How to maximise your bookings – what schools are looking for?

In this episode of The Relief Teacher's Podcast, host Billy Green and panellists Sue Muir, Helen Tomatis, and Terry Toomey dive into the key strategies that maximize a relief teacher's (CRT) booking potential across both primary and secondary schools. They emphasize that while teaching expertise is valuable, schools prioritize reliability, punctuality, calm demeanor, and low-maintenance behavior over pedagogical perfection. The panel stresses the importance of professional body language, seamless classroom transitions, and leaving rooms in better condition than found. They highlight that schools are more likely to rebook CRTs who are flexible, consistent, and avoid drama—especially in staff rooms or with parents. Conversely, behaviors like oversharing, judging students, creating unnecessary work for staff, or being visibly on a phone are red flags that can end a CRT’s career with a school. The episode concludes with a powerful reminder: schools value trust and predictability over brilliance, and a dependable CRT like 'Sue' is far more valuable than a highly qualified but high-maintenance substitute.