Anonymous survey answerSurvey Nº 039

I hold a headteacher’s certificate, am still able and up to date in the classroom. All courses completed.

Thirty-three years teaching and I had to sign on

Published 5 October 2026 · 1 min read

Employment situation: Supply teaching
Sector: Primary

I am 60. I have been a teacher for 33 years. I hold a headteacher’s certificate, am still able and up to date in the classroom. All courses completed. I had to sign on this year. Mental health suffering. Employment practices very interesting! If I could afford to retire on a full pension I would!!

This is answer 39 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.

Every answer in the report (PDF) Survey results

You are not the only one

Has this happened to you too?

Tap once to add your voice to the tally. It is anonymous: nothing about you is stored, and it helps the campaign show how common this is.

Be the first to say so.

Or share your own account

Keep reading

Accounts like this one

All teacher voices →

Supply

What I find particularly difficult is knowing how many qualified teachers are actively looking for secure work while permanent opportunities remain so limited.

6–10 years · 2 min read

Daily supply
Family plans
Money worries

1Read the account

Supply

I now feel I am sitting here with a degree I cannot use and the more time goes on the more I feel a permanent job is not going to happen for me.

6 min read

Daily supply
Chasing interviews
Family plans
+4

Read the account

Supply

And yet, I still want to teach, I'm still trying to 'be a proper teacher'-because for the past 10 years I've only been a supply teacher.

6–10 years · 2 min read

Daily supply

Read the account