NASUWT supply teachers consultation conference 2017
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.”
