Aibu to ask for help with teacher image

[TurkishDelight9]

Unfortunately, for a teacher,I look much younger than my age of 24. I am short and have long naturally light blonde hair. People say I look like a teenager. I have grown relationships with the kids in my current school whete i have been for 3 years, so i can manage them well.
I am moving to a new area in September and have got several interviews coming up for upper ks2 teacher. I want to look, sound and generally portray a more commanding teacher presence, because i dont tbink mt first impressions work with me in that respect.
I am fine in my own school because i have developed good relationships with the kids. I am aware though, based on first impressions, SLT of any schools i interview at may think I look too young and lack authority especially if i am nervous on the day.
I have booked a lesson with a coach to work on body language and tone.
How can i style myself to look more mature, authorative and professional, yet still warm and approachable. I am pear shaped and 5 foot 2.My work wardrobe needs to 'grow up' a bit, i think!
Any suggestions?
**I have probably made loads of typos and errors because i have iritis and cant see clearly!

If you find out let me know! I have the same issue. Nothing worse than being mistaken for a new girl when walking into a year 7 (yes year 7) class!

Have since left teaching, so I never managed to crack this one!

Lots of good advice here. This thread has made me smile, remembering my first day in my first job, when one of the lunchtime supervisors found me in the classroom at lunchtime and tried to send me out to play - I was teaching Y5 children!

I am blonde too, and when I was your age my hair was also long too. With big boobs!

To compensate for the "blonde bimbo" first impressions that was almost an automatic assumption in the late 90s/early noughties, I made sure I wore my glasses to every single interview (which were a mild prescription that I only needed for screen use back then!) I was successful at every interview.

Who knows if it was a factor but it certainly made me feel confident that they were less likely to judge me negatively on a stereotype of my appearance

I was a young looking teacher. I always wear a blazer, looks grown up and crucially has pockets. I know primary can be more messy than secondary but you can take the blazer off. I have no idea where to get one as all my clothes come from charity shops but I'm sure you'll find something.

I'm also a pear-shaped teacher but have been in the game rather longer than you (turned 40 this year, so it will be 18 years this year). I often wear leggings and tunic type things that cover my hips and rear. OR longer dresses. Or just trousers (could be tailored from Dorothy Perkins or Gap, or M&S jeggings) with a nice top and a jacket.
Presence IMO comes not just from appearance but also presence, which develops with experience but also from how to command your voice and body. I had vocal training for 4 years, which helps enormously in terms of enabling you to project your voice without it sounding reedy and desperate (because you use your diaphragm and not your throat). So once your session with this coach is over, I would recommend singing lessons for a few years to help you develop a strong diaphragm (plus singing is good for wellbeing anyway!).

My dd (22) has a public facing formal job and looks very young. She wears her hair in a bun every day to look older and she has the blazer from next that was linked earlier.

I was a lecturer at 21, and desperate to prove I was worthy and not too young. I cultivated a wardrobe that looked really good and made me look older. Black trousers and blouses that I could intermix. A couple of plain jumpers for winter. I’ve just looked on Shein (as you said you were on a budget) and there’s loads of work appropriate stuff there, all of it fairly reasonable prices. Also stick to plain jewellery, simple studs or small gold hoops, a ring maybe.
I also had a policy of absolutely limited make up, no foundation or blush (it can and will destroy young skin), a touch of brown mascara and some brown/beige eyeshadow, slick on a tinted chapstick and away you go. Less is more.
It worked and I worked there for over 10 years before I left to pursue my career today, and I only once had a comment (from a 58 year old student) about me being too young.
Go and good luck in your interview!!

Key stage 2 children are still very young to them you will look like an adult. Just behave like one, use your experience and training stand up straight and look confident. I think clothes are less important as long as you feel confident so wear what makes you feel good. As long as it's not something obviously childish.
Please don't go in hard and over strict to appear older and more confident.I think that is a sign of weakness and not good for the children or you, Good teachers don't behave like that (a student teacher lacking in confidence has almost destroyed my grandchild's love of learning and school and almost turned them into a school refuser by using that tactic).
Be confident enough to be kind, listen to the children, don't make assumptions about them and believe in yourself and your ability. Good luck

At least you’re a primary teacher and won’t be mistaken for a pupil!

That has happened to my daughter. It also happened to another young teacher I know who was challenged by a colleague asking what she was doing in the staff room!

I had this - on my first day of teaching I was told off for being in a staff area.

A blazer is good but anything too structured will be impractical. Whistles and Boden do nice petite ponte blazers which are easy to move around in and ok for writing on the board.

Agree with putting hair up. Simple stud earrings combined with this can help. I have some pearl studs, not particularly fashionable at the moment I think but they always helped me look a bit older.

I've never been keen on the 'don't smile until Christmas/Easter' mantra as my students have generally responded well to a warm and nurturing presence. But consistently high expectations, e.g. noticing and stopping/responding when a student talks when you are talking, gives authority as well as getting the best out of students.

I have had colleagues with noticeably amazing posture which I think can help too - I've never managed to get into that good habit myself!

Key stage 2 children are still very young to them you will look like an adult.

This is so true. I was in a school assembly a couple of weeks ago and it was the birthdays of two members of staff and the children were surprised they were different ages. One was in her early twenties and the other in his late fifties.

My Head teacher once mistook me for a Year 6 pupil from behind as I had a similar colour hair and they did not wear school uniform at that time. Admittedly the Year 6 pupil was probably slightly taller than me.

Some year 6s are massive.Atbthst agevthe girls are usually taller tgan the boys! I had one boy who towered over me and must have weighed more than twice as much. He came to me with SEMH and i was really worried what woukd happen if he was violent, but he was actually an absolute sweetie.
The year 6 girls definitely want to view me as big sister. I have to nip that in the bud lol.