any tips for NQT interview?

[blackcoffee]

is for R -have experience in N and Y1 but no direct teaching in R -however I really want to work in EYFS and I really really want a job at this school! anyone give me pointers for tricky questions they might ask (panel) or what they would be looking for specifically in my sample lesson?

[claresf]

I would go on the TES website and post this on the student teacher forum or the job one. It has loads of job posts on there that could help.

[mrz]

When I observe interview lessons I am mainly looking at how the candidate interacts and engages the children. Is the activity appropriate for the children how does the candidate cope with children they don't know, use of resources, interaction with other adults.

Questions - how did you think the activity go, how would you change adapt it, what would you see as the next step, how would you see yourself working in the school...

[blackcoffee]

thanks a lot! mrz that helps make it sound much less daunting.

[mrz]

I obviously don't have to tell you but look carefully at the job spec and find out as much as you can about the school and use that when planning your activity. good luck

[juniper904]

I would recommend reading/ posting in these forums:

community.tes.co.uk/forums/30.aspx

community.tes.co.uk/forums/12.aspx

community.tes.co.uk/forums/77.aspx

Theo Griff, in particular, is very good and very helpful.

[juniper904]

and make sure you write a covering letter to the school! No-one ever told me that :(

[lovingthecoast]

I agree with mrz. There is always something we could all do better so if you are asked to teach a lesson, even if it goes really well, make sure you say something like, 'I was generally pleased and felt I met the objective (if you did) but next time I'd change/adapt ...' This shows self-evaluation and critical analysis both are good practice.

If you have nursery experience, don't worry too much about not having R experience. Both are FS so big up your N exp over your Y1 experience. You can also use both of those to show clear understanding of where they're coming from on entry to R and what's expected of them when they enter Y1.

Have you read the school's last ofsted? Or any development plan? Where do they need to improve? What areas are they targetting or working on? It could be RE or PSHCE or making maths more practical in the FS or something. Have a read and see if you can bring anything to the table that matches their requirements or areas for development as this might just give you the edge.

Good luck and make sure you look like you're enjoying any interaction you get with the children.

[lovingthecoast]

I should have added to that first paragraph that I once gave a lesson at interview which flopped spectacularly. (I completely misunderstood the learning objective) But I admitted it and evaluated it well and still got the job.

[blackcoffee]

thanks, this is really helpful. I plan to do as much research about the school as I can. Would it be usual to ask the current R teacher some qs? It would be great to have a class list, for example, as I like to get names very quickly.
Am a fairly evaluative teacher but must remember to do this on the day as I'll be super nervous.
juniper what did you mean about covering letter?

[blackcoffee]

loving I admire your savoir faire

[lovingthecoast]

Well, yes, you've got to give them what they want. I'm not suggesting you lie about what you can offer, just make it clear you can give them what they need. Don't say, I noticed from your last ofsted ... otherwise you'll get lots of cat bum faces. You need to make it sound almost as if it's a coincidence that you have just the right skills.

I'd see nothing wrong with speaking to the current R teacher but don't ask for a class list at interview. Firstly, they may see it as you getting ahead of yourself and assuming the job is yours and secondly, as an nqt, one of the things they'll be checking is that you understand the nature of confidentiality.

Another couple of points;
1)Show that you know how to interact with parents
2)Make it very clear that you understand the hugely important role that TAs play. In Reception you will almost certainly have someone else with you f/t. They may even be on the panel. Mention something along the lines of understanding the partnership and how it's crucial to work together and keep her in the loop and ideally how the children should progress through the year assuming they had 2 teachers rather than a teacher and a TA as from their POV, you are the same. Also be able to show that you can include any other adults in your planning.

Oh and very importantly-(Im sure you do this but important to make sure they know you do it) talk about the importance of formative planning and of assessment being used to inform planning. They may even ask you to provide an example of when you have used assessment to inform your planning. Have one to hand.

Other Qs for a FS post may be,
1)How would you settle a child who constantly cries?
2)How does your planning reflect the huge difference between a Sept baby and an Aug one?
3)Qs on Bto5 and ECM stuff.

It's a long time since I have taught FS though although I also sat on an interview panel for a nursery teacher but do have a good look at the TES website for other ideas.
Good luck

[blackcoffee]

thanks so much that is a big help
Have been on tes and there are loads of sample interview questions. Am going to sit down next weekend and go through the lot in detail.
Class list - I was just worried about knowing the names a little when teaching, it seems to me a vital matter in FS. I've always taken away a class list before starting placements just to get my head round it.
One last thing -it's a half hour lesson. Not sure how long R are normally on carpet? It's a late session, too, so no natural lead in to a follow on activity. I was thinking to keep them all on carpet but have a hands on activity going on for the majority of the time, would that seem OK?

[mrz]

10-15 mins on the carpet if just sitting

[mrz]

by that I mean unless you are breaking the time with movement

[blackcoffee]

ah, OK, I see
am thinking 10 mins input, send them off with task for 10 and back on carpet to discuss ... is hard without knowing the room layout/facilities!
really appreciate all the feedback on this thread, thanks everyone

[dajen]

Although not a good idea to ask for a class list I have often had candidates who are to teach a sample lesson ask the school office if there are any children with special needs in the class so they had a rough idea what they are going into and can plan accordingly.

[blackcoffee]

great idea - is fairly high EAL and SEN school so that would be v useful. I'm all confirmed and working hard on my plan - will let you know how it goes next week! thanks everyone

[blackcoffee]

ready as I'll ever be
very very nervous - wish me lots of luck,
I think I'll need it!

[mrz]

good luck

[candr]

You may be interviewed by the class or school council so think what they might ask you - 'what fun things will you do in your classroom?'.
Look at the school website and try to relate something you say to what the class / school has done on their. I found the PTA had done a plane jump so related my lesson to that - really impressed the interviewers. Good luck

[blackcoffee]

Well the interview wasn't too bad but I made a bit of a pig's ear of the lesson. So, although candidates aren't going to be notified til tomorrow I think I've blown this one. I think I almost over prepared, and hopefully will be a bit more relaxed for the next one.
As for school website, it has been down for about 10 days. No one got back to my email either! I was expecting a bit more of a grilling to be honest. Nice school though. Liked the HT. Didn't realise how stressed I was until now. My respect for teachers is sky high since doing this course!

[candr]

Let us know when you hear. They expect you to be nervous and being over prepared is better than the other way round so that would be a plus rather than a minus points wise. Try to chill and not disect your day too much

[juniper904]

Have you applied to pools?

Can be much easier! I had one interview and that was it. Got phone calls from heads offering me jobs!

A bit too doss, really

[blackcoffee]

I didn't get it. Lots of helpful feedback from the interview, some of it had me kicking myself for not saying stuff that was obvious other bits had me a bit as I had definitely mentioned! No mention at all of the teaching, it was as if it hadn't happened! I wondered whether to ask but I kind of know what I'd do differently there.
As for pool interviews, my LEA doesn't run a pool and I have to say local because my own dc are in local school and I am sole carer etc.
Thanks for all the advice! am definitely in a more informed position for next time.
Was surprised that teaching seemed relatively less important than interview though, I'd expected the opposite, almost - is this common?

[blackcoffee]

stay local, even