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Original poster

I have a teaching interview on Wednesday but…

80 replies

BlueLines81 · 28/11/2021 21:12

I’m not a teacher!! It’s for a 6th form, teaching a levels. I have a first class degree in the subject and a bit of private tutoring experience, but I have never taught a class, or had to do a proper lesson plan or anything.

I have to give a 45 minute lesson to a class, as well as all the usual interview stuff.

I know it’s a very long shot that I’ll get the job, but I am hoping not to make a complete idiot of myself if possible. Any advice from teachers appreciated 😬

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 28/11/2021 21:16

Make sure you know the exam specification inside out
Understand the mark scheme; how marks are awarded for essays and how the exam is structured
Know any up to date issues for the subject you want to teach
There will be a safeguarding question.
Have an answer for Why you want to teach when you’re not a teacher

Velvetmousse · 28/11/2021 21:18

Have they said in the advert that they accept non qualified teachers? If not and it’s a state school it’s unlikely you’ll get the position.

Myusername2015 · 28/11/2021 21:19

With the lesson you need to show the students have made progress in the 45 minutes; I would write a lesson plan for it: aim to limit teacher talk and encourage students to answer questions/group work. Make sure the tasks aren’t too long or you run the risk of off task students. Make it engaging and very closely linked to the specification. I’ve been teaching for 15 years mainly at A level so do shout if you have any questions. Good luck!

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Original poster
BlueLines81 · 28/11/2021 21:26

Thank you all, very helpful so far 😊. I have a lot to do over the next couple of days!

Yes they know I’m not qualified, I emailed the head of 6th form to explain this before I applied and he said to apply anyway. I was surprised to get an interview but here I am.

OP posts:
MorbidMuch · 28/11/2021 21:32

Good luck! Here's an example lesson structure in case it is of help.

  1. Recall quiz of key vocabulary that they will need for the lesson (will give you insight into how much prior knowledge they have)
  1. Teach them something on the topic, with examples/illustrations/video clips to support.
  1. Get them to do something with this knowledge alongside you. Model how to weave it into a response. Show them how / build up a class response together. Class discussion and note-taking
  1. At least 10 mins solid independent silent writing time using models and key vocabulary
  1. Self or peer assess according to whatever the focus is.
tiredanddangerous · 28/11/2021 21:50

I am very surprised and slightly horrified that you got an interview. I would not want my dcs to be taught by an unqualified teacher at A-level.

Workyticket · 28/11/2021 21:52

What's your subject and the lesson topic?

Russell19 · 28/11/2021 21:53

Teachers and unions don't think too highly of this. It undermines the profession and tbh it takes the piss out of you paying you a shockingly low wage for a difficult job. You won't be on the main pay scale and won't progress the same as qualified teachers. Best of luck to you though if it's what you want.

Workyticket · 28/11/2021 21:57

You can do your teaching qualification on the job at our place.

Plenty do - it's the only way to get staff in in some subjects - particularly trade subjects and science / maths academic courses

Plenty of people have the ability to get subject matter across without QTS, and plenty holding QTS are shit teachers

Original poster
BlueLines81 · 28/11/2021 22:13

I did enquire about whether I would be able to become qualified whilst working and that’s something that the school is looking into. Tbh if it’s not possible, I’m not sure how interested I would be in doing it as I wouldn’t want to be stuck on TA type wages but having all the stress of teaching (I’m under no illusions with that, my ex partner was a NQT and his workload was horrific). I have looked into becoming qualified but the nearest place offering a PGCE in my subject is 3.5 hours away and I can’t move with DCs.

The subject is sociology and the brief is the changing status of childhood and the idea of childhood as a social construct. I did a whole unit on this at uni and could happily waffle on about it until the cows come home, but I know I need to make the lesson interactive and it’s the setting activities part that I’m a bit stuck on. I thought one way could be maybe splitting the class in half (it will only be about 6 students) and getting one half to think about ways that childhood has been extended, and the other half to think about ways that childhood is diminishing in modern society. Very open to suggestions here!

OP posts:
Thatsnotmyteenager · 28/11/2021 22:19

So you want someone qualified to tell you how to do their job so that you can take a job away from a qualified personHmm Riiiiight. Let’s hope you don’t get treated by a Dr doing the same thing, or a pilot, or a train driver

Original poster
BlueLines81 · 28/11/2021 22:22

Thanks for the helpful input there @Thatsnotmyteenager. I’m guessing they are struggling to recruit a qualified teacher and hiring someone unqualified but happy to become qualified, and who has an excellent knowledge of the subject is better than having a string of supply teachers? Presumably if someone qualified is also applying then they are far more likely to be hired, so I’m not taking anything away from anyone.

OP posts:
Workyticket · 28/11/2021 22:29

I'm a teacher but not sociology

Could they compare a Christmas wishlist for a 12 year old from 30 years ago to now?

What about printing out one of those round Robin shit status things that go round on Facebook about "when I was a child growing up we played out till the streetlights came on, had children's TV on one channel for half an hour a day, played soldiers and made peg guns" and getting them to write a modern day one?

fruitypancake · 28/11/2021 22:31

Sociology teacher here! You sound great and will be potentially an attractive option for them, lots of schools desperate to save money. You could do a carousel of questions written on a3 paper, they have to move around the room and respond to them all .. say 10 mins, quick feedback and then choose one to base a short answer question on?
Question example - ways in which childhood is different today from 1950's , how can one person's experience be diff from next (gender, race etc etc)

Workyticket · 28/11/2021 22:31

I might be miles off - I got a U in sociology at A Level.

I've taken on many a 'see if I like it before I sign up' visitor in my classroom. Some people just have teaching abilities without setting foot in a Teacher Training classrooms

fruitypancake · 28/11/2021 22:36

Do you know the exam board? If you ask them tomorrow you can check for specific content etc . Bet it's AQA

Crinkle77 · 28/11/2021 22:36

Hmm if you're struggling to think of ideas to make the lesson interactive for the interview how are you going to cope doing as a full time job?

AndMatt · 28/11/2021 22:36

@Velvetmousse

Have they said in the advert that they accept non qualified teachers? If not and it’s a state school it’s unlikely you’ll get the position.
I think you'll be surprised how many unqualified teachers are working in state schools, especially in the STEM subjects. If you have a decent degree in a shortage subject you have a very good chance OP.

Also, if it's close you'll be much cheaper which will so work in your favour.

Good luck.

Why do you want to teach?

Original poster
BlueLines81 · 28/11/2021 22:39

Thank you both, some fab ideas there! I haven’t been able to sleep since I got the email inviting me for an interview last Friday, my brain is well and truly stuck in sociology/planning mode at the moment.

OP posts:
Workyticket · 28/11/2021 22:43

@Crinkle77

Hmm if you're struggling to think of ideas to make the lesson interactive for the interview how are you going to cope doing as a full time job?
In a full time job she'd have access to the course content, probably a TES subscription etc.

I've been teaching 21 years - I had an observation last week and still bounced ideas off a colleagues beforehand

Teachers develop classroom ideas over the years. It's not instant.

fruitypancake · 28/11/2021 22:43

Teaching interviews are stressful but just be yourself and try to relax.. TES I'm sure had a list of questions teachers get asked you could prepare answers for. Happy to help further with Soc lesson plan if you have other questions or need more Smile

Original poster
BlueLines81 · 28/11/2021 22:45

I want to teach because I absolutely love my subject, I did my degree as a mature student and honestly sociology is like brain food for me, I think it’s fascinating and I think the world would be a much better place if it was a core subject that everyone had to do! And I really enjoyed private tutoring, I had students who came to me in year 13 who still couldn’t really tell me what sociology was, and I found it so satisfying finding creative ways to engage them with the subject and better their understanding. I’d always walk away from a lesson with a happy glow, partly because I’d just had an opportunity to talk about sociology for an hour, and partly because I’d seen pennies drop in their minds and got them enthused rather than confused about what they were learning.

OP posts:
Original poster
BlueLines81 · 28/11/2021 22:48

Thank you so much @fruitypancake, that would be really helpful, I may well PM you when I’ve actually got somewhere with it!

OP posts:
AndMatt · 28/11/2021 22:51

@BlueLines81

I want to teach because I absolutely love my subject, I did my degree as a mature student and honestly sociology is like brain food for me, I think it’s fascinating and I think the world would be a much better place if it was a core subject that everyone had to do! And I really enjoyed private tutoring, I had students who came to me in year 13 who still couldn’t really tell me what sociology was, and I found it so satisfying finding creative ways to engage them with the subject and better their understanding. I’d always walk away from a lesson with a happy glow, partly because I’d just had an opportunity to talk about sociology for an hour, and partly because I’d seen pennies drop in their minds and got them enthused rather than confused about what they were learning.
You'll get the job Smile
521Jeanie · 28/11/2021 22:51

@BlueLines81

Thanks for the helpful input there *@Thatsnotmyteenager*. I’m guessing they are struggling to recruit a qualified teacher and hiring someone unqualified but happy to become qualified, and who has an excellent knowledge of the subject is better than having a string of supply teachers? Presumably if someone qualified is also applying then they are far more likely to be hired, so I’m not taking anything away from anyone.
Yes DD gave up sociology because of exactly what you describe. Scraping the barrel with a string of terrible supply teachers. But if the kids have started their A-levels they have to find someone to teach them, and if you know your stuff, it's better than someone who doesn't. As a parent, I would be worried about the exam spec side of things at that level though, teaching them how to get maximum marks in exams questions. Is there a head of department who will be able to support you? At both schools I've known well, it's just been the one teacher who has taught it.