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).

Computer Science teachers are in very short supply. With your industry background this may be an area to explore!

This should be 'About 50 of my fellow programmers were dyslexic.' This is the kind of grammatical error that will be letting you down. It's bad grammar not spelling.

I agree here-spelling isn’t the issue.

Being dyslexic doesn’t preclude you from being a teacher, but it does mean that you have to check and recheck things you write, particularly on an application form.

What you write is obviously understandable, but the errors in grammar, in particular would sound alarm bells for prospective employers and things like ‘boarding’ need checking too.

Come on now, there’s no need for this nit picking. The OP hasn’t asked you to proof read her posts and she’s dyslexic, you really shouldn’t make comment.

Dyslexia doesn't excuse the bad grammar.

And yes, as a school recruiter it would put me off immediately.

I think you have to point out the issues that might be impacting on the ability to secure an interview. No one is being critical of dyslexia, just pointing out that, in that case, extra checks on application forms are important.

Yes it does. Dyslexia impacts on literacy far more deeply than just spelling. Perhaps you shouldn’t be recruiting for schools if you don’t know this.

She's also asked why she didn't get shortlisted for a TA role. It isn't 'nit picking', it's answering her question honestly. Which is is, presumably, what she wanted or she wouldn't have posted.

I totally agree with the advice that’s been given, but I don’t agree with continually reminding a dyslexic person that they struggle with spelling and grammar. Once you know a person is dyslexic and you continue to bang on about it, you are nit picking and quite frankly showing yourself to be obtuse.

I have an adult sister who has had to put up with this stuff her whole life. Understanding of dyslexia is generally limited and most people don’t really understand what it is and how frustrating it can be to live with when you’re trying to get on with your life. Only now is my sister seeing her true worth, maybe it would have happened sooner if understanding of her learning difference was better. A thread like this would just depress her and make her feel bad.

It’s making me feel bad too so I’m hiding it.

Good luck to you OP.

Did you check your grammar on the application?

I honestly wouldn't worry too much about getting primary experience if you know you want to do secondary (agree with PP that computer science adds a massive bonus to you as a secondary teacher), if it's anything like my area then secondary TAs are hard to recruit for and actually saying that you want to teach would be a bonus as they would likely train you up in-house, I'm not sure the current routes as I've been out of the profession for a couple of years but there isn't exactly ab oversupply of secondary teachers.

The dyslexia may have let your application down a bit, because even if you've disclosed it a lot of people don't understand it's not just the spelling that's affected, so get over that hurdle by getting your application checked over first. It'll be much less of a bother in the day to day, I've worked for SLT that claim English as their second subject that consistently couldn't use an apostrophe correctly and you'll be using assistive tech to help you out.

But I definitely wouldn't waste much more time or headspace trying to get into a primary job unless you have to.

It’s turned into one of those threads where the OP posts “why can’t everyone understand the difference between their there and they’re.”

Then types “there so annoying.”

“Oh sorry, it was a typo and I really know the difference, it’s all the other stupid people”. Not accounting for the fact that most of us are on phones and not really caring about typos cos it’s MN and not an actual job application.

I partly got a TA job in my child's school by volunteering. They need to know you're capable and are, I'm not sure how to phrase this, but, more staff than parent. I know several parents who would like to be TAs, they are qualified and able, but are not suitable because they're nightmares (I'm not saying you are!). It's a really delicate balance from the schools POV.

Your spelling and grammar could also be letting you down on the applications.

Definitely look into a TA course.

Where is that?

That certainly isnt the case around the country

no, so I gather, from other threads

but around here (big city) it is the first alternative for ex teachers, once they have left teaching and are looking around for what's next.

TA posts are much harder to get than teaching posts, far more competition

But you're applying for a job in educating children and you struggle with academia.

You could be completely illiterate and still have bad grammar in your speech.

There are several examples that pp have quoted on this thread.

'We was' in any sentence, written or spoken, is bad grammar. If any TA candidates spoke like that at interview we wouldn't progress them. We don't expect queen's English (in fact a local lilt is often a real benefit) but this? No.

Agree

Where are you based?

I work across England and basically of you get even 1 application for a TA post it is an achievement

Less than a living wage Job- hours less tan 30 a week for a minimum wage job- paid for 44 weeks a year

At our school, it is rare for teacher's children not to be at the same school. There is one child in year 4, his mum is actually a TA in his class! I see members of staff with their children all the time. 4 of the children in DS class, their parents are teachers at the school.