Declined for a role due to being uncomfortable/awkward, help

[Makingplansfornigel1]

It was through an agency actually. I'm qualified as a teacher (apparently "outstanding") however I sometimes I wonder how.
Anyway I had a trial day as a HLTA/cover teacher in a nice primary school the other day.
I was with a year 2 class who were a bit rowdy, surely it's as I was a new face to them. Naturally I was a bit nervous/stressed but I tried to be friendly yet firm. I praised them but also employed the behaviour policy, using C1s/c2s, moving pupils, speaking to them about behaviour etc.
The 2 TAs also supported and guided, which was appreciated.
The headteacher didn't see me teach at any point, nor did any senior staff, only the 2 TAs.
They seemed friendly TAs telling me, oh you'll be fine here, it's a lovely school etc. And seemed supportive.
Anyway I had a phone call today from my agency telling me that they had decided not to take me on for the role as I had essentially seemed 'uncomfortable and awkward' with the children.
I presume the head decided this, however only the TAs saw me with the kids so I presume they fed back to the head.
I understand if they don't think I'm a good fit, however naturally disappointed as it was a really well-paying role. Luckily I have managed to get other work for at least next week.
I think the head or a member of SLT should have also observed me before making a decision, not just the TAs.

I was certainly a little nervous and the kids will naturally play up but I don't understand the uncomfortable/awkward thing.
I've had it before where I've been told I seemed 'nervous' even if I felt fairly relaxed.
Maybe I've just got a nervous disposition but I'm not sure what I can do about it.
The TAs were obviously trying to be friendly if not very genuine.
Anyway not sure what to make of this feedback and how to avoid it in future?

It might be helpful to do some shadowing in a local school to get experience and to help your confidence. I know it's a pain and not paid but it might help applications and would be evidence of recent experience

Honestly I wouldn’t pay it any mind. How rude of them to say personal criticisms of you, when you put yourself forward for a long term role in their school. Don’t waste anymore time on it please

Teaching is a profession where personal criticism comes with the job, as does being able to manage other peoples behaviour and workload, both children and adults working with you.

No I've never had children or anything. I've done various educational/residential roles over the last 10 years, with all ages. But have just never been successful in an application for an ECT role.
Anyway I'm sure I'm better off without this school. I think their feedback was weird, but I will keep working on myself and my method.

I'd agree with the PP who suggested a teaching mentor (not the agency) to take a look at your application and to give you some pointers as to how to perhaps rephrase things, what to emphasise etc. if you have experience but not an ECT role then there's something specific in there holding you back that needs some direct attention.

Don't give up - if nothing else I can tell you I've seen some very poor teachers in permanent roles, so if you are actually good at it there is no reason to think you won't get one. Ease of managing a classroom will come with experience, and you will also be able to keep feedback in perspective with time.

So have you never worked in a school as a class teacher? What is your experience as a teacher? How were you rated as 'outstanding' and by whom?

I know that being cover staff, you need them to jump in at the deep end and be able to bond with any type of class and any level from the first minute in the classroom. If you came over as very awkward and unable to 'shine' that is probably why the TAs felt you weren't the right type of person.

It's actually harder to work as cover staff/ supply then take your own class. As you say, you don't have that relationship with the pupils so you do have to be able to crack on with the discipline, make them know who's in charge (these were only year 2) and get on top of it all very fast.

Did you get a copy of their behaviour policy beforehand and adhere to it? Different schools have different approaches and it shows a great deal about you as a teacher/TA if you are in sync with what the children are used to.

Do you honestly think this is the right career for you? Everything you are saying indicates that it isn't. Maybe this will give you the impetus to re-evaluate?

If you’re largely going for HLTA roles but are a trained teacher that might actually be making things harder as well. The school might feel you’re only likely to be using the role as a stepping stone towards becoming a class teacher; from their point of view they might prefer to employ somebody less qualified who is more likely to stick in the role. I’m not saying that’s fair but sometimes over-qualification can make things harder.

i genuinely thought C1’s etc were only given out at secondary school.

Honestly, schools are weird places to be right now. It really doesn’t seem to matter how capable you are as a teacher, what your record is, or what results you get. There is some kind of weird stereotype in the heads of people already in post telling them what a teacher should look like, and if you don’t fit that face, they don’t want to spend one second on you. It’s something to do with how gabby and extroverted you are, something to do with family connections, and nothing to do with whether you can spell, do maths or communicate that.

You could try special schools, which are not - yet - quite so up themselves.

A TA, no matter how experienced, how familiar with the class etc etc should not be giving observation feedback that leads to a candidate being rejected. They are not trained or recruited for that.

Was this an interview for a job though or a paid day as a supply?

I think you have your answer here. There’s nothing worse thank working in a school where people are nice to your face then don’t hesitate to badmouth you behind your back. Much better to find another school now, although it’s disappointing, than start there and have constant observations because the TA was telling tales to SLT constantly. She’s probably worried you’re better than her daughter.

I cannot believe the HT would say you were uncomfortable based on the word of a TA.
I wonder if it's because you are too overqualified for the role. If you are a qualified teacher, they may wonder why you want a TA role, earning a third of what a teacher earns.

I'd be wondering if the supply agency mis-sold the booking to you to be honest - I used to do supply and they will pull any kind of stunt to get a body in front of the class. Or it could literally be anything random that's got you marked out as someone they don't want in their staffroom - I had weeks where I had heads seeking me out to fill my diary with bookings, followed by schools saying I was a shit teacher and didn't want me back - or I've been overlooked for longer-term stuff as "we thought we'd leave you as our supply teacher cos we know you're good"... there is absolutely no logic to it whatsoever at times.

It really can be brutal on your self esteem, especially as part of the nature of supply is that quite often, if you're doing a good job - you're NOT standing out and being noticed because everything's running how it should be!

Rapport and nerves come easier with time - and sometimes the schools in "good" areas can be much more challenging - thinking of my own kids' old school which was a leafy suburb but by heck the combination of personalities in that class would not make it an easy job for supplies! I found that with the nerves I mentally thought myself into a "miss persona" before I rang the school office intercom and that helped a lot - I was a very good consistent supply - but by heck I was shitting my pants every single time I rocked up to a new booking... every single time.

Just because OP is struggling to secure a post doesn’t mean this is the wrong career for them. There are lots of people who secure teaching posts because they exaggerate on application forms and talk themselves up in interview then are absolutely awful in the classroom, horrible to the kids & colleagues and generally unreliable to work alongside. But by then it’s too late because their boasting in interview secured them a permanent job.

Just because OP is struggling to secure a post doesn’t mean this is the wrong career for them
No, it's the OP saying she was nervous and stressed and unable to control a class of year 2 or build rapport with the children that makes me think this. Commenting that the class were rowdy just because she's a new face instead of realising they were likely rowdy because they could sense she was out of her depth. There's a lot of pondering as to why schools aren't taking her on when it seems quite clear

Sorry to hear that. However, I'm a manager in a school and we would definitely listen to the opinions of staff we trust re a supply teacher. These include the vast majority of our TAs. They know the school, the children and our expectations. Unless it was for a long term role, when we might observe ourselves we would accept their judgement, yes.

If it was just this one school I’d say you don’t fit everywhere - not a personal issue but sometimes you’re just not what they want.

However, you’ve had feedback that you seem ‘nervous’ before. If I was you I’d take it on board since obviously something in your behaviour is prompting that. Can you pick apart how you behaved/spoke and try to pinpoint what it is that makes you seem nervous?

Also if they need someone as cover, they do need someone with good behaviour management and good rapport with the children as you wouldd be teaching across several classes. The fact the TAs obviously needed to help you out isn't in your favour. And they wouldn't be helping YOU as such, but trying to instill what they knew would be expected.

Also, and I mean this really kindly, you sound a bit sensitive. I find working in schools you can’t take anything personally or to heart. You need to absorb criticism and use it, not take it as a personal attack, saying things like you did ‘something the TA didn’t like.’ Defensive/sensitive behaviours just do not mesh with teaching unfortunately.

Children suss lack of confidence immediately. You need to act confident even if you don't feel it. Maybe research some behaviour management strategies, to give you more tools. Praising and following the school code won't in themselves work without you conveying a sense, in a pleasant way, that you are fully in charge.