Any secondary teachers who can help me for a second?

[kumquatsarethelonelyfruit]

I am applying for teaching jobs after a 4 year career break. I know there will be questions about current teaching initiatives in the interview. The last thing I can remember is every child matters - what are all the new things I need to swot up on? Cheers in advance.

progress, progress, progress and how you know they have made progress in a lesson, and independent learning.
Asking on the TES website forums might be a good idea too.
Which subject do you teach?

I agree with BodyofEyore - progress and achievement within lessons is a big thing at the moment. Self and peer assessment, students being able to say which is their best piece of work and reasons why, students knowing personal, specific targets. We are now encouraged forced to monitor how many levels of progress students are making; they should be making at least three levels between each key stage. Erm... what else? Next level marking and feedback, a variety of different types of feedback. If I think of any more I'll post them. Hope that helps :)

read the ofsted subject criteria for your subject. that should cover it. and be ready to express how you would monitor progress!

The biggest thing in our place right now is definitely progress- and the kids knowing what their target is and what they need to do to progress further. Seemingly this is the only thing we ever talk about and is forced down our throats twenty times every staff meeting- also maybe swot up on the new Ofsted criteria and what makes good and outstanding lessons in that. I have been asked about that in a couple of interviews recently.

Thank you very much. I am pretty nervous about going back to teaching and a crap interview would finish me off! If I am well prepared and do a decent interview then even if I don't get the job, at least I will keep my dignity!

Oh, and I teach English.

me too
The newest Ofsted rubbish observations focus a lot on behaviour. Basically, to get outstanding, every pupil has to be on task and engaged 100% off the time.

Ah Kumquat, do you know that the specifications are all changing (again. Sigh) from September? Students will now be assessed on spelling and grammar in all of their papers (and in several other subjects too).

I will be interviewing candidates this summer and will definitely be asking them about the changes. Something like, 'How will you ensure an even stronger focus on spelling and grammar in your lessons'?

I may also ask something about Literacy across the curriculum and working with other subjects to ensure consistency (though that would be a beast).

I don't ask about specific initiatives. But if you don't address the new OFSTED framework or the impact of moving to linear assessment at some point, I would be discouraged.

What's your subject?

You have already said. Sorry!!

Summative and formative assessment.

Progress and differentiation.

Usually a qu about safeguarding.

Probably one about behaviour too.

And satisfactory is no longer ok - you need to be good or outstanding. And if you're good, you need to be striving for outstanding.

My head asks what you have to offer the school that goes beyond the ordinary as well. So think what makes you different and what makes you stand out from other candidates.

Have a look at the new Ofsted paperwork about English departments too.

I'll stop now...

Thank you all. This is incredibly helpful for me.