HElp! CAn't write TLR application letter. Shit, shit, shit.

[Spidder]

So.

A TLR post has come up in the school I teach in. HEad has put (vaguely) that it will have responsilbilty for KS4 (I teach in dept of 10). The application forms need to be in on Monday.

I've taught there for 10 years (minus 2 mat leaves) and was pipped at the post for KS3 TLr a couple of years ago because the other candidate had taught in another school, so had 'different ideas', although my ideas ended up being adopted by the department. I have tried to write my letter of application, but am struggling on a few points:

• I can't bullshit, because SMT know me
  *I was on mat leave last year, and am struggling to know what jargon to put in
  
• I know I can do the job, as I do a fair bit of it already, but I'm finding it difficult to move away from being me when I write about it
  *I know what the department are doing to improve results, so I can't claim that I will be the saviour who does x,y and z
  
  Should I write an honest, personal letter, or are there some tricks I can pull? Our head has a track record of employong young, thrusting peopel from elsewhere who ntalk the talk, but don't perform.
  
  Help!

[EvilTwins]

What's in the school RAP? What are the school's priorities and what are the dept priorities? What can you do to ensure that these priorities are addressed and what evidence is there of your skills? I would avoid bullshit and/or tricks, stick to showing what you are good at and why you would be a good leader on this. What dept is it? Who would you be working with? I don't think it's necessary to have "new" ideas.

[Spidder]

see I'm screwed already. is the rap like the school improvement plan? our aims are basically to get everyone 3 level. of progress or more and to stay out of special measures! it's English, btw.

[EvilTwins]

RAP is raising attainment plan, so yes, like the SIP. Does your dept have a SEF or DIP you can refer to? See what's on it and what refers specifically to KS4. Big push on literacy in the new OFSTED framework so maybe refer to that and have a think about how you could make literacy a whole-school priority across KS4 (eg reading in tutor time, having Word of the Week displayed in all classrooms (sorry, not sure what you already do)) to show that you're thinking strategically about the role of literacy in raising students' attainment across all subjects as well as raising attainment in English. Interesting that you're looking at 3 levels of progress- we're a similar school (I'm guessing- much smaller, with only 5 staff in English, but came out of SM two years ago and pushing for Good in our next inspection) and we're being told that 3 levels is not good enough, and we should go for 4 as standard. Could you suggest that as the team member responsible for KS4, you would target a group and push for at least 4 levels of progress? Other thoughts... Using student focus groups to assess their opinions of the current English curriculum - you could set that up as KS4 person (OFSTED big on student voice) and then use that feedback to start discussions with the team. Do you have a 6th form? If so, what's the KS5 uptake? Talk about liaising with the KS3 & KS5 people (if applicable) to ensure a consistent approach, and to attack whole school literacy.

[Nehru]

i have a tlr and am UPS

I ihave no idea what a rap is

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

What will you do to ensure progress now we have Linear GCSE and if Govey gets his way re 100% end loaded GCSEs?
How to ensure transition from KS3 to 4 and (if relevant) from 4 to 5?
What have you done for the school thus far that means they should trust you to be able to do this?
Interventions for D/C borderline pupils?
Pushing the number of A and A* pupils?
Extra curricular - theatre trips etc?

[TheFallenMadonna]

A departmental TLR, or whole school?

[Spidder]

just departmental. our hod assumed head wound ask him tif he thought there was anyone suitable within the dept, but he just went and advertised. head always thinks grass is greener.

thanks for your help people, going to redrsft this afternoon ready for tomorrow's deadline.