I have been available for work since schools started this year, but I have only managed to secure five days of work. Most of these opportunities have come from last-minute notifications, often around 8:30am. This means I have to get up and get ready for work every morning, just in case a notification comes through. Most of the time, however, no work becomes available, and I am left with no work for the day.
When notifications do come through for longer periods of work, I apply as quickly as possible, but I still do not manage to secure the position. The uncertainty and lack of work has had a significant impact on my mental health and has made me question whether I want to continue in the teaching profession, which is particularly difficult as becoming a teacher has always been something I have wanted to do.
As a result, I am now looking for alternative employment and considering moving abroad in the future, where there may be more opportunities available to me.
This is answer 187 of the 269 written answers that teachers let us quote anonymously in the Scottish Teacher Employment Survey 2026. It answers the survey’s last question: what do the people who make decisions about teacher employment need to know?
We have corrected spelling, added paragraph breaks and removed details that could identify anyone. Words in square brackets are ours.