Temporary teachers '˜denied fair pay rates'

A survey of teachers by the NASUWT union found nearly two thirds claimed they were not being paid in line with their experience.

Speaking on the final day of the union’s annual conference in Birmingham, Chris Keates, the general secretary, said a tough job was “made even harder” by exploitation and poor employment practices in the industry.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan told delegates on Saturday that “any form of exploitation was absolutely unacceptable” and vowed to work with unions and teachers to tackle the issue. The union’s survey of 942 members from England and Wales, also found that 68 per cent of respondents said they had not been made aware of the 12-week rule, stating temporary workers in the job for three months get the same pay and conditions as permanent staff.

Findings also revealed that 11 per cent of supply teachers recruited to roles through agencies had been asked to waive this right.

The NASUWT has called for regulation of supply teacher agencies which fill just over three quarters of all vacancies in the sector.

Half believed they were used to cover lessons for “difficult pupils”, while many said they had only taken up the job to escape what they claimed was an excessive workload in permanent teaching positions.

Ms Keates said: “Supply teaching is a tough job, made even harder by the exploitation and poor employment practices supply teachers often face.”