Not called for interview as teaching assistant

[BlueJellycat]

I applied for a job as a teaching assistant but wasn't called for interview. I have applied twice before in my dd infant school but first I was picked at the post by a qualified teacher, the second time I was in hospital during the interview stage. Now dd has gone up to juniors so I applied at her new school. First I was the only applicant so the interviews was delayed. I didn't get interview on the second round and I don't expect they was flooded with applicants going on the first rounds applicants.

I have been a governor in a sen school for 5 years, I have weekly experience of going in the help children read for a year. I have done sen training. I have a degree. I had a corporate job with a global brand in a senior position but that was 6 years ago. I have worked in my profession during those 6 years as ad hoc contracting. Said on my application I want to do a pgce ( I do).

So if I didn't even make the sift can I presume I don't have a good skill set? Reason given was that I don't have the desired skills. I know that experienced TAs could have applied but deep down I just think I was a weak candidate, which is disheartening. I have so much experience from being a governor and helping out reading, i dont feel i can get much more experience without being at school more than once a week as a volunteer. I would like to do my teacher training but after this, if I don't even cut the TA standards I would be a shit teacher? The school im a governor at can't even recruit enough TAs ( but money wise being a TA would be better at my child's school).

I think @SpyouttheLand has got it spot on.

OP, you need to apply for a couple of roles at other schools. And don’t mention teacher training until you are offered a job. I actually doubt it’s your skill set that is lacking. Schools need to see that you are serious about being a TA.

If you are offered a TA role, you could then ask if it was ever a possibility to do teacher training at the school - many schools are part of SCITT programmes and I know a few TAs who have seamlessly done their teacher training and then transferred from TA to teacher role at the same school.

I think, as someone currently training to be a TA at my DD school, I do think it's the fact you are going for your daughter's school.
My daughter has 1 year left, my course is 18 months, I am Early Years, that was all I was offered. I didn't want EY but my DD doesn't come under my training at all, and none of the staff are the same. I already worked at the school as well (again different department, no where near my DD). I applied 4 times for the higher end TA, not even an interview. Try applying again at your old school, I bet you would have a chance now.

I have also been sounded out about doing a pgce in future, but obviously that would start after my DD has left.

I can't think of anything worse than working at my child's school.i want them to have time away from me
The job is not there for your convenience @BlueJellycat I think you should rethink your plan if that's why you want it

I disclosed I'm dyslexic. I was told I could still teach and be dyslexic

If your daughter has just joined the school and you've applied straight away for a job it suggests that you're looking for an easy job for childcare and you'll leave when she leaves (if not before to do a PGSE).

You wouldn't get a job in our school because you are already saying you intend to leave. That said, a few teachers in our school started as TAs and did teacher training on the job. (Can't remember the programme name). Perhaps you could ask for a meeting with the senco for advice?

Four out of my five teaching assistant friends used to do a lot of voluntary work at the schools they now work in. The same four work in the same school their children either attend or used to. Where I live many people apply for each teaching assistant role and about half are graduates.

In fact I did doubt I could teach and be dyslexic but I'd be a biology teacher, so not like I'm going to teach English, but it's fair comment really. Ironically my profession is a computer programmer which is 100% language and no one knew is was dyslexic as a very senior programmer. I think I need to rethink if I'm cut out to teach.

One of my friends did a degree in education while working full time as a teaching assistant and now works as an unqualified teacher while doing a PGCE. I think she’ll be qualified in another year and a half and has been teaching for a year and a half.

@BlueJellycat dyslexia should not be a problem as such but you might want to get someone to proof-read your application so that it doesn't give the wrong impression. My brother has dyslexia and I frequently proofed his coursework, and he got a colleague to proof any important client emails and comms once he started working. Try to say 'were' instead of 'was' where appropriate too, as I've taught in schools where that is a deal breaker (even though it's often just habit/dialect). Good luck!

I wanted the experience to get into teaching Biology. I have three kids with ehcps so wondered if I could take on a sen role or work in a sen school teaching stem.

could easily earn so much more back in IT. It's not the easy option, it would be a big commitment but I'm thinking I would be a bad fit now. Don't really want to delude myself. I would starting again and taking a massive pay cut. And I can't spell.

Why do you want to teach/work in school? You seem to have decided to give up very quickly. It can be wonderful, but you really need a better reason than it fits in with DC (which actually it doesn't because of the lack of flexibility)

Is there any reason you've not done a TA qualification? For many posts you'll probably be up against some candidates with a teaching qualification, even doing a Level 2 TA qualification will make you more attractive to schools.

(I don't have dyslexia but I have dispraxia and I had to leave teaching as I was too disorganised! Dyslexia should be easier to accommodate, you just need to get your foot in the door and then always be aware of it and ask for support.)

If you want to be a biology teacher, why not apply for TA jobs in secondary schools rather than repeatedly applying to infant/junior schools where your daughter attends?

OP your post is littered with grammatical and spelling mistakes. That would put me off shortlisting you immediately. The desired requirements would be English and maths at grade C or above.

Secondly just because you volunteer and are a governor does not mean that you will automatically have an advantage over other unqualified applicants (and by qualified I mean level 2/3 teaching assistant not a random degree).

Thirdly, working in your dc school can cause huge conflicts of interest, especially if you have existing relationships with parents. Professional lines get blurred and make GDPR issues very complicated.

Try checking your application, getting some genuine classroom experience and relevant qualifications, and apply at a different school to your dc.

Sadly in my school parents are welcomed to come and help but they wouldn’t be selected as TAs for interview. Have you tried applying to different schools?

I've worked in schools that wouldn't shortlist anyone who didn't have at least NVQ3 teaching assistant training. You don't have any relevant training or qualifications.

If you want to be a biology teacher you need to have a relevant degree in that subject. You'd also be better applying for a TA job in a secondary school if you want to get experience before doing a pgce.

FWIW recruitment for all support jobs in schools is really tough currently. I think the ease with which people can make previous careers work around DC by WFH has taken a lot of parents out of the pool.

For TA jobs 5 years ago we would have got 100+ (mostly poor) applicants. Now we'll get 2/3 maximum. If you apply to different schools and tailor your application to the skills required, you will get something

If you want to be a biology teacher than why are you applying for primary school jobs?
wanting to do a pgce can be an advantage when hiring - if you are looking to do the schools direct course in the school you work out. Otherwise knowing you are only there as a stop gap isn’t going to look good, because it wouldn’t even help with pgce application- you will need secondary experience for that.
and of course you can teach with dyslexia, I do. I was a maths TA in secondary first, then did pgce.
look for secondary ta roles, cover supervisor or science technician. And I’m sure you will make a fab teacher

I agree with the previous poster in that you are sending mixed messages. Perhaps this is why you did not get called to interview.
You are applying to be a Primary TA but you want to work in secondary as a teacher. You have experience in IT but you want to teach Biology. Do you have a degree in Biology?
Regardless if you are a Science teacher or an English teacher there are required levels of literacy for all teachers which mean you need to present yourself well. That means having your application checked. Do you have English as a second language?
I would try and volunteer in a secondary school if possible to see if this is actually what you want to do. Then sell yourself - business experience and IT skills are very desirable skills in secondary.
Good Luck.

I have dyscalcula and a ba and an ma in English , ana fully qualified TA and I've been toldI CAN'T get onto a PGCE course without a GCSE in maths ( which I can't achieve as I don't bloody understand numbers!) .

The entire system is broke. I would make a fantastic English teacher 🤷🏼‍♀️

Picked to the post? I always thought it was pipped!

Have I been saying it wrong my whole life ?