Ringing headteacher for teaching application

[watermelon9w]

Hi,
I want to apply for a teaching job in a local school.
Due to Covid, visits are not allowed so in the advert it says that interested candidates can call the headteacher for a chat and then provides a phone number.

However, it's half term and I find the whole ringing up on the phone and asking questions about the school a bit awkward (as in I don't even know what I would ask), unlike a school visit in which you can comment and ask questions as you walk around.

Do I just ring on Monday, despite it being half-term? And what type of questions would I ask over the phone.
The job advert closes on the 2nd week of half term.

Any tips?
Do I just ring? Or would that be rude?

@Diamondnights I'm asking for advice, I wouldn't want to work for somebody who doesn't see the benefits of asking for advice anyway (Also, if I get an interview, i'm hardly going to blurt out that I came to mumsnet for some advice )

I'm glad that I teach children it's okay to seek help and advice.
I never realised mumsnet was full of negativity

@Diamondnights

I suspect the job may go to somebody who doesn't need to access the Mumsnet hive mind to decide whether to pick up the phone or not!

Im more likely to think if the advert has gone up at the start of the holidays and closing date is before the end, that they already know who they are hiring

I never realised mumsnet was full of negativity
Your mistake is posting on AIBU op! Don't take it personally. For future reference The Staffroom is quite a handy area where teachers hang out giving some useful advice.

Anyway, I am over and out now.
Thank you to those who gave genuine advice and not just focused on Easter and half term. After the 1st person mentioned it, I got the idea, I really didn't need 70% if the thread to tell me but thank you anyway

I am happy to be a teacher that promotes it is okay to make errors and even tell my classes that I make errors to. I am also happy to be a teacher that encourages my class to seek help and advice if they need it.

I'm sorry some people on this site have a problem with people seeking advice and feeling the need to be passive-aggressive in responses.
Also, this thread was not about whether I can pick up a phone or not. Of course I can pick up a phone, I was asking for advice on whether it was appropriate or needed to ring the headteacher, and this forum has shown the mixed responses so clearly was not a stupid question.

Anyway, thank you everyone, I genuinely appreciate the productive and helpful advice! :)

Can I say, OP, is what you really need to know is whether they will take a NQT. I think I’m correct in saying your supply work won’t count towards your NQT year. Schools usually say “applications from NQTs welcome” so you need to establish this. As a NQT you have a reduced contact timetable. This means a school can only train so many NQTs. If it’s had a poor Ofsted it might not be allowed any either. So if you ask nothing else, establish whether they want a NQT or not. Just about everything else can be read on the web site. The other thing to ask, if it’s not in the person spec, is whether they would like any additional skills, eg sport, music etc. This can certainly help if you meet a skill gap in the school.

Tailor your application to the school. And good luck.

I think the issue is in one breath you accepted it was Easter and in the next said BUT it is half term here. I don't think people were being bitchy at all. If you had called the Head and mentioned it being half term perhaps they would have made a judgment that you didn't understand how the school year was divided and whether you were therefore a suitable applicant.

Would you also be the teacher who is they had made an error on a worksheet but if it was pointed out would get just as snarky or shut down pupils if they queried it? In any event if the closing date is at the end of Easter hols then they are expecting all's during the break. However I agree there is no point calling unless you have a specific question. Perhaps as you complete the application form one may arise if for example they ask about your availability to run after school clubs you may wish to ask if expected, if paid or unpaid. So I do think only call if need be. They certainly won't make a list of who called and who didn't. In fact if you call and asked something they already thought was clear in the blurb it may cause you to.be memorable for the wrong reason.

Good luck if you do apply.

Email asking if it is possible to discuss. Most heads will have a day or two in school over the hols.

I'm sorry some people on this site have a problem with people seeking advice and feeling the need to be passive-aggressive in responses.

That's utterly ridiculous and you 100% need to develop a thicker skin.

@user1471505494

If you are in the UK it is now The Easter Holidays. I would have thought a teacher would have known

I’m in Scotland and I have another week to go. There’s no need to be so rude - especially when you’re wrong!

@Riquesh

Explaining half terms = jumping down someone’s throat. Okay. 🙄🙄

Explaining once - fine

A ton of posters constantly saying it, and then starting to make PA or snide comments about the Op's ability to teach due to it - not fine

And that is what happened of you go back to the start of the thread and read it all.

@PresentingPercy

Can I say, OP, is what you really need to know is whether they will take a NQT. I think I’m correct in saying your supply work won’t count towards your NQT year. Schools usually say “applications from NQTs welcome” so you need to establish this. As a NQT you have a reduced contact timetable. This means a school can only train so many NQTs. If it’s had a poor Ofsted it might not be allowed any either. So if you ask nothing else, establish whether they want a NQT or not. Just about everything else can be read on the web site. The other thing to ask, if it’s not in the person spec, is whether they would like any additional skills, eg sport, music etc. This can certainly help if you meet a skill gap in the school.

Tailor your application to the school. And good luck.

Long-term supply can count if the school is willing to support but it sounds like OP has been doing day supply which will not.

OP, I don’t know if you are still reading but speaking from my own experience then if an advert offers a phone call you should take it. The NQT job market is very competitive at the moment; there was so little recruitment last year that there are two years’ worth of trainees chasing this year’s vacancies.

There will be someone in the office who will take your call even if the HT is not physically on site.

@Riquesh

I'm sorry some people on this site have a problem with people seeking advice and feeling the need to be passive-aggressive in responses.

That's utterly ridiculous and you 100% need to develop a thicker skin.

Will you give it a rest

@ThanksItHasPockets
I was trying to think if, as a governor, we had recruited a supply teacher as a NQT. I couldn’t remember one - hence my query. The op said she was a NQT. This can be good (lower pay) or bad (cover might be needed and greater supervision, mentoring etc). So schools have to think about what they can afford or are prepared to do.

As a teacher who has been teaching 16 years, also a senior leader so heavily involved in recruitment, I sometimes call it half term and wouldn’t care less what you called it! There are a million more important things. My advice would be, give them a call, you will probably have to leave a message but then if they are recruiting they will call you back. The chances of speaking to the head straight away at any point are probably slim. Make the questions relevant about what would influence your decision to teach there e.g. curriculum based, well being, professional development. Some of the questions suggested sound like you are grilling the head as an inspector, only ask if you are interested. Good luck.

@Ploughingthrough

I've been teaching for ages and I've rarely seen a school visit (in secondary anyway!) Like I said below, it just doesn't in any way effect whether you are shortlisted for a post or not. Questions are super valid at the interview: at the end of the interview they will always ask if you have any and I think it's good to ask. You could ask about SEN provision, extra curricular expectations, If you would be part of teaching the PSHE programme, what professional development opportunities exist. I wouldn't really expect anyone to ring the Headteacher and ask any of it in advance of even being shortlisted for a job though.

I still vote for just applying op, make sure your letter explicitly states how you fit the person specification (use subheadings) and sell your skills amd qualities. If you get shortlisted then you can worry about questions!

Questions are only "super-valid" at interview if it's (a) something you've had no other opportunity to find out and/or (b) the reply might be a deal-breaker for you in accepting the job.

As a head (in secondary), my favourite answer to the "Have you got any questions for us?" was "No, thank you, I've had lots of information from you and a lot of opportunity to have all my questions addressed."

What created a bad impression was candidates who were clearly just asking questions because they'd been told it "looks bad if you don't" or "creates a good impression" if you do. I've had people ask questions that were clearly addressed in the application pack or on the school website OR which were banal in the extreme - for example, "Will I have a locker in the staffroom?" (NB: that one had been shown the staffroom and actually TOLD she'd get a locker!). I've had candidates get out a written list, which they took out and perused before asking questions they could have found the answers to easily from the website, etc.

Some of the questions suggested sound like you are grilling the head as an inspector, only ask if you are interested.

Indeed! I've known people ask the head about their long-term plans or their "philosophy of education". These are obvious 'asking for its own sake' questions and annoy headteachers.

@user1471505494

If you are in the UK it is now The Easter Holidays. I would have thought a teacher would have known

It's not Easter holidays everywhere, my dcs have another week to go.

I have never bothered with the informal chat.
I submit my application letter and application form and that is that. The offer of a ‘chat’ about the school is a polite offer. You can find out what you need to know on the website.

Also agree re. Easter hols. DC break up next Thursday.

Just noticed you have gone OP but if you’re still reading:
Don’t bother with the informal chat (see my post above).
It is not the Easter holidays everywhere so ignore those who say it is.

VickyEadieofThigh oh totally agree, I wasnt suggesting banal questions about parking/lockers/ofsted report but I have always had something to ask. Perhaps this is because I teach a practical subject so like a bit of a heads up on the extra curricular commitment. I've also turned up at a school and had to teach pshe which I hadn't known (all teachers did it) so its something I ask now. I would imagine it is quite awkward if someone pulls out a list of prep prepared questions...

As a head (in secondary), my favourite answer to the "Have you got any questions for us?" was "No, thank you, I've had lots of information from you and a lot of opportunity to have all my questions addressed'

Why is it your favourite answer?! Surely it is just as reassuring if a candidate asks a question that hasnt been addressed or is unique to their situation?

ploughing I do think you have to be careful (general you not specific) - it’s fair enough if someone asks something specific but most schools do provide a lot of information during the day.

As someone says above it should only be ‘would this stop me taking the post.’

@Ploughingthrough

As a head (in secondary), my favourite answer to the "Have you got any questions for us?" was "No, thank you, I've had lots of information from you and a lot of opportunity to have all my questions addressed'

Why is it your favourite answer?! Surely it is just as reassuring if a candidate asks a question that hasnt been addressed or is unique to their situation?

Because I can count on one finger the questions that have been asked which they couldn't have found the answer to from the information already supplied.

That question was "I play my sport at international level - will you give me time off to play if I'm picked and matches are during term time?"

That's a good, specific to the candidate question and possibly a deal-breaker. Asking about when the school holidays are next year - not.

What was your answer vicky?