It is getting to THAT time of year when the job sheets get busier

and you might be thinking of putting that application in. 

You might be fancying a change from your current school,

You might be in a school on supply and wish to apply for a long term/ permanent position there,

You might be completing your course and looking for your first teaching post. 

We are here to support you in finding the right school for you and I know (having had many interviews in schools) that there are certain golden nuggets of advice which give you the best chance as possible of securing your dream job. 

1. Do your research.

Every school is different and you won’t suit every school and neither will every school fit you.

If you see a post advertised you like, look into the school by looking at the website, reading the Ofsted, seeing if they have a presence on social media and I would highly recommend arranging a visit there when the children are in school. This way, you get a genuine feel for the school. 

2. Personalise your application.

Once you decide to apply, look closely at the job description and person specification to see what specific skills/ qualities they are looking for and tailor your application accordingly. Put evidence of what you have done to meet the specific elements they need, eg:

Ability to work in a team – I have been in a foootball team for years and am known for my ability to unite the team and give constructive feedback.

Keep your personal statement/ letter of application succint and specific. If you don’t sell yourself in this, you will not stand out amongst the numerous other applications. You have a real opportunity to show them yourself and passions in your letter. 

3. Proof read your application thoroughly.

For a job in a school, you will need to prove that you are thorough in checking spelling and grammar. Even if your spelling isn’t your strongest point, ask someone else to check it as it is vital there aren’t basic errors. Some vacancies have so many applications, the first selection criteria may be to discard any forms with these errors in them.

4. Check your dates and work history.

You will be asked for education and career history in chronological order and we ask for the dates to be the actual day, month and year. Be wary of any gaps in work history or education as this may be questioned at some point in the whole process. 

5. If you are invited to interview…

WELL DONE! It is a great sign if you have been shortlisted and means that they would like to hear more and meet you.

On a practical level,

– Confirm your attendance and intention to attend.

-Make sure you know the route and parking nearby.

-If there is an interview task, fully prepare and if you need resources, either ask the school if they can provide these (eg: a laptop) or if you are taking your own items in. We recommend that you take a print out of any presentation or lesson content, in case the technology lets you down!

-If you are required to teach/ take a small group, make sure you know how many children and their ages/ abilities/ any SEND needs, so you can plan effectively.

6. On the day of the interview…Be you!

Dress smartly but in something you are comfortable in. If you feel ‘out of sorts’ in what you are wearing, you won’t relax and ooze confidence.

Arrive in plenty of time- they will never mind you being early.

It is hard to be completely yourself and relaxed but they have invited you to get to know if you are the right fit. So it is important to be yourself.

Even if the nerves are there, chat with other candidates and other members of staff you encounter. You may be sat next to someone in the staffroom who is on the interview panel and will remember how friendly you were. Sometimes the first person you see will be the office manager and they can be very good judges of character!

If is also really important that you demonstrate effective rapport with the children, as these are the most important element.

Take a bottle of water! In my experience, if you get nervous and dry mouthed, this could throw you, so keep the water handy.

Above all else, SMILE!

7. During the interview…

-Prepare for this with the standard interview questions (see the button below).

Make sure you make room for stating what your values/ ethos are, as these are super important.

When outlining your behaviour management strategies, be honest but also be aware of the school’s behaviour policy so that your approaches are in line with the school’s.

Make them aware of the extra things you could bring to the team.

For example:

• Leading an art club

• Coaching sports teams

• Any musical skills?

If you are outlining something you have done in school to expand on an answer, make sure you talk about the IMPACT of what you did. You need to say what the children gained from your actions/ interventions.

8. Any other questions?

The last question at interview is almost always;

Do you have any questions for us?

It’s a tricky one, but better to ask something. You could ask questions around progression and professional development, school culture and where the school sees you in five years’ time.

If it isn’t meant to be…

And finally, if you know you have done your best and you are unsuccessful, the best way to approach it is that the school or this job wasn’t the right place for you. There will be another job out there that has your name on it. 

Blog written by Jo Gotheridge (12/3/26)