Jennifer H.
About me
| Jennifer H. | |
| Education | |
| Education studies | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| Vanbrugh | |
| 2020 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Supply Teacher | |
| Yorkshire Education | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Education | |
| 2020 |
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A day in the life of a Supply Teacher in the United Kingdom
Graduating and then entering the job market is very daunting and it is okay if you don't know what to do. Take some time, don't be afraid to explore different paths and career choices, now is the time to find the job that is right for you.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
I am a Primary school supply teacher, the agency are based in York and liase with myself and the schools to find suitable supply placements each week.
What do you do?
I cover teachers, teaching assistants and nursery assistants as needed. I can ask the agency for certain key stages or work on a week by week basis. As a teacher I teach Primary and cover for Primary school teachers, specialising in Key Stage 1 and teach all subject areas. As a teaching assistant I supply for all Primary year groups and assist the class teacher as needed, usually doing group work or reading interventions. At nursery I complete the duties associated with being a nursery practitioner and the age of the children I am with changes with each shift but varies from 0-5 years.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I did Education as an undergraduate and then went on to do my Primary PGCE with the intention of going into Primary teaching.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Somewhat, I had never considered supply teaching but the current demand in the education sector meant I found it difficult to secure a teaching position straight after University, so I went into supply teaching to increase my skills and experience in teaching.
Describe your most memorable day at work
I was covering for a Year 2 class on a long-term placement. Part of the day involved external PE football coaches coming in to teach the PE lesson as part of the teachers CPD which meant I got to observe professionals teaching football and used it to further my knowledge of teaching PE, but after school a parent emailed to thank me for returning to the class as part of the long-term placement. As a supply teacher you usually come and go quite quickly and don't really get to see if you have made a good impression or done something memorable, so it was nice for that to be recognised by a parent.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
It is challenging going into a new school every other day and being expected to teach as if you are their everyday class teacher. It can also be daunting going into new classes and schools and my behaviour management has definitely improved since joining the supply agency.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
It changes with each school I go to but so far all of the schools and nurseries have been appreciative of supply staff and have been there to help or make me feel welcome.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I volunteered with Open Minds and went into schools to give talks on mental health and recognising signs and symptoms of certain mental health disorders. These skills have been transferable into my work now as it is very important to be aware of mental health disorders and how I can help students I teach who may have or be in the process of being diagnosed with certain mental health disorders.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I would like to secure a permanent Primary teaching job.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Don't worry if you don't know what you want to do when you graduate. Use the careers meetings available to you and talk to the careers team about this and options that might be possible for you. But on the whole, graduating and then entering the job market is very daunting and it is okay if you don't know what to do. Take some time, don't be afraid to explore different paths and career choices, now is the time to find the job that is right for you.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Education, primary teaching, mental health, psychology.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
I also work part-time as a bookseller.
Next steps...
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