Job advert says I’d be self-employed – does this sound legit?

[pringleprincess]

Hi all, I'm currently on the lookout for a new role and would really appreciate a bit of advice!

I've come across a remote KS2 teaching job on Indeed which sounds ideal while my DD is still little – the flexibility would be perfect. However a couple of things in the advert have made me pause, and I’m not quite sure what to make of them.

It says:

“The annual rate of £14,000 covers school holiday time, but is not PAYE, so for tax purposes you will be considered a self-employed contractor.”

“The initial contract is for one year, but will be extended to permanent for the right candidate.”

I’ve always had PAYE jobs so I’m a bit clueless when it comes to self-employed/contractor stuff. Is it normal for contractor roles to offer a yearly salary? I thought they were usually paid by the hour or day? Also, how does it work with this ‘permanent contractor’ thing? It sounds a bit like a probation period?

Just trying to work out if this is a genuine, flexible opportunity or if it's too good to be true. Thanks so much in advance for any insight!

Not legit, sorry. You cannot be on a one year contract and be self employed. If you are self employed you set your own terms, hours etc. Don't touch with a bargepole.

Awh, I thought it sounded a little off. Since they mention tax, I suppose it's a cost saving measure for them? I guess I'll keep looking - thanks anyway!

I work for an online school in a PAYE salaried teaching role but I am aware that many other online schools, including one larger one which is accredited by the DfE, use this way of employing most of their teachers. I agree it doesn’t sit right with my understanding of being a self-employed contractor (setting own hours and rates), but I wonder if there is a legal loophole allowing it. I looked up the ad you mention and that’s a legitimate school (despite their unfortunate habit of masquerading as parents on the Home Ed forum to promote themselves). It might be worth enquiring and sounding them out if that’s the only hurdle. Pay is low but if it’s only 3 hours a day without a huge amount of planning and preparation on top, then it’s a good way to be able to teach around the needs of your family. It’s also possibly a foot in the door of the expanding online school sector with a view to moving to a salaried role in future. It’s getting really competitive due to the exodus from the classroom.

The employment model was my only issue, but now I’m curious. What do you mean they pretend to be parents on the forum? That feels worse!

Just do a google of name of school + mumsnet and you will see the threads with lots of removed comments in the home Ed section. It’s not relevant to your question but has given me a bad impression and is the first thing that comes to mind when that school and its new sister school are mentioned.

It's a way of them getting out of paying NI and having to register you as an employee with all the protections and benefits that offers.

The role probably isn't genuinely self employed if they are setting your hours and you can't send someone else to do your job.

I was tempted by this job but I think I'd resent being tied to set hours and days on pretty low pay if I wasn't given the benefits of sick pay, pension etc.

I’ve looked now and I’m shocked! It’s a real red flag when someone behaves like that so publicly and definitely makes you wonder what staff are dealing with in private. I certainly won't be applying now.

That’s really helpful, thank you. Sounds far too iffy for me and definitely not worth it!

I don't think it's necessarily illegal. Probably a loophole being used.

I do think it reflects how the company treat their staff. Tip of the iceberg maybe ...