Meet Margaret Gladston

Humly empowers educators to thrive.

Our app gives teachers and nursery nurses more control and flexibility to book the jobs they want quickly, easily, and on their terms (see how we did that for the 23/24 Academic Year).

But we’re more than the UK’s most downloaded supply education app.

Humly is a community for talented, passionate educators who make a difference. And we take the time to talk with you – but, more importantly, listen:

• About what you need

• What Humly is doing right

• Where we can improve

• And so much more

Then, we take those insights and share them to empower all of our educators with that knowledge.

And we’re doing it right now in our conversation with Humly Educator Margaret Gladstone.

The Interview

Margaret Gladston is a Primary QTS based in the Northeast with +20 years of teaching experience.

Humly

We always like to begin educator interviews with our favourite question: Why did you become a teacher?

Margaret Gladston

It’s something I always wanted to do. When I finished university, I was 21, and I definitely didn’t have the confidence to go into teaching. But my sister had just become a teacher, so when I heard her talk about teaching children to read, I was just in awe of what she did. But thought I could never do that. So, I worked as a children’s librarian for 20 years. But by the time I was in my early 40s, I knew that job was becoming obsolete. So, I thought it was now or never for me to become a teacher. And I went and got my PGCE in early years education.

Humly

That’s lovely. So, the main reason we wanted to speak with you is you’ve worked at 17 different schools in 2024 (so far). Can you share what you’ve learned or liked about going to so many different schools?

Margaret Gladston

I think, and it’s especially true for newly qualified teachers, it’s really great to go into different schools and just see how things are done – pick up ideas. But working at different schools can sometimes simply be the nature of supply more than an active choice. 

Humly

Do you see any differences in the educational philosophies between the different schools you’ve worked at? 

Margaret Gladston

Yes. But more recently, I’ve worked at academies. So, while the school may be different, the approach isn’t. But with different, non-academy schools, you do see differences. Some schools are more relaxed with student behaviour, the latitude children have. While other schools adopt a more strict approach to behaviour management. 

Humly

At the 17 different schools you’ve worked at, have you ever booked repeat work at more than one of them?

Margaret Gladston

Yeah. I have.  

Humly

That’s great to hear. One final question. You worked at more traditional supply agencies before joining Humly. Can you tell us some of the differences you see between the agency way versus the Humly way of supply? 

Margaret Gladston

I think Humly’s technology, specifically the app, makes it easier to see what’s available and how you simplify time sheets. And Humly does a really good job of matching my skill sets to schools that need me versus sending me jobs at schools because they need someone. And I definitely appreciate the power to see every available opportunity. Because I work part-time, I appreciate having the control and choice to pick between assignments. Whereas, in traditional supply agencies, you feel pressured to take the first job you’re offered. And it’s upsetting to find out later there were other jobs available. 

Humly

Thank you so much for your time, Margaret.

Continuity + Variety

Beyond the value of learning different approaches to education and picking up new techniques and ideas, as Margaret said – there’s a more direct benefit for supply educators working at multiple schools or nurseries.

Being more in-demand.

Every time you work at a school or nursery and demonstrate your ability, you become a known quantity, someone they trust and want to book again.

We call it continuity.

When schools and nurseries look to book supply educators, chances are they begin by requesting preferred educators they already know.

In fact, we make it as easy as pressing a button for them to book you again, and again, and again.

So, the more schools or nurseries you work at, the more places consider you a preferred educator — the more places consider you first.

And we’ve got the data to back this up.

We asked 1,409 Humly Community Educators if they booked roles with at least two schools or nurseries in 2024.

100% of all respondents who booked work at multiple locations got repeat work from at least two of them.

That’s the value of continuity + variety. It empowers educators to get booked more consistently.

And many respondents said their continuity bookings were for longer-term roles, too. So, every opportunity you take at every school or nursery is an audition for your next role there – and a bigger one.

So, break a leg.