgement that my time was better spent elsewhere. I feel like that old soap opera cliche - the disgruntled wife is being fobbed off by her husband so he throws her money and tells her to go buy herself something nice.