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).

Op - why don’t you apply for your PGCE now if that’s what you want to do?
I’m a teacher and did a few weeks voluntary work in a few schools before I started my PGCE years ago.
Obviously being a TA gives overall school experience, but you won’t get teaching experience until you start your PGCE.
I’m not sure what you’re waiting for if you want to be a teacher, why delay things by applying to be a TA? You could get some voluntary experience (not at your child’s school) and then apply to start in September (if you still want to - and depending on course closing dates).
Good luck and get someone to proofread your applications (for uni or jobs) in the future.

Have a look at the English skills test if you are seriously thinking about teaching as you would need to pass that-I think you get three goes.

I don’t think it’s good form to apply for a job whilst explicitly stating that you would be leaving soon to do a pgce. 🤨

They probably went for someone who won't leave to do a pgce. Do you know you can do on the job (salaried) training to teach? Similar salary to a TA and after a year you are qualified. I like the pgce route, but I think I would do salaried if I had a family to support financially

Skills tests went years ago

@BlueJellycat its because you’ve written you want to do a PGCE. why would they train you to be a TA? invest the time and effort so you can then leave and go to uni? you’re clearly telling them it’s a temporary job for you.

Please ignore the bitchy comments. Of course you can be dyslexic and teach. I know several dyslexic teachers

Loads of our TAs want to be teachers down the line , and loads have kids at the school.

I don't think it's that. Get a kind but critical friend to look at your application.

Have you thought about lab tech roles instead?

But how would you do all the data/progress measures/paperwork without numbers?

I understand your point but there is reasonable amount of maths required in the job. Working out percentages etc with analysis of student data for example

Oh right-I was having a conversation with an ex-colleague/friend recently whose nephew was doing a PGCE/GTP (having done their English degree) and she was telling me that the nephew couldn’t pass the maths test and was worried he wouldn’t be able to qualify. He was getting a tutor to help him and was panicking. What’s this he’s having to pass then?

I'm afraid I was going to say this. I would expect flawless grammar and spelling from anyone involved with my children's education ("the interviews was delayed" can't be explained by predictive texting). I wouldn't interview anyone who made this kind of mistake.

You might expect that but you try recruiting them for £15/£18k pa 😆

No idea. But it's definitely not a requirement now. Hasn't been for sometime. You do need gcses in English and Maths though (I think science for primary too).

Probably functional skills, a GCSE equivalent that's a bit more accessible for people not in school.

Op I can't see anywhere where you have clarified but do you actually have teaching assistant qualifications?!

If you don't then it's highly likely that's a contributing factor!

It is a statutory requirement for schools that a given percentage (a majority) of learning support assistants must hold full and relevant qualifications for their role-so you could a PHD in science but this wouldn't be relevant for a primary school TA/LSA!

It is a statutory requirement for schools that a given percentage (a majority) of learning support assistants must hold full and relevant qualifications for their role-so you could a PHD in science but this wouldn't be relevant for a primary school TA/LSA!

No it isn't. It just isn't.

It's true going back 10 years or so these jobs were like gold dust and qualifications would help a lot, but nationwide they're really hard to fill now. We're grateful if candidates have GCSEs now.

I know several excellent teachers who are dyslexic, so it can be done, OP. Did you get anyone to look your application over for errors?

You can disclose you're dyslexic, but showing strategies you would use in the job so it doesn't impact negatively would be important. Having someone proofread important paperwork is one strategy.

In my school (and my trust!) we absolutely do not appoint LSAs who don't have full and relevant qualifications!

Academy Trusts make up their own rules. They don't even need to have qualified teachers. So your Trust may consider it statutory, but that's not the case for many schools.

As a teacher, I say considering the current climate, you’ve had a lucky escape! Look for a job away from education.

This was my first thought too, and I also do not mean it with any malice.

I was also going to point that out. We would not shortlist someone who says 'we was .." for example.

This is genuine feedback not trying to nit pick although I have met one other two teachers who speak like that.

I have to agree.

The skills test was scrapped a while back. You need to have a GCSE grade C/4 (or equivalent) in English and maths.
For secondary you are expected to have a higher qualification in the subject you hope to specialise in.

BEd (with QTS), BA (with QTs) PGCE, Teach First, SCITT and the other entry options all have different entry requirements on top of the GCSE English and Maths so you need to check. Some expect a certain level of experience too; this is often through paid or voluntary work.