Whichever route you took into teaching the time will arrive when you have to start applying for jobs. This can start anytime from January onwards so you will need to be thinking about this and be working on your CV and letter of application from about this time.
A quick note here about letters of application – at ECT level a high proportion of your letter can be generic; in other words all the same whatever the school. I say this as much of your content will be your thoughts and basic philosophy of teaching, experiences on teaching practice, personal interests and what qualities you can bring and offer to the school. However somewhere in your letter there should be something about the school that you have researched and can comment on… it should be low level and quite general . I will be writing more about letters of application and CV’s in another article.
Should you visit the school? – in a word YES if you can. I realise that ECT’s make multiple applications and so this is not always possible. But if you have a few schools that you really would like to teach at then, if possible, ask about a visit. Some schools will have organised mass viewings ( a bit like open house days!) and so you will end up walking around with about 7 others and some will invite you on your own.
Again the times of visits can change – but usually these are held after school to avoid disruption to the children and the staff. However if you have a visit on your own then this may be during the day.
These 2 types of scenario are vastly different and need different approaches:
- If you are in a group – this is done by the school to accommodate the number of visit requests…so applicants are lumped together in groups and give a “tour of the cages.” It may be the HT that conducts the visit but equally it can be the DH or a member of the leadership team. In this scenario there is no need to try and create an impression – the HT or whoever is not interested! It seems harsh but they are not listening! As you go around either make quick notes or mentally note what you see that would be useful to speak about at interview. Ask any questions you wish but make them relevant to what you need to know and not just for the sake of it. No real judgements are being made on this type of visit unless of course you mess it up!
- If you visit on your own – this will usually be during the day (but not always) and so will be either with the HT or DH. For this type of visit your interview has actually started! Why do I say this? This is a 1 to 1 situation and so the HT / DH will be assessing you as you look around the school. Be friendly and outgoing and comment favourably when you see things you like. Ask questions about the vacant post and also the sort of support you would receive. Be prepared for the HT / DH to ask you about your course / teaching practices and also your own interests. Its a general chat but your answers are already giving an impression of who you are. These sort of visits often end in a final chat and you will be asked if you have any questions….so either have some prepared ones (from your school research) or have some from your tour around.
So this is the process that you should have followed to this point:
- From January / February begin writing personal CV and letter of application
- You are looking for vacant posts in your chosen area – although don’t be too restrictive on where you wish to teach.
- Decide on what type of school you wish to work in….village, town, inner city are all different.
- Consider what size school you would like. Under 60 is very small – under 120 is small – around 250 is average – over 350 large – over 500 Very large.
- You are researching schools online that look and sound interesting. – School websites and OFSTED reports are good places to look.
- You have called or emailed any schools you wish to visit before you apply.
- You make multiple applications to schools
- Interviews
Pool applications:
This makes it sound like you’re going to work in a leisure centre!
Some local authorities collect all their NQT vacancies in one pot which is the L.A pool. There are 2 ways that this can operate. You, as an NQT apply to the pool and will be interviewed for the pool usually by a mixture of L.A advisers and current HT’s. If successful then schools in that L.A can see who has applied and select teachers for further and usually more informal interviews. The other way is that you apply for the pool and you are matched by the L.A to schools that they deem would be suitable.
Ring Fencing:
Local Authority ring fenced teaching jobs: You may still come across this but I think in the current teacher shortage it may not still apply. Basically an authority says that you cannot apply for a permanent teaching post in that authority until you have completed 1 years teaching in the area. This can be either in 3 termly positions or 1 year temporary contract. Once completed teachers can then apply for permanent posts!
Starting your Teaching career in a new area:
The most important thing after you qualify as a teacher is to get a permanent job. However secure it might seem to teach in your home town you can give yourself problems if you limit your teaching search too much. If you really restrict things you may find that you start the new teaching year without a job and teaching on supply – all of which gives problems for your NQT year assessments!
It really does depend on the type of person that you are. You have finished your University education and qualified as a teacher which is now your chosen profession – is it really such a good idea to go back home to live?
If you are a confident and outgoing person then extend your job searches to places that you would like to both live and teach but do be aware that “popular” areas of the country to live are popular for a reason and so interview numbers for teaching jobs may be extra high! I once had a mainscale job interview in Harrogate N. Yorks. There were 400 applicants and 6 interviewed (inc me!) – and no I didn’t get the job!
The other disadvantage with popular areas are the costs of housing…and bear in mind we, as teachers, are not the best paid profession!
New areas can be a daunting prospect but as in any job move there are many ways in which you can get to know the area and get involved in activities and making friends. Depending on the size of your school there may also be other teachers in the same position as you.
If you are not so confident then don’t just look at your home town but extend things out a little. This gives you the support of home but also the first steps to independence.
How far should I travel to School?
It really depends on your situation, whether you are married, have a family etc all these things need to be taken into account. I would say that up to an hours travel each way would be your maximum – in other words 40 – 50 miles each way. Over this it becomes excessive. Now you may think that 40-50 is excessive but I have done this in 2 schools because of family considerations – it is a long way but you do get used to it. For 1 school I travelled by car and in the other I went by train. What you do have to consider is the added time to your day. Bear in mind that you will be expected to contribute to school after the day has finished. This may be in staff related issues or in after school clubs. If you also plan to do your marking after school and before you go home (as I recommend) then do calculate the extra travelling time you may have. Not ideal but don’t get in the situation of NO JOB just because of the distance – it’s do’able!
So here we are at this time of the year and you should be starting to put all these things together – start early and be ahead of the game. Put in your research and get out there to view some schools if possible.
In my next NQT article we will look at how to prepare for your interview.
Primary Practice would like to invite you to join our NQT and trainee teacher Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1347401775298840/?ref=bookmarks
Charles