Two days ago I went through an agency to an interview at an independent school. The agency told me nothing about the post apart from age groups, subjects and where the school is.
I turned up at the interview, was told it was a school for Brethren children and female teachers can't wear trousers, makeup or jewellery. (I had a skirt on but was wearing makeup)
The head told me a bit about the school and we spoke for a little while before she showed me round the school. I was being polite, asking questions, complimenting the school etc.
Turns out the teacher who was leaving was a friend of mine from my PGCE so we had a chat about the school. At break I sat in the staffroom and talked to some of the teachers. After lunch, I went into the class where the teacher (my friend) was doing speaking assessments so I was asked to sit in with the rest of the class while they prepared for their speaking test. Some of the girls asked for help with their French speaking test, I helped as appropriate and for one thing I said, "shall we ask your teacher to make sure it's the right thing". Another pupil asked if I was fluent in French. I said no.
My degree is in German but I have experience teaching to GCSE. I have had feedback during my teaching practice that my French is good, a lot better than they were expecting and I was doing well.
After this class I went back to the headteacher's office to collect my things. She asked if I wanted to stay for a bit longer to teach a class (I was told not to prepare a lesson) so I said I'd rather come another time but I just need to know in advance so I can make arrangements for childcare. She just sat at her desk and said 'ok bye', didn't shake my hand or anything.
I left and an hour later I had a phone call from the agency to say, sorry they didn't want you because your French isn't good enough.
Normally, that wouldn't bother me. I've had similar feedback at an interview where I had a conversation with a native French speaker. This time, I didn't teach, I didn't speak to anybody in French so I can't understand how they can reject me and claim that was the reason when I didn't even teach!
They obviously haven't judged me based on my ability to do the job because I didn't show them! I'm so mad!
The whole thing was a farce, I was basically brought in as a babysitter while they did their speaking exams and I feel like I want to bring up my feelings with the headteacher but I don't know what I should do.
I feel like I've been treated wrongly and quite possibly (indirectly) discriminated against. (I told her I had children and needed to sort childcare, I'm out of practice with my French because I haven't been working because I have a 5 month old child)
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discrimination at job interview?
8 replies
eholness1234 · 04/12/2014 14:45
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