The Supply Story

Book excerpt: No other book exists on supply teaching in English schools. This book is thus an agenda-setting volume which uses diverse contributions to provoke discussion of rarely articulated issues which are central to the day-to-day teaching and learning experiences of both teaching staff and pupils. Part 1 considers the individual motives and experience; Part 2 the working context and school concerns; and Part 3 analyses the role of the local education authority and supply teaching as a labour market phenomenon. Against a backcloth of rapid change, this edited volume reveals much about these professionals who work daily in schools, yet have had little attention paid in previous accounts of schooling. As women predominate in the supply teaching force, the volume spotlights women teachers' experience, but recognises the complex gender issues, and takes into account the experiences of men working as supply teachers.