First Primary Teaching Position - help

[Betnextgen74]

I have applied for numerous teaching positions, following all of the guidance
( making bespoke to the school ). My experience is varied and accompanied by a superb placement reference. Many professionals have read my application form and said it’s outstanding, interesting and varied.

I have additional training in first aid, special needs and makaton, together with life experience nannying / teaching abroad in the summer months.

I have had 2 observations but I’m not getting through to interviews despite the feedback being positive. Indeed the students in the class today said my teaching was the best they’d experienced all day bless them. I know they don’t make appointments!! 😂

seemingly from friends and other professionals I’ve spoken to there are now only 2 ways in which schools appoint.
You either know someone who works at a school or they know you through seeing you as a supply teacher and often appoint that way.

Clearly it looks like I will now have at least a year ahead doing supply teaching. What else can I do ?!

I think it always been like that unless you strike it lucky or they are desperate for staff
you could try for fixed term contracts such as maternity cover

Presumably it’s your actual teaching that’s the issue here. It really doesn't matter what the children say - and actually, the fact that you say some of them are commenting to you on your teaching is a bit of a worry! It shows that you may not be understanding fully the nature of the dynamics between teacher and students.
There will be schools out there who are desperate for teachers, especially if any of their teachers resigned just before 31/5, meaning that the school wouldn't have time to recruit a current teacher before September. Much depends on the area you're living in and the types of schools you’re applying for.

When during the process were you able to get that feedback from the students?

Are you making your lessons too whizz-bang? I made sure to plan and deliver realistic lessons for what I would actually deliver on a day to day basis. Making it too fun is not what you will actually deliver on the job and sometimes the excitement takes away from any actual learning.

We had new HT appointed about 4 years ago. Since then every single job has gone to someone previously known to her.
I also find the bit about the pupils saying you were the best teacher etc odd. Any teachers I've known who were the pupils' favourites were only popular because they were lax with discipline and over friendly.

It was only a 20 minute lesson with year 5 students. Interesting but not whizz bang I’d say

any other ideas ?
TIA

The feedback from the HT was not critical of my teaching.

It seems that way sadly but then that’s the world we live in

It was only a 20 minute lesson teaching exercise as part of the application process. Not know to the students at all

Just at the end as I was packing up

Supply, rightly or wrongly, is actually a very good way in.
They can look at you - but, more importantly for your future, you can look at them!
Find a school you like. Keep going back.
Hopefully you'll find what you are looking for.
Good Luck.

Good schools often have many people to choose from, so knowing someone is good, will give them a boost - but equally well I know teachers who have interviewed for the job they are doing as supply and not got the job. Feedback has been that they were good, school would have been happy to have them, but someone was better.
It's only got to be one person that's better.

The kids saying it was the best lesson ever isn't necessarily an endorsement of your teaching. They're not aware of what is a good lesson, just what they enjoy doing - or possibly not doing!

Ds would have declared a teacher who didn't make him write anything down the best ever. Dd1 would have loved a teacher who gave a workbook and let her get on with it. Dd2 would have proclaimed the best lesson ever would have been a teacher who let her talk and dominate.
None of these from the outside would be particularly good, and none of them would have learnt much.

Hmmm, it isn’t always about knowing someone or having done supply. We have recently employed 3 new teachers, none of whom were known to the school before interview.

What was your feedback? I’ve been teaching for nearly 16 years, so happy to give some advice if needed!

In 40 years I've only once known a sitting tenant or someone known to the school not get the job.

One HT used to look at the applicants' names and sort them into 2 piles for consideration - "I know her" and "I don't know her".

I once had an interview and was up against a girl who'd been a student with the HT at another school. I tried to keep the lack of surprise out of my voice when she phoned to say I'd been unsuccessful.

Hmm…if you’re getting observations but not interviews then something about your teaching is putting them off.
i’ve quoted this post because it appears quite dismissive of people trying to tell you that.

I just wonder if, when you get to the observation stage you are (without realising it) coming across in a way that’s making people bristle (overconfident or too over eager with the children perhaps)

obviously I don’t know you so I don’t know this but your posting style and the comment about your lesson being the best of the day just make me wonder.

Anyway, supply is honestly a great way to get a foot in the door, get a few longer term blocks, let them get to know the real you and (importantly) get to know the school and see if it’s somewhere you could work.

good luck with your search.

But after a lesson observation they chose not to interview you - some things are not spoken…

Are you restricted to a particular area? My first teaching job was 200 miles south of where I wanted to be!

Some posters are being a bit harsh to you. I think you sound perfectly nice and there is nothing wrong with confidence and optimism!

My interviews were always observation +task+ interview. I never went for a non SLT job where they made a 'cut'. That's brutal.