Aibu to ask for help with teacher image

My Head teacher once mistook me for a Year 6 pupil from behind as I had a similar colour hair and they did not wear school uniform at that time. Admittedly the Year 6 pupil was probably slightly taller than me.

Key stage 2 children are still very young to them you will look like an adult.

This is so true. I was in a school assembly a couple of weeks ago and it was the birthdays of two members of staff and the children were surprised they were different ages. One was in her early twenties and the other in his late fifties.

I had this - on my first day of teaching I was told off for being in a staff area.

A blazer is good but anything too structured will be impractical. Whistles and Boden do nice petite ponte blazers which are easy to move around in and ok for writing on the board.

Agree with putting hair up. Simple stud earrings combined with this can help. I have some pearl studs, not particularly fashionable at the moment I think but they always helped me look a bit older.

I've never been keen on the 'don't smile until Christmas/Easter' mantra as my students have generally responded well to a warm and nurturing presence. But consistently high expectations, e.g. noticing and stopping/responding when a student talks when you are talking, gives authority as well as getting the best out of students.

I have had colleagues with noticeably amazing posture which I think can help too - I've never managed to get into that good habit myself!

At least you’re a primary teacher and won’t be mistaken for a pupil!

That has happened to my daughter. It also happened to another young teacher I know who was challenged by a colleague asking what she was doing in the staff room!

Key stage 2 children are still very young to them you will look like an adult. Just behave like one, use your experience and training stand up straight and look confident. I think clothes are less important as long as you feel confident so wear what makes you feel good. As long as it's not something obviously childish.
Please don't go in hard and over strict to appear older and more confident.I think that is a sign of weakness and not good for the children or you, Good teachers don't behave like that (a student teacher lacking in confidence has almost destroyed my grandchild's love of learning and school and almost turned them into a school refuser by using that tactic).
Be confident enough to be kind, listen to the children, don't make assumptions about them and believe in yourself and your ability. Good luck

I was a lecturer at 21, and desperate to prove I was worthy and not too young. I cultivated a wardrobe that looked really good and made me look older. Black trousers and blouses that I could intermix. A couple of plain jumpers for winter. I’ve just looked on Shein (as you said you were on a budget) and there’s loads of work appropriate stuff there, all of it fairly reasonable prices. Also stick to plain jewellery, simple studs or small gold hoops, a ring maybe.
I also had a policy of absolutely limited make up, no foundation or blush (it can and will destroy young skin), a touch of brown mascara and some brown/beige eyeshadow, slick on a tinted chapstick and away you go. Less is more.
It worked and I worked there for over 10 years before I left to pursue my career today, and I only once had a comment (from a 58 year old student) about me being too young.
Go and good luck in your interview!!

My dd (22) has a public facing formal job and looks very young. She wears her hair in a bun every day to look older and she has the blazer from next that was linked earlier.

I'm also a pear-shaped teacher but have been in the game rather longer than you (turned 40 this year, so it will be 18 years this year). I often wear leggings and tunic type things that cover my hips and rear. OR longer dresses. Or just trousers (could be tailored from Dorothy Perkins or Gap, or M&S jeggings) with a nice top and a jacket.
Presence IMO comes not just from appearance but also presence, which develops with experience but also from how to command your voice and body. I had vocal training for 4 years, which helps enormously in terms of enabling you to project your voice without it sounding reedy and desperate (because you use your diaphragm and not your throat). So once your session with this coach is over, I would recommend singing lessons for a few years to help you develop a strong diaphragm (plus singing is good for wellbeing anyway!).

I was a young looking teacher. I always wear a blazer, looks grown up and crucially has pockets. I know primary can be more messy than secondary but you can take the blazer off. I have no idea where to get one as all my clothes come from charity shops but I'm sure you'll find something.

I am blonde too, and when I was your age my hair was also long too. With big boobs!

To compensate for the "blonde bimbo" first impressions that was almost an automatic assumption in the late 90s/early noughties, I made sure I wore my glasses to every single interview (which were a mild prescription that I only needed for screen use back then!) I was successful at every interview.

Who knows if it was a factor but it certainly made me feel confident that they were less likely to judge me negatively on a stereotype of my appearance

Lots of good advice here. This thread has made me smile, remembering my first day in my first job, when one of the lunchtime supervisors found me in the classroom at lunchtime and tried to send me out to play - I was teaching Y5 children!

If you find out let me know! I have the same issue. Nothing worse than being mistaken for a new girl when walking into a year 7 (yes year 7) class!

Have since left teaching, so I never managed to crack this one!

I had a parent make a complaint about me doing that. It was the only way I could see her child properly if I was reading or doing the register. I eventually got varifocals but apparently the child found it scary 🤓

Watch amy cuddy ted talk on presence. brilliant.

Channel Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Wear a blazer.

It's all about confidence op. Kids are notoriously bad at gauging age. Be the boss, and talk to them as if you are their Mum.

I laugh at the suggestion of wearing a wedding band, 40 years ago lots of women would take off engagement or wedding rings for job interviews.

Don’t put your hair in a plait, that is very schoolgirl! Put it up if you can do a neat bun or French pleat.
Choose more formal clothes, shoes rather than trainers, a top in a neutral colour, with a jacket.

I'm 5ft 2, and because of my height, people always think I'm younger than my years! Utter pain in my early 20's as I was always the one who got stopped for ID! I'm 51 now, and still don't look my age, so don't despair, as you age, you'll be grateful that you look younger!!

I work in a First school (Foundation - Year 4) in a non-teaching role. Most teaching staff stick to midi dresses, flat shoes or neutral coloured trousers with a more colourful blouse/shirt. Jewellery and makeup is kept at the minimum and discreet. Being in a school, work wear has to be practical and comfortable.

These are kids. You will look old to them. Not ancient but old.

There are loads of good petite style accounts on Instagram for inspiration. As a teacher, I would tend towards a more timeless/minimalist style which balances practicality and comfort while not being too youthful (in a good way!)

I’ve got the absolute opposite proportions, but a quick trawl for examples has produced:

@katiegibbons1
@missionstyle_
@Vanessaa.giuliani
@sonam.naylor

(sorry about the mumsnet account tags, can’t remove them)

Hair I agree with whoever suggested a more ‘severe’ style - hair off face, middle parting, pulled back ponytail, chignon or similar - perhaps with again quite minimalist makeup and maybe a stronger lipstick if that’s something you would be comfortable with.

I honestly think in primary it's not a biggy because younger kids have less of a concept of age. I was in the same boat of looking younger than I do, but I taught secondary. I got a lot of "Miss, I'm not being funny but you look about 14" and being mistaken for a sixth former by kids and staff. It happened less if I wore a blazer, maxi dresses, heeled boots (carefully making sure I didn't wear a blazer the same colour as uniforms), but primary teachers often don't dress that formally and it might even be impractical for the job.

I am SLT in a school. Tbh they will be able to see from your CV that you have been teaching for a few years and are not 19! Dress like a grownup (blazer is a good idea, sensible heels for KS2) and deliver a great lesson and they won’t care.

FWIW my work wardrobe is a rotation of blazers I wear over seasalt style dresses with loafers. There’s loads of Seasalt on Vinted, they suit pear shape.