How to get a teaching job in London?

[Standzo]

I have no idea where to start.
I am a teacher in Wales. I graduated July 2019 and I have been supply ever since.
However, there are just no primary teaching jobs where I like and if a teaching job happens to pop up, it has way over 100 applications.

I'm thinking of looking further a field. Of course no job is guaranteed but i've heard London has better job prospects. I have never lived in London so no idea if this is true.

But I have no idea where to start. I have been on Guardian jobs and eteach but all the jobs advertised seem to be recruitment agencies, who state they are hiring for a school and looking for a permanent teacher. However, I don't want to waste my time and apply through these agencies if they are doing a typical agency scam of advertising fake jobs.

What I am asking is:
What sites do schools in London usually advertise teaching jobs on?

And also:
How do interviews work when applying for jobs over 5 hours away.

Thanks in advance!

I meant:
No primary teacher jobs where I live
Not:
Where I like
Btw

TES
Also Kent-teach.com if you want to look in Kent. Can't give any primary specific advice though as I'm secondary. Good luck!

Have you looked at TES jobs website?

Where abouts in london OP? I always used TES jobs in London, but up north where I am now I’m finding more on individual council sites.

TES or look at the local council websites. Try green sheets also.

TES rather than guardian but mostly the LA job sites- although some use the TES

If you get invited to interview, unless they are doing it remotely because of covid, you will have to travel there. An early start for you but if you really want it then you’ll have to make it work.

For interviews: you just go to the interview! However you would wherever the job is. I schlepped nationwide on endless train journeys fir interviews when I graduated. If you want to move to the place, you have to be prepared to get yourself there...

Agency! Our borough is over 50% agency staff right now.
If you are looking at North or East I’m happy to PM you some (no... I don’t run them! I’ve used them).

When I was an NQT I'm sure lots of the London Councils ran pools. So you interviewed once for a council pool and then if success would be taken on by a school. I've no idea if it still works like that though. Definitely look at council websites wherever you plan to move to. Most schools don't advertise normal teaching posts on TES as it's expensive. Their local council one is free.

As for the interview it won't matter that you're 5 hours away. If the interviews/observations etc are taking place in person then you'd need to be there in person.

The agencies often aren't allowed to disclose the name of the school until you agree to formally submit an application. I think it's to do with other agencies competing to fill the vacancy and obviously they don't want you to go directly to the school, bypassing them. I always found agencies helpful but you have to accept it's all a bit cloak and dagger.

I’ve never had an agency withhold the name of the school. Maybe it’s because the schools were advertising directly at the time and they didn’t want to be bypassed.

I'm elsewhere in England but here for primaries it's almost exclusively LA websites not TES etc. Last term we were still doing visits for prospective candidates as well (usually these would be in the school day but in current times they are after 3.30). A phone call with the Head or school business manager is usually acceptable is you can't visit the school, and heads would understand this if you live far away. My old head definitely made judgements about candidates from their walkround and my current head told me it was obvious from my walkround that I was the strongest candidate, so I would absolutely phone any school you apply to.

Here you apply to the agency, they interview and assist with a CV. These are then presented to schools. If schools are interested when you’ve been put forward you will be contacted for interview, unless it’s short term- then you are just sent on the day.

I think if you apply to an agency advert, when you are not known to the agency, it may be different. It’s easier to register, then you get the short notice jobs- maternity leave, vacancies that arise after resignation dates etc.

• this is NE London

Using an agency is very normal in London. It was a while ago, but I ended up with a permanent job at a lovely school that I wouldn’t have even looked at had I not been persuaded to go and see by a recruitment consultant. Again it’s been a few years, but I’ve had positive experience with www.academicsltd.co.uk/

TES is also a big source of job vacancies.

My school (Newham) advertises on jobs go public or search for the local authority jobs page. Lots have a school jobs bulletins that you can sign up for. We also have lots of agency staff at the moment so supply is a good option. We have been interviewing face to face with ppe since September.

First stop is TES but keep applying through agencies too.

TES is where a lot of schools advertise, but we nearly always go through an agency to find someone. This is because advertising in TES is very expensive and you might spend £5k and get 3 applicants. Also a lot of people drop out of the interview process, or don't turn up. An agency can be better as we can try people out and they can try us - this is good for both sides - and we get to know the agency well and they know our school so they can find people who will be a good fit. We use Vibe and Classroom the most. I'd suggest registering with an agency, do a bit of supply and see which schools you like before committing to one. Some agencies will guarantee you full time work.

Agencies are very common. They aren't all (or even mostly) scams.

You can Google the name of the agency and check out their websites and reviews if you are really concerned.

You could also check the websites of big academy chains like Harris, ARK, Oasis, United Learning for job listings as well as local councils

Especially given the Pandemic, the first round of interviews can be via phone/zoom/video call etc.

They then may only ask you to visit in person if you are down to the last few. Or to be honest, they may be happy to go just via video call and checking references.

Lots of schools are interviewing on zoom or teams at the moment so that might work out for you.

I do supply in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and the schools here are crying out for teachers. I was offered two jobs at the end of last term. One of the schools, which is an absolutely lovely school had two jobs and received only one application. The other has half of the classes taught by supply teachers as they can't seem to recruit.

I’ve only ever looked for jobs on TES.

@Oeliilio

- this is NE London

I’m on NE London and everyone goes through TES...

Thanks everyone for the replies
My only problem with the agency side of things is whether I can afford to just pick up, move to London (or nearabouts) and gamble with supply
From being on supply since last summer, I know how up and down it can be so that would be my only worry

Our school uses eteach and also advertises vacancies on their own website. You could choose a vague area and then look up the individual schools around there.