I have grovelled and contacted schools directly every time for supply work. I was fortunate and got work but I know thousands who are in the same position that did not get lucky.
This is answer 45 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.