If I apply for a job at a primary school in same council area as my kids school do you think they will ask the head teacher at my kids school what I am like/if they would recommend me as an employee?

[Bartg]

It’s for office admin job. I have had a few difficult conversations with my kids school where I have had to raise concerns. Nothing major. Mainly about playground issues my kids struggled with. Not sure how I am viewed by the staff there. Or what kind of “reference” they would give. Or would it be against gdpr for them to contact school to ask any information about me?

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They absolutely won’t be in touch with your kids school

Maybe think about your behaviour at school if you’re worried about this

Seems vanishingly unlikely. How would they know from your job application that you have school aged kids or where they go to school?

No they won't ask them (as said above, how would they even know?).

How would they know that your dcs are in a school under the same council?
How would they know you even have dcs before they meet you .

I know quite a few teachers that have worked in the same school as their DCs
I can't see it been a problem .

Of course they won’t ask your kid’s school to provide a reference 😬

I volunteered at my kids school in a couple of roles so was going to put this on cv. As thought that would look good on cv. So that’s how they would know. Not sure if it’s good to have on there or not

Only if there was a link somehow and they knew you/ your children and what school they go to.

Probably unlikely.

How would they know you even had kids, let alone school they go to?

Then yes, they may do. Especially if the headteachers are friendly.

References will be dealt with by the council's HR rather than the school directly surely?

They can't just contact anyone. Only the referees you put on the form.

Does the volunteering have any bearing on the job you have applied for or do you have plenty of other relevant experience?

TBH, we don't pick over applications with a fine tooth comb usually. Just pick out the ones where the candidates' experience and aptitudes seem to suit them for the post. The interview is the important part.

Though for safeguarding purposes, you need to account for what you have been doing as an adult of working age - odd gaps that can't be explained might be an issue (child- raising is fine though).

Thanks. My experience from paid work isn’t particularly relevant . My work before kids was professional and well paid. So they can see I am intelligent. But it’s just not particularly relevant. I have other volunteer experience though which is more admin related and dealing with members of the public so that will go down on the form. I was just considering whether experience at the school volunteering was worth mentioning or not. I mean I wasn’t a crazy parent or anything. But I find it hard when I need to advocate for the kids and never know if I have done it well or come across well iykwim. It’s different when you have a professional hat on