Failure and me are best friends

[Jellypudmum]

I've tried and failed so many times to find a job.
I'm an ex deputy head who took a year out due to family problems but have been teaching for 20 years.
Took a maternity leave cover and it went well.
Have had several interviews but each time it's the 20-30 minute teaching task that has ket me down ( receive great feedback r,e interview, but there's always someone who has a better teaching task than me).
I am so, so down about this as I'm now unemployed again!!
Please, please can anyone offer advice on what I can do for literacy based teaching activities that will help me? The constant rejections are taking every last bit if confidence I ever had!

[fruitpastille]

Could they actually be employing someone cheaper? Or someone who they think will have less preconceived ideas? It might not be the teaching you do. Depressing either way though.

[Jellypudmum]

Have registered with a supply agency as a fall back. The feedback from the last two said I was a close second but the person who got it on each occasion displayed exceptional teaching.
The last one ( yesterday) was at a school where I had done supply and they asked me to apply and even dissuaded me from attending another interview). They had done an obs previously (2weeks ago)where my feedback couldn't identify any areas for improvement?
I can only assume that I can't show what they want in 25 mins. Hiw do people do it? What do they do?

[Jellypudmum]

Bump. Any help please.

[Jellypudmum]

Just had another rejection; only feedback I get is that I'm good but there's always I e person better. What am I doing wrong,0?!!!

[longtallsally2]

Yy to supply, yy to observing other teachers, and picking their brains but most of all . . . keep going! You are getting interviews, you are getting close. Your time will come. Your job is out there waiting for you.

Best of luck

[Jellypudmum]

Thanks Sally. Registered with supply agency today! Got first supply job ( never done supply before in 20years of teaching) a week tomorrow.
Long story but I was a deputy head previously but left after 11 years due to new head bullying and telling me I was inadequate. My confidence has never truly come back. I got my previous jobs in a time when 25 min interview obs were unheard of?
I can't seem to find any examples to try out; think if I had a vague idea of what to do then make it my own it would help me overcome so e of my fears???

[Jellypudmum]

Bump?

[Effic]

Hi
Without seeing you teach. It's very hard to know how to help especially if you are getting good feedback at other times. Realistically, the likely hood is that they are employing someone cheaper .... sorry to be harsh but I presume you are probably a ups 3 teacher and most 'normal' teaching posts will go to nqts or these with one or two years.
That's not very helpful I know but ......
In your shoes I would:
Firstly, if you don't get the job ask who did. You must meet them on the interview day so if at least you will know if it was the nqt. It does annoy me when other headteachers short list people they have no intention of hiring or as a safety net in case the nqts are all poor so look at who else is on the short list and assess you chances....you know the bit in the interview when they say 'do you have any questions ?' Well ask them why if they short listed you due to your leadership experience and then use that as an opportunity to blow them away with the added extras they pull get from having you. If you look at it in a different way, they are getting a L scale for a teachers wage!
Secondly, as things went wrong in the past - do you know what your reference says? If not, ask for it you have every right to see it. Find out if it's that.
Thirdly, next time however disappointed you may be if you don't get it, prepare a list of questions to ask when you get that call and get some proper feedback from the lesson obs not general guff.
Generally, in 25 mins the thing people get wrong is to try to cram an hours worth of teaching into 25 mins so keep it simple. And don't do similes and metaphors!! Everyone does that! Go for sentence construction level work - easier to show progress!
Good luck!

[Effic]

Grr... Lots of typos! Sorry :( Tired!

[Jellypudmum]

Thanks Effic; that's really helpful advice! Xxxx