Methodology

The tools and market information on this site are based on a mixture of user shared information, public sources and our own calculations. The aim is to make supply teaching easier to understand without pretending the data is more complete than it really is.

How the pay data works

People can anonymously share information about their current supply work, including things such as:

• role
• phase
• location
• type of supply work
• how they are paid
• current day rate

We do not need a name, email address, telephone number or CV for someone to contribute ordinary market data.

Where possible, location data is reduced to a useful local area rather than storing unnecessary detail. For postcode searches, we use the outward postcode district rather than keeping the full postcode.

When we show a typical rate

We only show a public rate when there are enough suitable responses for that particular view.

If there are not enough local responses yet, we may widen the comparison to a larger area such as a town, county, region or country.

When that happens, we make it clear that the figure relates to the wider area.

If there is still not enough information, we simply say that we are still building the picture.

We would rather show less information than give a false impression of certainty.

What counts towards the market picture

Not every submission is automatically treated as reliable.

Responses can be checked for things such as:

• obvious or extreme values
• repeated submissions
• unusual patterns
• information that does not fit the selected role or type of work

Suitable responses can be included in the public calculations, while questionable entries can be held back for review or excluded.

This helps reduce the effect of mistakes, testing and deliberate misuse.

How we describe the figures

We deliberately avoid presenting the information as an official salary survey or a definitive market rate.

You will see phrases such as:

• typical rate shared
• recent responses
• people have shared
• still building the picture

These are intended to reflect what the data actually represents.

A figure on Supply Teaching should be treated as a useful reference point, not a guarantee of what a school, agency or employer will pay.

Geography

Market information can be explored at different levels, depending on the amount of data available.

This may include:

• postcode district
• town or city
• county or equivalent area
• region
• country

We try to use familiar place names wherever possible.

The exact geographic structure can vary across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Supply Pulse

Supply Pulse is designed to give a simple indication of how people feel about the amount of work available to them.

For example, people may be asked whether they received:

• more work than they wanted
• about the right amount
• less work than they wanted
• no work

Results are shown in aggregate rather than as individual responses.

As with pay data, we only want to display results where there is enough information for them to be meaningful.

Public and official sources

Some guides and information on this site also use public sources such as:

• GOV.UK
• Department for Education
• HMRC
• ACAS
• Teachers’ Pensions
• Disclosure and Barring Service
• official devolved government services

Where a rule or entitlement depends on employment status, contract type or individual circumstances, we try to say so clearly.

Official guidance should always take priority where there is a conflict.

What we do not do

Supply Teaching is not a recruitment agency and the site is not designed to build candidate profiles.

We do not need ordinary users to provide:

• names
• email addresses
• telephone numbers
• CVs
• employment histories

just to use the Pay Checker, browse market information or read the guides.

The aim is to collect the minimum information needed to make the tools useful.

Limitations

The information on this site will never represent every supply teacher, support worker, school or agency.

Responses may be stronger in some areas than others.

Rates can also vary because of:

• experience
• role
• subject
• phase
• length of booking
• responsibilities
• location
• employment arrangement
• agency or employer

This means two people working in similar areas can legitimately receive different rates.

The market tools are there to provide context, not to tell someone exactly what they should be paid.

Our approach

The principle behind the site is simple:

Collect the minimum. Explain openly. Never be creepy.

If the data is strong enough to say something useful, we will show it.

If it is not, we will say that too.