Access to employment rights, the practices of recruitment
agencies and an alarming trend toward schools using unqualified
staff to replace qualified teachers, were all among the key
issues debated by members from across the UK at
the NASUWT’s 2017 Supply
Teachers Consultation Conference.
Staged at the University of Warwick, the event also saw members
debating issues such as access to training, respect within the
classroom and the impact Brexit and proposed changes to
self-employed tax rates may have upon supply teaching.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT,
said:
“Supply teaching is a tough job, made even harder by the
exploitation and poor employment practices supply teachers often
face, especially from exploitative agencies who put their own
financial gain ahead of the best interests of both teachers and
pupils.
“This approach not only denies teachers the rights and
protections they should be entitled to, but is also leading to
children not having access to quality education delivered by
qualified teachers.
“Supply teachers are increasingly concerned about the impact of
poor employment practices adopted by some agencies and schools
who appear determined only to pay teachers as little as they can
get away with.
“The Government has a responsibility to intervene in a market
that is failing to protect children.
“The Government has the opportunity to ensure that all schools
adopt an ethical approach to the procurement of supply staff
which delivers fair treatment for teachers and guarantees the
educational entitlements of all pupils.”
