Any school governors out there? i am helping with teacher interviews next week........

[porkypoo]

I am relatively new to school governance, and have been asked to help with teacher interviews next week.

Are there any tips you can give me? any questions that have worked well for you.....

Would one of the current teachers at the school be prepared to help you out by pretending to be a candidate so that you can hold a "mock" interview before the real thing, so you know what to expect?

I imagine the experienced governor or head will take the lead, you can just make a small note of anything that the candidate says that interests you and then ask them to expand on/more depth etc, it when it is Q time?

How about writing down the 5 most important things to you personally about the role/qualities/skills/style of a teacher and gearing any Q's about any of the points the candidate does not cover.

Follow the heads lead for the first then you will soon be in full swing for the next.

I would speak to the head and see whether he has already drawn up a list of questions.

If not then at the very least the interview panel should meet beforehand to discuss questions that will be asked.

hth.

thanks mungogerry, i am with both the head and chair, both are really on the ball.

But I just wanted to be a bit prepared, with perhaps some questions of my own (otherwise I may just sit without saying a word!!)

5 interviews on Weds. i am glad they picked me. But dont want to let the other governors down.

Have you interviewed recently?

I've always turned up and been handed a list of perfecty good questions from our head. Have you had any previous interview experience?

Just use your people skills. Listen attentively, make eye contact and be interested in their answers/what they have to say.
The whole process should be useful even to the candidates NOT successful.
And think about things from the children's point of view.

Good luck.

Thansk wannaBe, we are meeting tonight. so I want to be prepared.

TheMitfordsMaid No previous experience, other than jobs i have been for, (in the corporate sector) But I hope i am a good judge of character at the very least.

NonnoMum - thanks eye contact - must remember that!!!

A little depends on the relative experience of the candidates. At this time of year it is quite likely that they are NQTs that are looking for their first job. If so I would ask them to describe the last teaching practice in general and what was the best lesson they did and why.

If they are not NQTs then I would go for something around what else can you as an experienced teacher bring to this school that will expand the education of the children outside of the classroom. They should be answering in terms of clubs etc but you never know what somebody might say or come up with.

I was in your shoes a few months ago - one Headship appointment, one Deputy shortlisting and three interviews later, I feel a bit more experienced! Talk about steep learning curve.
I've found the Head (apart from first experience, obviously) always has good questions, and farms them out to the rest of us as well as letting us ask whatever we like. I tend to ask what they hope they can get from working at our school, what they are bringing in terms of outside interests/hobbies/special interests, that kind of thing. I'm not a specialist, so I leave the education nitty gritty to the leadership team and the governor who is an ex-teacher.
Hopefully an enjoyable experience - good luck!

What do you think makes a good teacher?
Why do you want to teach at this school?
What would your classroom look like?
What did you learn in your last school?

Tell me some difficulties that some students had and how did you help them?
How would you set about teaching a mixed ability class?
How do you practice differentiation?
What would you do to involve those students that are bored?
How would you motivate an unmotivated student?
(Similar to above)
How would you keep the interest of a very able student that easily gets bored answering, what to them, are easy questions?
How do you handle classroom management issues (naughty boys!)?

What makes good teaching?
Have you seen any good teaching taking place?
Why was it effective?
How could you tell?

Tell me about one of your lessons that went totally wrong.
What went wrong and what did you do?
Tell me about one of your lessons that went really, really well.

Would you run a Club?
What would take place in your Club?
If you have some money to spend what would you spend it on and why?
How would you actively involve parents?

If you had a troublesome student:-
a) What would you do first of all?
b) At what stage would you refer the problem to your line manager (Head of Dept)?
c) At what stage would you involve the parents?
What do you like about teaching?
What do you hate about teaching?
If you learn that a student is being abused, what would you do?
How would you inform a parent of a students? progress?

How would you ensure that a students? progress is maintained throughout the year?
How would you record / track a students? progress?
What 'progress checks' would you use and how often?

Good Luck

Running clubs are not a part of a teacher's contract, therefore it is unfair to ask teachers what clubs they would run. A question of this nature could be regarded as discriminatory as teachers who have caring responsibilities (usually women) would find excessive unpaid overtime far more of a challenge than those who do not.

I interview as part of my job, and am also a parent governor. How did your meeting go last night?

you can't just make up questions, all candidates have to be asked exactly the same questions so that there is equality of opportunity. They will have been prepared by the head and you will be told which questions you should ask and when.

No offence, but I have been on many a teaching interview (I previously held a senior post in a school) and have never, ever been asked about my hobbies or the reasons why I like or dislike teaching!

In fact, I would probably quite enjoy that - the feeling that the school cared about my personal interests...

The interview questions will be based around the person specification and any relevant national standards eg. the standards for qualified teachers. There will generally be a question on inclusion and one on safeguarding (child protection).

Is your school a member of the NGA,if so contact them,see what they think of Govs being on interview panels,if its the same as a senior member of that org told a conference I was at last month,then you might be in for a suprise.

Thank you for all you help peeps.(sorry for delay)

Meeting with head and chair went really well. We shortlisted successfully and the head had a list of questions she wanted to ask at interview. We then agreed on a couple more based on the school improvement plan.

All candidates will be asked the same questions.

I have been asked to sit in on the teaching assessments too, the head wants me to focus on whether I would like my child taught by the candidate and she and deputy will focus on teaching ability.

I am a little nervous but really really looking forward to it!!

propatria - we are not members. What does the NGA think of governors being on interview panels?

I'm assuming (for I have no idea what they actually said) that they don't think Governors should be on the panel. I must say I am ambivalent about it.

I am a qualified HR bod and from that perspective, I would argue that only trained people should conduct interviews. Training is not just about knowledge of equal opps, but about how to get the best out of candidates, how to assess them fairly and about differing selection techniques. Obviously Governors can be trained but our role isn't about day to day management of the school. We are supposed to take a strategic overview and can't do that if we are too involved in the running of the school.

I sat on a panel because we have a very unique set of circumstances at our school but once this interim period is over we will withdraw ourselves from selection activity. I will however, discuss selection methods, questions etc with our HT to ensure things like safeguarding are covered.

speaking from bitter experience, be very wary of (1) a glowing reference from current school and (2) bullshit merchants

They should not be on interview panels,it isnt part of their role and isnt a good use of talents and time,they want Governors to be of a better quality and have specific skills,sitting- interviewing people is not a good use etc etc,,,
Govs should be involved in strategy not tactics..

Interesting propatria, because I thought the NGA policy was that govs were legally responsible for head and deputy interviews and appointments but that for other positions it was upto individual school GBs to decide how much they want to be involved in the appointment process.
It goes without saying that GBs should be strategic not operational and that any Gb would want to have the very best people they could get on a GB.

Mitsford maid, on the basis that everybody who interviews should be trained that will remove practically all heads and deputies because there is very little training for interviewing. I do agree with you though that interview training would potentially stop some of the worst appointments that are made.

I think it is pretty shocking that there isn't more training available. Plenty of local authorities offer recruitment and selection training, I've always found it widely available. Hmm, I wonder if I could offer this on a freelance basis directly to schools?

we want the best people on GB's but sadly, its a voluntary position and it can be hard to even get people to put themselves forward.

Personally I find it very rewarding, unlike my current job role!!

If you have a rounded selection of people on the panel then surely, you are more likely to get a more rounded individual? (panicks - hoping we will all agree at decision time!!!!)