To ask if any of you are teaching assistants

[Madratlady]

And whether you could tell me what sort of questions to expect at a job interview for a secondary school TA? It looks like it'll be working with the more 'challenging' kids.

I have no experience in this area so I'm really nervous!

[hashimaftab]

Hi
Can anybody please help me with interview questions and answers for a TA at a secondary school.
will much appreciate your help.

[sheridand]

Just to answer a query above, if you are a qualified teacher with QTS, you are qualified as a TA, up to HLTA level at most schools. Some schools will require you to get HLTA status as well but most will not. I know of many, many teachers who are TA's now, myself included!

[Kafri]

Defo expect something on safeguarding and your understanding of it. Do a bit of research into it - came about cos of Victoria climbie, and has been updated regularly - latterly following baby peter. perhaps mention lord laming and ECM.

[Doubtfuldaphne]

Sarahlimes, my dh started as an efl teacher and then got a fantastic TA job. He's now doing training and taking courses on understanding autism and he's really enjoying it. Good luck to you! It's a very rewarding career!

[Catfriend]

HI all just wondering what question they asked on CP?? What question did they ask on Equal Opps??

[sarahlimes]

This thread has been useful along with advise on TES for my interview preparation. Thank you to everyone who is sharing advise! I'm not a mum although feel I should post a comment. I will be sharing my interview experience in a few days.

I don't have an Education/Childcare degree nor TA qualifications, or any experience working in U.K. school, neither am I associated with a school as a volunteer or as a parent.

I've been working as an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Teacher abroad for a year with Primary/Early Years students and want to continue to study for a PGCE next year. I stated clearly in my application that I only wanted a years experience and most jobs are only 1 year contracts anyway. I was told while i was abroad by other English teachers that i'd have no problem getting TA work and have spent a couple of months now sending off applications!! I knew I had a slim chance with most of my applications. I guess I'm lucky that TA work is so lowly paid, otherwise I wouldn't stand a chance, I'm just after a years experience like any other intern/apprentice who wants a solid grounding in a career.

I was getting disheartened reading on here that you definitely needed TA qualifications and how competitive getting a TA job is, although if I have an interview offer I must of passed the first stage :) and if I am offered a job then there is hope for everyone on here who still waiting. I'll report back with interview feedback once its over!

[Littleturkish]

If you did well in the interview- maybe call and ask if you can have a few days work experience with them? Would be good when you apply for your next post?

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

Aaaw no! Sorry!

[cocolepew]

Bad luck, but it's all experience. Good luck for next time. You did really well getting an interview, there are people subbing in my school, some for a couple of years, and they didn't get interviews for the jobs they were in .

[Madratlady]

Apparently I did really well in the interview but they gave the job to someone who has worked in the same role before. I didn't think I had much chance of actually getting it.

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

Please come back and update OP.

[lljkk]

How did it go?

[cocolepew]

Good luck

[Madratlady]

The interview is tomorrow morning. Thanks for all the advice, I feel fairly well prepared.

[nosleeps]

So? When's the interview? Do let us know how you get/got on.

[cherrycarpet]

Good luck with your interview! I've worked as a TA in the past and I think you've been given some good advice here. IMO I would also do a bit of research into various specific conditions which can impact on learning eg. Asperger's, autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, hearing impairments to name just a few. Think about specific situations where a TA might be of value to the student.

IMO some of the main qualities a TA needs are empathy, patience and good, old-fashioned common sense as well as a love of learning and the ability to 'think on the job' and inspire others. You also need to be able to take direction from colleagues and so you need very good communication skills and a diplomatic approach!

[Jestrin]

Are you still going on Majabiene? I apologise if you took offence (??)

Thank you HorribleMother

Perhaps I should start my own AIBU thread on why I had to work damn hard to get a qualification to work in education in this part of the country.

Now lets drop this, it's hijacking madratlady's thread.

[MajaBiene]

"You do need to have a certificate nowadays" - nope, that's not a comment on difference.

[HorribleMother]

I don't think anyone told OP she had to have a certificate.
Some people said that in their part of the country they couldn't get an interview as easily as she could.
It's like saying it rains different amounts in different places. Just a comment on difference.

[MajaBiene]

You weren't knocked for suggesting it, it was just incorrect and not relevant to the OP as she already has an interview - telling her she needs to have a certificate when obviously she doesn't isn't helpful.

[Jestrin]

It wasn't meant in a bad way and reading it back it doesn't seem awful either!

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

Maybe it was the manner with which you suggested it?

[Jestrin]

I'd like to say once again Good Luck to madratlady for her interview.

This thread has been very interesting to me. It's seems in certain parts of the country you don't necessarily need a TA qualification but where I live it is the standard. No qualification, you aren't even considered. I,also find it a bit sad that I was knocked for even suggesting it.