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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to worry after no interview offers for ECT teaching jobs?

44 replies

Bookbears · 12/05/2026 20:57

Posting here for traffic because I need help desperately. My husband is currently doing a SKITT and is in the process of applying for primary teaching jobs as a ECT.

We are lucky to live in an area where several have come up - he’s so far applied for 3. No interview. He’s asked for feedback but they obviously haven’t responded. He has had a show round on all 3 before he applied (no teaching observation on any as they were out of hours) and has said he seemed to connect well with the people showing him round so I think it may be down to his personal statement on the application on 2 of them.

He has amended the personal statement for each job so it’s personal to the school he is applying for. The first one I will say was iffy on reflection but he was told by his uni tutor it was good and he has a feeling they already had someone in mind as it wasn’t the headteacher who did the group show around, it was a TA. The 2nd and 3rd personal statement is much more related to teaching and I personally think it’s sounds very good. I am a hiring manager in my industry and I would be impressed with it but I’m not a teacher so I don’t really have any idea if it’s any good for teaching.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get his application to stand out? He is started to getting very stressed about it (as am I) so I want to try and help as much as I can.

OP posts:
niclw · 12/05/2026 21:47

Also, if he doesn’t have a job by the end of June he could apply for supply work through agencies or directly with schools. My own school prefers to use their own supply staff rather than agency if they are available. We have a few on the books.

Pearlstillsinging · 12/05/2026 21:48

Bookbears · 12/05/2026 21:08

Thanks for your reply. Is it early? He seems to think if he doesn’t get a job by the end of this month he’s stuffed it?

He has been looking at the specification but I’m unsure on whether he is hitting every point on it. I will ask and go back and compare his statement to the ones he has applied for.

Do you think it would be wise him almost bullet pointing it? Not literally but as an example if the first point on the specification was (and I am totally guessing here because I have no idea what is on one), but something like ‘enjoys working as part of a team’. He would then write as the first paragraph of his statement how he works as part of a team with specific teaching examples? and then do the same for the second point?

Show quote history

Yes. Do that.
Also ask someone in the placement school who is involved in hiring new teachers ( so probably not the mentor) to read his personal statement and advise. The LA SKITT supervisor should also be worth asking for advice.

SpanThatWorld · 12/05/2026 21:48

Onbdy · 12/05/2026 21:36

I’ve never known a primary teacher shortage, the shortages you hear about generally apply to secondary teaching and specifically certain subjects. It’s all about luck and who you know in primary and always has been that way. Most teachers start off sound supply and jobs tend to lead from that.

Totally not true in London. Every primary school I've worked in has been scrabbling around for staff each year.

I started in the late 1980s and schools would employ just about anyone. One of my colleagurs had qualified 15 years previously, never taught and was given a job. Another had a dubious qualification from Singapore and the school decided it would do even though it wasn't actually a teaching qualification. One had been teaching for 2 years despite no qualification at all. That was 3 class teachers out of 9 in one school.

About 10 years ago I worked in a school where we had a choice of 2 candidates. One had previously worked at the school and we knew she was lazy and left all the work to everyone else. The other called a child stupid in her interview lesson.

BerylThePeril44 · 12/05/2026 21:49

Head Teacher here. Experience of supporting children with SEND/Inclusion very high profile in response to white paper - so make sure strong examples of practices, training etc in statement.
I would include the sporting qualifications/ experience etc but make sure they are balanced with other subjects and areas of expertise that he can offer. Otherwise…great if Sport is an area of development or gap in the school but not if something else - computing, art etc. He may be dismissed as they already have strong sports leads…

purpleheartsandroses · 12/05/2026 21:50

Copy and paste the person spec into a word document, then for each point, write a sentence + example. Once you've got an example for each point, you can re-work it so it flows.

The examples matter more than it being good quality writing, although obviously needs to be grammatically accurate, but it's not meant to be novel-worthy.

Happytaytos · 12/05/2026 21:50

What area are you?

Shinyandnew1 · 12/05/2026 21:55

A lot of primary schools are struggling with falling rolls so are having to lose teachers, which won’t be helping. The school my sister teachers at has always been a 3-form intake but only has 49 children down to start reception in September which is unheard of. They are losing teachers due to retirement, but would otherwise have had to look at redundancies.

Tellmetomorrow57 · 12/05/2026 22:12

@Bookbears I don't think anyone has said this (apologies if they have and I've missed it) so the deadline for teachers to hand their notice in is 31/05, but invariably for maternity cover/retirement/unforseen circumstances there will be jobs after this date meaning that the pool is a lot smaller as it is only ECTs/ supply who can apply. This can be a great way into a school!

Original poster
Bookbears · 13/05/2026 09:49

Moonnstarz · 12/05/2026 21:30

Unfortunately despite what the news reports about teacher shortages this is really area dependent. There is likely to be many candidates going for the same job, and it may be that there are already students in the schools he has applied for and they have been offered interviews potentially alongside other more experienced staff.
As already mentioned, more jobs are likely to be advertised after half term once schools know for sure who is staying and who is going. It's also worth noting that due to falling birth rates school now generally offer fixed term contracts so it might not be that he gets a permanent job so it's worth considering anything (part time, maternity cover).

You mention his uni tutor has checked his personal statement, but what about the mentor in his school?

The headteacher is his mentor and he has checked it over and said it was good, but they are a very small school who don’t really have a staff turnover at all, so I’m not sure when the last time he had to actually hire someone was. I’m not saying he doesn’t know what he is talking about of course, but the last time he saw a personal statement was probably about 10 years ago.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bookbears · 13/05/2026 09:55

niclw · 12/05/2026 21:45

It has been reported that there has been a 32% drop in the number of vacancies this school year compared to last year. So more people are applying for fewer jobs. My child’s primary school had 35 applicants for one job. So it is quite competitive out there for primary teachers at the moment. I work in secondary and we haven’t advertised any roles yet this school year. There are people leaving but they aren’t being replaced which I’ve heard is happening in many schools so is putting strain on the number of vacancies.

With regards the deadline. After half term, your husband will be more likely to get a job as only current trainees and those without jobs will be able to apply. He doesn’t need to have a job before half term. I work with trainees and I don’t know any that have got a job yet. The experienced teachers are already employed so when people resign near the May deadline, schools will have to choose between ECTs or having a vacancy until January. Tell him to hold out because something may come up.

Thank you. I think in our area there seems to be alot of job vacancies in primary schools. I was actually really surprised at the amount of them popping up every day but like you said there could be lots of teachers also looking at applying.

Thank you, I will bear that in mind. It just seems like such a short window to secure something, it’s really worrying when you have children and a mortgage to pay. I don’t think he would be so worried if he was fresh out of uni living with his parents.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bookbears · 13/05/2026 09:57

niclw · 12/05/2026 21:47

Also, if he doesn’t have a job by the end of June he could apply for supply work through agencies or directly with schools. My own school prefers to use their own supply staff rather than agency if they are available. We have a few on the books.

That’s good to know thank you. I didn’t realise that was an option for newly qualified teachers.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bookbears · 13/05/2026 09:58

Pearlstillsinging · 12/05/2026 21:48

Yes. Do that.
Also ask someone in the placement school who is involved in hiring new teachers ( so probably not the mentor) to read his personal statement and advise. The LA SKITT supervisor should also be worth asking for advice.

Show quote history

I will pass that on, however I have a feeling as his mentor is the head teacher and it’s only a small school, that he probably is invovled in hiring as well. I will ask him about the LA SCITT supervisor however.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bookbears · 13/05/2026 10:01

BerylThePeril44 · 12/05/2026 21:49

Head Teacher here. Experience of supporting children with SEND/Inclusion very high profile in response to white paper - so make sure strong examples of practices, training etc in statement.
I would include the sporting qualifications/ experience etc but make sure they are balanced with other subjects and areas of expertise that he can offer. Otherwise…great if Sport is an area of development or gap in the school but not if something else - computing, art etc. He may be dismissed as they already have strong sports leads…

Thank you! This is very useful advice. I will make sure he isn’t too sport heavy in his statement and when he is going for show arounds, I will tell him to ask about sports so he can gauge whether they already have that covered. It’s a good point that he may be missing talking about the areas they really need help with which can absolutely do but isn’t getting that across.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bookbears · 13/05/2026 10:01

purpleheartsandroses · 12/05/2026 21:50

Copy and paste the person spec into a word document, then for each point, write a sentence + example. Once you've got an example for each point, you can re-work it so it flows.

The examples matter more than it being good quality writing, although obviously needs to be grammatically accurate, but it's not meant to be novel-worthy.

That’s a really good idea! I know he has been referencing it but copy and pasting it will ensure he doesn’t miss anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bookbears · 13/05/2026 10:04

Shinyandnew1 · 12/05/2026 21:55

A lot of primary schools are struggling with falling rolls so are having to lose teachers, which won’t be helping. The school my sister teachers at has always been a 3-form intake but only has 49 children down to start reception in September which is unheard of. They are losing teachers due to retirement, but would otherwise have had to look at redundancies.

Yes this is exactly what has happened in his 2 placement schools. They both said they would have him a heart beat and actually agreed for a student to go with the intention of employing them in a role they knew would be available due to retirement, but they are now having to condense classes so physically don’t have the jobs available. It’s such a shame as he really loves both of those schools and they really like him also.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bookbears · 13/05/2026 10:05

Tellmetomorrow57 · 12/05/2026 22:12

@Bookbears I don't think anyone has said this (apologies if they have and I've missed it) so the deadline for teachers to hand their notice in is 31/05, but invariably for maternity cover/retirement/unforseen circumstances there will be jobs after this date meaning that the pool is a lot smaller as it is only ECTs/ supply who can apply. This can be a great way into a school!

That’s really good to know thank you! I am hoping that after speaking with all you lovely people and the advice you have given that he will get a interview in the next couple of weeks but if he doesn’t it’s good to know there are still options for him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bookbears · 13/05/2026 10:07

Always open for more help and suggestions, but just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to respond to me with help. We are sitting down tonight to review his past applications and see if we can get some more good examples of his teaching experience that we pull from to suit to particular schools. I will keep you updated!

OP posts:
Xmasallergies · 13/05/2026 14:24

Definitely worth apply in for the maternity cover jobs or short term contracts, if they will take ECTs. Keep trying and apply for everything!

Tutorpuzzle · 13/05/2026 15:43

I shouldn’t laugh, @SpanThatWorld , but your post really made me giggle!

I’ve been supply teaching for quite a while now, @Bookbears , (not interested in permanent quite yet) and have plenty of work. It gives a really good insight into local schools. And can confirm that a good number of teachers I’ve worked with became permanent at a school where they had been supply teaching.

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