Supply Teaching vs. Permanent Roles: Which Is Right for You?
If you are trying to choose between supply teaching vs. permanent roles, but don’t know where to start or what to compare, you are in the right place with First Class Supply. While both options have their benefits and disadvantages, there will be one that suits you better depending on personal preferences, experience, and the time you have to do it.
Unfortunately, there is no one answer to which role is best, and everything comes down to you. In this blog, we aim to help you figure out which option suits you better and dive into the pros and cons, lifestyle considerations, work-life balance, and more. By the end, you should have a good idea of which route is ideal for you and your life.
What’s the Difference Between Supply and Permanent Teaching?
Supply teachers are teachers who are brought into a school to cover a permanent teacher’s absence on a temporary basis, while a permanent teacher has a permanent and ongoing contract with the school. The former is typically used on a short-term basis and will teach at many different schools, but can work as a school for an extended period of time in some cases, while a permanent teacher will work at a single school long-term.
When comparing supply teaching vs. permanent roles, it is crucial to have an in-depth knowledge of both of them. This includes their pros and cons directly relating to work, as well as what they mean for your lifestyle and career prospects moving forward—and there are stark differences that you need to be aware of before you jump in and make a decision.
Pros and Cons of Supply Teaching
For supply teachers, the primary benefits include fantastic work flexibility that offers better work-life balance, endless opportunities for relation if you want to move around, ever in-demand skills, and great networking opportunities. However, the downsides include no reliable income, potentially stressful and ever-changing environments, and the struggle with forming meaningful work relationships.
| Pros of Supply Teaching | Cons of Supply Teaching |
| Highly flexible | No continuous/reliable income |
| Relocation is always an option | Stressful to change environments every day |
| Ever-changing environment | Difficult to form meaningful work relationships |
| Better work-life balance | Often very early mornings |
| Little to no paperwork depending on the role | Not always teaching your specialised subject(s) |
| Your skills are always in-demand | |
| Opportunity to gain diverse experience | |
| Fantastic for career development | |
| Excellent for networking opportunities |
Pros and Cons of Permanent Teaching Roles
The main pros of working as a permanent teacher include a consistent income, better job security, pension schemes and benefits, and the opportunities for career progression. Cons include less flexibility, more paperwork, more responsibilities at school, and lots of out-of-school planning through holidays and weekends to stay on top of work.
| Pros of Permanent Teaching | Cons of Permanent Teaching |
| Consistent income | More paperwork and admin work |
| You know what to expect from your day | Less flexibility in hours |
| Ability to form meaningful work relationships | More responsibilities around school |
| Get to teach your specialised subject(s) | Plenty of work to be done outside of school |
| Lots of opportunities for career progression | |
| Better job security | |
| Comprehensive benefits package | |
| Pension schemes |
What Are the Lifestyle and Work-Life Balance Considerations
When weighing supply teaching vs. permanent roles, taking the lifestyle and work-life balance that each one offers should be critical in your decision. Everyone has different obligations and preferences in life, and someone with other responsibilities may want to opt for supply teaching to allow time for them. However, even if you are just someone who wants to have control over when and where they work, supply teaching is a fantastic option for that kind of freedom.
With that being said, there are a lot of benefits to consider for permanent teaching, too. While there will be more paperwork and less flexibility in your hours, being a permanent teacher at a school is often less stressful due to working in a familiar environment with familiar people, and knowing that you have a stable income to keep you and your household afloat.
These are key reasons why so many choose permanent roles, but it comes down to everyone’s individual needs and preferences in their personal lives. You may need to make a list of your own responsibilities and preferences to help you determine which path is more suited to you.
You Can Continue Supply Teaching When Semi-Retired
It’s important to remember that you can also retire from a full-time reaching role and go into supply teaching if you want to! Here at First Class Supply, we have several incredible teachers who are semi-retired but want to keep working while also enjoying the flexibility that supply teaching offers.
Anyone with the right skills and qualifications can work as a supply teacher, and you can pursue this work at any time. So, whether you want to move to supply teaching as you get older, or you want to start with it or stick with it, you can absolutely choose what works best for you at any stage.
What About Career Growth and Long-Term Security?
Both supply teaching and permanent roles offer job security in the way that teachers will always be in-demand and needed—even internationally. However, there is little career growth to be found in supply teaching, as you are not putting down roots in a single educational institute. Permanent teaching, on the other hand, allows you to work your way up from a teacher or teaching assistant, and become a form tutor, subject leader, SENCO, head of department, and so on as you prove your skills and gain the trust of those you work with and for.
If career progression is something that you strive for, going down the permanent teaching route is the ideal choice for you. However, it is always beneficial to get experience as a supply teacher before you jump into permanent roles, as this will help you gain invaluable skills and experience.
Which Option Is Right for You? Key Questions to Ask
So, should you choose supply teaching or a permanent contract? To decide between supply teaching vs. permanent roles, you need to ask yourself about the need for financial stability, if you can handle ever-changing environments and policies, if you want to progress your career, and consider what other responsibilities you have in your life.
Only when you answer these questions will you be able to determine which route is right for you, and finally make a decision. However, please remember that you can change from permanent to supply or vice versa at any point in your life if you want to make the change.
Do You Need Financial Stability?
If you are the only working adult in your household, financial stability is more crucial than ever. Supply teaching does not always bring in a stable income, as you are paid for the time you work. This time is kept on timesheets, and is not an annual salary, due to you choosing your working hours and having increased flexibility to control your own schedule.
Flexibility is fantastic, but it does come at a cost, and this is not always a cost that everyone can afford—particularly in today’s economic landscape.
Are You Keen on Ever-Changing Environments and Policies?
Another key question to ask yourself—as a supply teacher, you will be going to new schools constantly, and these new schools will have different faculty, students, classes, and policies that you need to know. Constantly changing environments can be stressful, and it may make you feel like you do not fit in with other staff, so it is something that you need to be aware of from the get-go.
Do You Want to Build and Progress in Your Career?
If you want to progress in your career and move on to becoming a form tutor, head of department, and so on, supply teaching will not offer this opportunity. Getting a permanent role is key for progression, and may be your preferred option if you want to work your way up the ladder.
What Other Responsibilities Do You Have?
Finally, if you have lots of other responsibilities in your life that may disallow you from taking on a permanent role, supply teaching could be ideal. You will still get to teach, but have the flexibility to control your times and schedule, allowing you to fulfil other obligations.
How First Class Supply Supports All Teaching Paths
Not sure which teaching path is right for you between supply teaching vs. permanent roles? Speak to the friendly team at First Class Supply for honest advice and flexible job options across the North East.
For more information, why not check out our community support, testimonials and meet the team? We also have information for schools and teachers, and like to keep you up-to-date on news.
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