How to become a PE Supply Teacher

What is a PE supply teacher?

PE Supply Teachers cover PE classes for full-time and part-time PE Teachers who are absent and are responsible for the delivery of (often pre-planned) PE lessons to pupils. Schools contact recruitment agencies, like Futureactive, for all their day to day, short and long term staffing needs who in turn will contact and send in a suitably qualified and experienced PE teacher to meet the needs of the school for that day, week or contract.

PE Supply Teachers are normally employed through a recruitment agency like Futureactive. Being a supply teacher offers a huge amount of flexibility to work when and where you want and at a wide variety of styles of schools.

Futureactive provide fully vetted and checked PE Supply Teachers to all levels of schools across the country, who have a variety of needs and specifications. Registering with Futureactive will boost your chances of finding work in your area and teaching the subjects you want to teach, eg PE and school sport.

What qualifications do I need to become a PE supply teacher?

In the main, PE supply teachers need to be fully qualified PE teachers with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) having trained in the UK or gaining QTS as an Overseas Trained Teacher (OTT). To be able to work as a supply teacher in a school you will need to go through a registration process with a recruitment agency, like us. This involves a one off “face to face” interview so that we can complete our Department of Education Quality Mark standard vetting and checking procedures, so that you can be placed into a school as and when needed.

PE Recruitment is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all applicants to share our commitment. An enhanced CRB/DBS will be required.

What skills/experience will I need?

PE Supply Teachers need to be adaptable and flexible in order to be able to ‘pick up the reigns’ quickly in a new school and have sound subject knowledge and excellent classroom management skills.

The greater and more varied the skills and experiences you have to offer a school will increase your chances of regular employment and the contracts offered.

Working as a PE supply teacher can also be a great way of gaining valuable and relevant experience for Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) Fully qualified PE Teachers can also use it to boost their CV, gain references and potentially bolster their chances of gaining more longer term or permanent work. Going forward, previous experience of working in certain “types” of school e.g. single sex or independent or specific pupil cohorts may well also assist with future job applications.

Temporary Supply work is also often available for qualified PE Teachers who have taught abroad or are returning to the profession or between permanent jobs. Our latest jobs section. advertises both our short and longer term job vacancies as well as our permanent jobs. However in view of the nature of day to day supply work, we normally contact our Registered PE Supply Teachers directly as soon as a school contacts us.

Thinking about Returning to Teaching after a Career break?

Schools are often keen to employ qualified teacghers who have returned to teaching as they can often bring additional skills, experiences and perspectives to the school environment. If you are considering returning to teaching there is a lot of help, advice and resources available from Dept of Education’s Get into Teaching – Returning to Teaching website.

Who might employ a PE supply teacher?

-PE Recruitment (- and other recruitment agencies)

-Primary schools (State, Independent, Free Schools and Academies)

-Secondary schools (State, Independent, Free Schools and Academies)

-School Sport providers

What salary can I expect?

Fully qualified teachers can earn from £90-£140 per day depending on experience. Non-qualified teachers will earn less – potentially around £70 per day.