MU column: template consultancy agreement for VMTs

As a visiting music teacher (VMT), one of the most important issues to be clear on is whether you are employed – including worker status, where tax is deducted at source – or self-employed. To clarify the difference, employees receive a range of employment benefits, including paid holiday and pension contributions, but have limited flexibility in how they carry out their roles. Conversely, the self-employed do not receive employment benefits but should enjoy greater flexibility, for example around negotiating pay and the right to use substitutes (deps).

In practice, schools often blur the line between employment and self-employment. Many MU members tell us that although they work as self-employed teachers, schools regularly attempt to set their fees, refuse them the right to use deps, or insist that they offer free trial lessons – all of which are incompatible with self-employment. Schools are understandably keen for music teachers to comply with their preferred ways of working, but excessive or inappropriate control of self-employed teachers is not compliant with employment law.