"Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and encouraged"

[GottaFeeling]

I've seen this on a lot of school job adverts. Why?

Do they use it as a shortlisting tool?

The last job I applied for I didn't go and despite being perfect for the job and writing an excellent application (IMVHO ) I didn't get an interview. Was I written off because I didn't make the effort to visit?

Don't heads understand that if you're working in school, taking time off to visit isn't easy? Or is that the point?

IME it varies - I know people who've got jobs without visiting and worked in a school where the HT has used the visit as a way of unofficially weeding out applicants who didn't fit her "brand image" anyone who looked as if they might have an opinion.

We like to judge people when they come to visit
But it can be in a positive way and makes the head remember your name. We don't turn down people who didn't visit but those who did and made a good impression tend to be at an advantage.
That and often you can learn a lot about the school and what they're looking for (that you can't from the website) so applications tend to be more personalised.

I thought they had to give you time off to visit schools. Or is that just for interviews

They don't expect you to take time off - they expect you to go after school. We definitely use it; it helps people remember who you are and we've taken people to interview we might have overlooked if it was solely their paper application.

Exactly what Wombat just said. We just appointed a new HT, and the applicants who had visited the school were able to write such better tailored applications.
There was only one person (who eventually didn't apply) about whom I thought 'noooooooo'.
Actually I can't understand why you'd apply to lead a school you'd never visited to be honest, though do understand it's difficult to get time off, especially if you're applying for lots, or changing area etc.

I did this, because I was an older NQT and did not want to be written off on paper because of my ancient age. Also gives you lots of ideas and questions to ask at interview. I found it very positive and recommend it.

My head expects prospective applicants to visit during school time.
And doesn't grant permission for us to visit other schools...

I think they do expect you to take time off Pottering - they want to show you the school working and the one I didn't go to had very inflexible time slots on offer.

So, how do you go about getting the time off?

Yes, I'm finding inflexible time slots this year. So far I've manage to swap PPA around with colleagues. There's a school I really want to see for which this won't be possible though. Back to begging the head...

I don't have that much experience, but imo (have seen it in the last week) the visits are as much for the applicant as the school. We had people visit who then didn't apply, maybe they thought the set-up wasn't right for them, or some of the classes a little more challenging. It's quite a diverse school and one of the visitors made a comment that tbh put the HT off her, thankfully she didn't apply.

All schools are different; as a parent I visited 3 schools before applying for a place for DD - the one was Outstanding with a waiting list, but neither DH or I liked it for DD - it was too busy, too big, too impersonal. The school we chose was smaller, more run down but it had a more 'family' feel. Some potential applicants might like a bigger more 'professional' school, some may prefer the smaller 'haphazard' style.

The time off is interesting - I've only ever been at 4pm and have only ever had people come to us after teaching hours.

No way would my head let us go out in school time, but I don't think it's the done thing around here.

What about heads coming to visit you in your school too to observe lessons? That's what's happening here. Bloody difficult if you're in a school that doesn't let you do things the way you want to!

We have had 30+ visits for our 2 jobs - 4 visiting slots, 3 at 2.30 and 1 at 5pm.

Our head teacher is quite open that she makes a preliminary judgement on the smartness of their presentation and whether their shoes are polished. Can't imagine how I got a job here...

On our interview assessment forms our HT insists on keeping the "is the candidate well-presented, dressed appropriately, professional in appearance and demeanor" item right at the top of the form. She won't hire anyone with visible tattoos or piercings or anyone who wears open shoes/sandals/etc. I am sure she uses polished shoes as a success criteria too King

There was one woman who wore leopard-print shoes to her interview and the shortest skirt you have ever seen and then had to teach a sample lesson to the Reception class. The person observing the lesson got treated to several crotch shots as she bent down to help the children

We are a very conservative and traditional school. She didn't get the job

Considering that I'd usually be rushing off after school to get to an organised tour at whatever school, I don't think I'd have much of a chance in terms of "well-dressed". I either teach PE/Games or lead sports clubs in the afternoons and have a tendency to run around in sports clothes. (I could get changed, but then I'd be late.) I'm not a great fan of being taken around a school with 20 other potential candidates anyway. It doesn't tend to give me the information I'd like and is a bit of a waste of time, quite honestly. My school does individual tours with prospective candidates, with the headteacher actually having a proper conversation with the person looking around.
That said, I've been invited for interview at each of the schools I have applied to...despite this time round really not having been able to visit any of them. I didn't have to attend all of the interviews offered, though.