School Direct
First Teaching Post
September 2016
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Three Stages
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Completion of application form
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Letter of application
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Interview
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Application Form
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Usually standard but very important
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Spellcheck but be wary, eg ‘from’ ‘form’ and
American spellings
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BE HONEST, they WILL check qualifications
Highlight any gaps in employment
If you’ve worked in a different sector, think
about transferrable skills
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Application Form
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References
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Current employer
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Not relatives
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Appropriate
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Which School?
Be selective
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Do your homework
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Look at what the school needs
Read up online
Make sure it’s the kind of school for you
Be prepared by making an immediate impact
Visit the school before handing in your application to a
get a real feel for the school
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Letter of Application
Your letter of application is the heart of your
application for work as a newly qualified teacher
and should be re-written for each role, this is
what will get you shortlisted. This is your
opportunity to provide evidence of how you
match the needs of the specific teaching job you
are applying for, and earn yourself an invitation to
the next stage, which is likely to be an interview
held at the school.
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READ the specification, this
leads to the selection criteria,
some essential, others
desirable
https://wensley-fold-ce-primary-academy.secureprimarysite.net/nqt-person-specification/
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Display your enthusiasm, but avoid general
statements and clichés
Some top tips
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Do not exceed two sides of A4, unless otherwise instructed. It
should not be a list!
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Tailor your statement for each new application according to the
nature of the school or LA and the advertised role
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Consider using the government’s Teachers’ Standards to
structure your statement, or follow the structure of the person
specification
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For a pool application, make sure you give a good overview of
your skills and experience
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It is essential that you give specific examples of what you have
done to back up your claims
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What to cover in the letter
Why you are applying for the role:
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Refer to any knowledge you have of the LA
or the school, including any visits to the
school and what you have learnt from them
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Mention any special circumstances, for
example, your religious faith, which you
think are relevant
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SPELL CHECK & PROOF READ
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What to cover in the letter
Details about your course:
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Give an overview of your training course,
including the age range and subjects covered,
and any special features
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If you are a PGCE student, mention your first
degree, your dissertation (if appropriate), any
classroom-based research projects and relevant
modules studied. Also mention if you have
studied any masters modules
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SPELL CHECK & PROOF READ
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What to cover in the letter
Your teaching experience:
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What year groups you have taught
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SPELL CHECK & PROOF READ
What subjects you have covered
Any use of assessment strategies or special
features of the practices, for example, multiethnic, team teaching
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What to cover in the letter
Your classroom management strategies:
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Give examples of how you planned and
delivered lessons and monitored and evaluated
learning outcomes, including differentiation
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Explain how you have managed classrooms and
behaviour
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Detail your experience of working with
assistants or parents in your class
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SPELL CHECK & PROOF READ
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What to cover in the letter
Your visions and beliefs about primary/secondary
education:
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What are your beliefs about learning and your
visions for the future? You could touch on areas
such as learning and teaching styles and
strategies
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Reflect on key policies relevant to the age
range you want to teach
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SPELL CHECK & PROOF READ
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What to cover in the letter
Other related experience:
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This can include information about any
previous work experience
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Include training activities you have carried
out and ways in which your subject
knowledge has been developed
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SPELL CHECK & PROOF READ
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What to cover in the letter
Other related skills and interests:
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Give details of any particular competencies,
experiences or leisure interests which will help
the school to know more about you as a person
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Any involvement in working with children
(running clubs, youth work and summer
camps) is particularly useful to note
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What will you bring that is extra?
SPELL CHECK & PROOF READ
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What to cover in the letter
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BE HONEST, don’t say you do extra things but
then can’t give examples, never tell a lie – you
could be sacked!
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Be concise, do not waste time and space
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SPELL CHECK & PROOF READ
Aim to end on a positive note. A conclusion
which displays your enthusiasm in relation to
the specific application and teaching in general
will enhance your application
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MAKE SURE YOU
KEEP A COPY!!
TES Interview Tips
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Preparation
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Know the job description inside out
Research the school
Visit the school
Up to date with current issues – TES, Twitter
Practice interviews
Re-read your application, plan your journey
and get a good night’s sleep
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First Impressions
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90% of all interviews are decided in the first 2 minutes!
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Other staff are often canvassed so watch out for
‘informal chats’ in the staff room
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Social media
Look the part
Articulate yourself well
Be polite and friendly to all the school staff throughout
the day
Walks by children are common, so enjoy!
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Teaching a Lesson
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Don’t be afraid to ask for help
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Stick to your normal style of teaching
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Be aware of how to make your lesson
outstanding
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The Interview
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Not designed to trip you up but to highlight
your skills, achievements etc
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Two way process
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Who will fit best with the existing staff and
contribute the best
The purpose is for the school to find out if you
meet the criteria
Top 100 things not to say at an interview
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What not to do: the common mistakes
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Don’t be unprepared for your interview
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Don’t wear novelty clothes – dress appropriately
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Don’t be negative – you may already have had some negative experiences, but don’t
focus on them
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Focus on the positive ones, or talk about what you have learned from the negative
ones
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Don’t try to be a comedian – many have tried and many have failed. By all means,
don’t be serious the whole time, but you’re not starring in Mock the Week
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Don’t make things up – you are likely to be asked to give practical examples of what
you have stated on your application form
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Don’t fall at the finish – if all of your questions have already been answered during
the interview, take the opportunity to stress how interested you are in the position
rather than say you don’t have any questions.
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Make sure you have thoroughly researched the school and that you understand the
job specification
Don’t talk too much – make sure you listen to the questions and answer them
concisely
Be prepared – questions you could be asked
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Why did you apply for the position?
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What would you do to develop positive
relationships with pupils?
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Describe your classroom after two months
of starting your new job?
Describe a lesson that went well for you?
Describe a lesson that did not go well for
you and what you did about it, or would do
about in the future?
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Finally!
Once you have got the job, take
every opportunity you can to spend
time in the school before you start
officially. That way, you will feel part
of the team before the hard work
really begins.
Hugh Jackman's Teacher Interview
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