Boosting income - supply teaching and agency rates??

stugall

Hi there
Has anyone had experience of supply teaching agencies?
I currently work in publishing (children's books , travel guides) and have done a lot of creative workshops on writing, drama, literacy, storytelling, in schools.
A few people have suggested I should do supply teaching and I have had some offers from schools I have worked with, and one from Hays Education.
There is, however, a disparity in pay being offered.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Hays spoke to one of the schools and has offered me work, but the school had also spoken to me direct with a different rate?
What should I do?
Thanks!
Stuart

mountainchrisriver

Thats how agencies make their money... they hook you up with work and then take a cut of the money... you effectively pay them for finding you work

ladybugs

you are paid to a scale according to your experience, if you google it either as an unqualifed or qualified teacher you will get an idea of rates. Most agencies will pay you according to that - the school are then charged - so you as a teacher are paid and the school are charged.

scotrae

You could try looking at the www.tes.co.uk forum for supply teachers (in the site's online 'staffroom') and search the threads or post your own regarding the current rates getting paid. Is it secondary or primary you're interested in teaching?

mister_bojangles

Stugall, remaining in the employment of the agency, you are not paying them for seeking work for you, as mountainchrisriver put it. They make money through you by being paid a rate by the education authority out of which you are paid. e.g. if they are paid, say £25 p/hour, for your employment, the agency may pay you £18p/hr, so they make £7 p/h as long as you remain in employment. This way, you are an agency employee. If you accept the offer from the school, you do not pay the agency anything, but you become a permanent member of staff in the school. YOu become the school/Education Authority employee.

Working with agencies may not be as secure re: tenure, but as an agency employee, it is in the agency's interest to seek work for you so as to make money thru you.