Wanted: Classroom Confidence & Charisma
Cover Supervisor | Harrow | January 2026 Start
Protocol Education is actively recruiting for an Ofsted 'Outstanding' Secondary School in Harrow. We are looking for individuals with presence, patience, and personality to join the team for the January 2026 term.
This role is the ultimate "try before you buy" experience for anyone considering a career in education.
What is a Cover Supervisor?
Think of yourself as the Classroom Manager. When a teacher is absent, you step in. You are not expected to teach complex subject content or mark work. Your job is to:
1. Deliver the work set by the department.
2. Manage the behaviour of the class.
3. Ensure a safe and productive environment.
It is about soft skills: communication, de-escalation, and leadership.
The School: A Harrow Gem
You will be working in one of Harrow’s highest-achieving state schools.
4. The Vibe: Academic but inclusive. Students here want to learn, but they need guidance to stay focused.
5. The Location: Excellent transport links via the Metropolitan Line and local bus routes, making it an easy commute from North West London or Herts.
6. The Support: You will not be thrown in the deep end. You will have a briefing every morning and a dedicated line manager.
A Typical Day (8:30am – 3:30pm)
7. 08:30: Arrive, grab a coffee, and collect your cover slip (your schedule for the day).
8. 08:50: Form Tutor time – taking the register and checking in on student wellbeing.
9. 09:10: Period 1: Covering Year 7 English. They are reading silently; you keep them on task.
10. 10:10: Period 2: Covering Year 9 PE. You are out on the field supervising a football match.
11. 11:10: Break duty.
12. 11:30: Period 3: Covering Year 10 Maths. Handing out worksheets and ensuring calculators are used, not thrown!
13. so on. No marking to take home. When the bell rings at 3:30pm, your day is done.
Checklist: Do You Fit the Bill?
We are looking for candidates who can say YES to the following:
14. [ ] Degree: I have a university degree (or significant coaching/youth work experience).
15. [ ] Presence: I am confident standing in front of 30 teenagers.
16. [ ] Resilience: I don't take things personally and can keep a cool head.
17. [ ] Language: I have excellent spoken and written English.
The Protocol Package
18. Weekly Pay: Competitive rates via PAYE.
19. Flexibility: While this is a full-time role for Jan 2026, we also have flexible options leading up to it.
20. Local Work: We focus on Harrow, Brent, and Barnet—we won't send you across London.
21. Teacher Training: Use this experience to support your PGCE application.
Apply for January 2026
The school is organizing trial days now. This is your chance to secure a job well in advance.
Send your CV to the Protocol Education Secondary Team today.
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 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.
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