If you’re a Drama student or graduate looking for a flexible, rewarding role where you control your working days, becoming an Unqualified Supply Teacher / Cover Supervisor could be the perfect next step alongside auditions, rehearsals, performances, or further study. Pay begins at £95 per day for Students (no hidden deductions as we pay through PAYE) and £100 for Graduates. The ability to drive is valued to expand your number of schools, but not neccesary - we work closely with schools across South Bristol and will match you with schools in convenient locations to you.
You don’t need school experience, teaching qualifications or specialist training, because we provide all of that for free. What schools are really looking for are people with confidence, presence, strong communication skills, and the ability to engage an audience, all things Drama students naturally bring into a room.
You’ll gain real classroom experience, build your confidence in a completely different setting, and get to know a range of supportive secondary schools across Bristol. It’s a brilliant way to develop transferable skills, earn reliable income around your creative commitments, and open the door to long-term or permanent school roles if education becomes part of your future.
Protocol Education work closely with schools across Bristol, and they regularly ask us for confident, positive, reliable people who can bring calm presence, clear communication, and strong classroom control into the room, skills Drama students often excel in.
We support schools with their day-to-day emergency cover, so our Cover Supervisors are ready to jump in and support schools on the day. However, many educators secure long-term placements within a few weeks of joining us. Whatever your career aspirations are, whether that’s in education, the arts, or something completely different, we can support your goals and match you to schools you love.
Pay: £95 to £110 per day
Location: Secondary Schools in Bristol, with placements close to where you live. Driving is in no way required, but always appreciated to expand your opportunities.
⏰ Type of employment: Part and full time available; day-to-day and permanent placements available.
Why people love working with us
⭐ Work flexibly, choosing anywhere from 2 to 5 days a week
⭐ FREE training, including Thrive and Cover Supervisor training
⭐ Schools matched to your preferred locations
⭐ Build a stand-out CV with highly transferable, employable skills
⭐ Dedicated consultant who listens and finds roles that suit you
⭐ Network with schools and educators to springboard into long-term or permanent roles
The Role
As an Unqualified Cover Teacher, you’ll step into the teacher’s shoes for the day. Lessons are already planned for you, so your main job is to lead the class, guide pupils through the set work, and create a positive, calm learning environment.
This role is not about teaching or delivering content. It’s about presence, communication, and classroom management, areas where Drama students and graduates often feel confident. You’ll need to think on your feet, communicate clearly, manage a room, and build quick rapport with students.
It’s a great fit for Drama students, performers, confident communicators, career changers, or anyone who enjoys working with young people and wants a role with variety that fits around other commitments.
Our Free Training
Protocol Education are proud to offer:
• Thrive Approach: Learn how to understand behaviour, build relationships and support emotional wellbeing. Ideal for both mainstream and SEND settings.
• Team Teach: Positive behaviour and de-escalation strategies to keep everyone calm and safe.
• Trauma-Informed Practices: Practical tools for supporting pupils who have experienced adversity, helping you respond with empathy and confidence.
• Cover Supervisor Training: A practical, hands-on guide to leading classes, managing behaviour and delivering pre-set work confidently.
The Ideal Candidate
You’ll be someone who enjoys working with young people and brings calm positivity into the room. We welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences, especially those with:
• Drama, performing arts, theatre or stage experience
• Public speaking or presentation skills
• Confidence managing groups and holding attention
• Youth theatre, workshops, or facilitation experience
• Customer service or other public-facing roles
• Youth work, mentoring or tutoring
• Summer camps, guiding, childcare or community roles
• SEND experience or transferable skills from care settings
Why Protocol Education?
• Competitive rates of pay through PAYE
• Guaranteed work agreements for consistent income
• FREE CPD including Team Teach, behaviour training and SEND courses
• Social events like free bowling and pizza nights
• Termly awards to celebrate outstanding performance
• Ongoing, honest support from your dedicated consultant
• £50 refer a teacher or TA bonus scheme
WHAT DO WE NEED TO CLEAR YOU
Passport 2 proofs of address (e.g. driving licence, utility bill, council tax, P45/60) CV covering 10 years of all work or education, with gaps accounted for 2 years of references (including childcare if applicable) OSPC if you lived overseas for 3 months or more in the last 5 years
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.
Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see visit the Protocol Education website.