Interview Advice

One in 10 NQTs leave teaching after only a year. On top of this, schools are now experiencing increased difficulties in retaining staff in the UK. Some very alarming figures considering I am in my NQT year and don’t quite know what’s next for me. Well today’s blog post is about applying for jobs/interview tips which I have picked up so far…

1.      Before applying for a job, take some time out to go and visit the school. Go in for 30 minutes, walk around, talk to both the staff and students, and get a feel for the atmosphere of the school. Ask yourself, do you see yourself within that environment. Does the school ethos support yours? If yes, then definitely put in that application!

So you have put in your application and have been selected for an interview, what’s next?

2.      Make sure you research the school. Stalk them on all of their media outlets! I recently had an interview at a city school (I am yet to hear from them) but before that interview, I spent so long on their website, learning about the school, looked at their latest OFSTED report. Looked to see where they are at in the league tables. All this information came in handy when I was being grilled in the formal interview.

Coaching on Mondays has been refreshing. #Cobras

3.      Do not over plan your lesson. Simplicity is key! Have one part of the lesson which will be unforgettable. Leave your observers impressed and the students talking about how exciting the lesson was. Be honest when it comes to evaluating your lesson. If it did not go well, say why and what you would do differently if you could turn the clock back. I once had a shocking lesson at an interview, it was my second ever teaching interview and I just chocked. I could see the lesson unravelling, the kids not challenged enough. Behaviour deteriorated and before I knew it my time was up. Now looking back, there was so much I could have done, and I wish someone had given me hints and tips for interview.

4.      Always have a question to ask your interviewers based on the research you have done.  In my recent interview, most of my questions were based on what the NQT development programme looked like within the school and if I was to be successful, how was that going to be implemented?

5.      Finally, be enthused and be positive!

I hope you find these tips useful. Just a quick update, I have started coaching again, which has made my Mondays extra manic. I am still applying for jobs, it seems to be a trend to have a second subject. Something which I do not have, fingers crossed I will not be the one in ten of the NQTs that leave teaching after a year…

New Year, new challenges and lots to be learnt...

Hope you have all had a well-deserved break! And if not, only a few more weeks until the February half term.... What a challenging and fulfilling first term I have had. I have learnt so much about, not only myself as a Newly Qualified Teacher, but also a lot about the trade. Most importantly, what a web of complexities this profession is.

Firstly, it took me about three weeks to know which building to go into for each lesson. What a relief that was! Another 4 weeks to know most of the students’ names, obviously there is still the odd names here and there that I am still learning. We have all been in a situation where there is a cluster of students and we can’t remember the names of any of them, you stare at them intently trying to remember at least one of their names. Finally, it comes to you, definitely Bob. As you blurt out their name with so much confidence and authority, they all laugh at you, so loudly. Why? Because that wasn’t Bob, that was in fact Billy!

I dare you to believe in yourself. I sure am starting to. 2018, I have a good feeling about this one.

At that present moment, I always get that feeling of stupidity and embarrassment, how could I not know Billy after teaching him for seven weeks. Then it dawns on me, there are at least 1000 or more students that I come across each week. To remember each one of their names is near enough impossible. I guess I have learnt that sometimes ‘excuse me young man’ works so much better, than trying to remember names, which if you do get wrong, they will let you know about it.

Another lesson so far this year has been remembering who is who within the multifaceted school environment. You know when you want to send a quick email to get letters sent out or get a quick print job done. Well there is someone for everyone one of those jobs and at times it is hard to remember who is who (not the Repro guy though, everybody knows him!). Which is why I have found it very important to keep communication going with colleagues within the department; within them they offer many years of experiences which I am finding very useful.

Well 2018 brings me so many opportunities and hurdles. Just because the teacher training year has finished, it does not mean that I have finished learning. I am finding I am constantly jumping hurdles. I have come to appreciate new starts involves me being proactive and it is indeed an on-going process. I want to by the end of the Academic Year to be fully qualified in teaching gymnastics. I also need to find a new job after Easter; reality has started to kick in as my maternity cover post is soon to come to an end… wish me luck! 

Surviving Ofsted

I have always wondered what it would be like to have Ofsted coming to inspect our school. The stigma that came with this has always unsettled me. That dreaded email came through, and I live to tell the story of how I survived my first ever Ofsted inspection…

I’ve heard there is a certain atmosphere to a school after finding out that Ofsted is due; especially if the last inspection did not go to plan. From observation, as our school received ‘the call’ most of my colleagues were focused and determined to ensure they were planned and prepared, so they can give the best account of themselves as teachers. For some, there was a hint of panic and uncertainty of how the couple of the inspection days will unfold.

My school life mantra...

As a first timer, I was both excited to showcase what I had learnt in the last year or so since I started this journey. At the same time, there was an air of panic and there were infinite what ifs that lingered in my mind. What if I have a poor lesson? What if I am not good enough? What if I let the school down? And the dreaded one, what if the students do not behave and it is an absolute shambles? All of these thoughts ran through my mind as I fell to sleep on the eve before the first day of inspection. Safe to say, those couple of days sleep were not the best.

I’d always thought I taught lessons which are Ofsted worthy all the time. On reflection, this has definitely not been the case. How naïve of me!  Some of my lessons are brilliant and I observe progression from all (ish) students, in others I am genuinely trying to stay sane and wondering how I had got myself in this situation. Stood in front 20 odd students, teaching... The fact of the matter is, it is somewhat impossible to have an Ofsted worthy lesson 100% of the time. There are many factors involved, some we control and can take ownership of. Others are completely out of our hands.

Although I was not personally inspected, the experience has been valuable and it has taught me to always be prepared as the old quote goes. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.