Interviews?

[McDougal]

I'm hoping the collective wisdom of MN can help.

Just started PGCE but not in schools until next week. I might have been a little naive (or just avoided the subject to keep my sanity) but we've been advised to apply for jobs as soon as they come out in October.

I'm just starting my placement next week and won't officially start teaching practice until the second week of November so the thought of teaching a lesson at interview when I won't have taught a full lesson yet is terrifying me.

I suppose I'm looking for reassurance that schools aren't expecting a polished lesson/finished product?

You won't be able to start though until July 2018 after you qualify, or until September realistically. Seems unlikely that you'll be recruited this early.

And yes, that thought is terrifying! Perhaps that advice is some that you can ignore for a while.

That's what I thought so it's confused the life out of me.

What makes it worse is that my subject isn't struggling with shortage in my local area so that's made me wonder if I should get in early.

This is my ignorance showing again, but if interviews are October/November, when would they be recruiting for? Surely that's a little early for the following September?

They'd be recruiting for January. So really no need for you to apply.

Thank you, Parrot. You've reassured a very anxious woman!

Why on earth would they want to stress an entire cohort out when we can't possibly start in January? It baffles me

Jobs for September tend to come out around February/March ish. The half terms before Easter and after Easter are the busy times for September recruitment, because it's too late to get an employed teacher for Easter start (to late to hand in notice), but early enough that the best candidates haven't been snapped up yet.

Where are you? It is somewhat baffling! Unless they want you to have the horrible experience of writing pointless applications to weed out the less enthusiastic! I hope not.
Best of luck with the teaching practice.

Ah right. So, if I'd like to start July (to finally get paid!), would it be better to apply sooner rather than later? I'm sick of being a student bum

I'm in the north east Parrot. Our local authority and surrounding areas (I'm willing to travel as far as it takes), filled all of their positions for English. It's also a large cohort so I have quite a bit of competition

The July posts are rare, but sometimes come up. Or you can do a bit of supply after qualifying.
Teachers (on LEA contracts) can only resign at certain times of the year so advertised posts tend to cluster around those dates (end Feb and end May - I don't know if there's an October date). I guess academies can do what they like.

They're pretty much academies around here so I can keep my fingers crossed for a paid summer

I know a few from last year's cohort got posts starting in July (having done placements there) so hopefully I'll have a chance.

Thank you for replies!

You're much less likely to get a paid summer in an academy!

I got my job in June for September. I really wouldn't apply now. You most likely wouldn't get anything because you aren't qualified yet and that would be really disheartening.

I haven't heard of anyone getting an early start/paid summer for years! Are you training to do secondary maths?

I would set up tes notifications of jobs but not worry too much-you can be choosy. We appointed in Feb/march for Sep start. Jobs now are immediate or January start-which you can't do!

Thank you for the replies, everyone.

I'm secondary English...or will be in a few months yet

I've just been chatting to one of the people who were on the course last year and she got her job in January. I'm not sure if this is skewed by her being on placement there?

Fingers crossed I avoid academies but I know my first placement is at one. It's also miles away so, as much as I'm hoping to make a good impression, I'd rather not to have to travel that far for a job!

If a school anticipate shortages then they will advertise early hoping that by doing it first they get the 'best'. My school have open vacancies for a number of subjects

I'd agree with what has already been said. Jobs tend to be advertised from Jan/Feb onwards for a September start. July is possible but very rare.

Also, when you get to that stage, don't panic if you don't get something straight away. As you have identified, you might find the interview lesson difficult in Jan/Feb, but will be much more confident by April/May.

And in June, a magical thing happens: serving teachers can't resign after 31 May (well, they can, but can't leave until Christmas) so NQTs become more attractive than ever. Not only cheap, but available!

Good luck with the course

I would apply for every job that appeals to you. The lesson is one part of the interview. If you're all NQTs, you'll be on equal footing, and experienced observers are looking for potential. After Christmas, get less picky if there aren't many vacancies. If you get to Easter without a job, look further afield if you can.

In the East of England, we struggle to recruit good Secondary English teachers despite good colleges churning out applicants - they head elsewhere. If you are willing to resettle, you can be a bit picky. When it gets to May, schools are panicking because if teachers don't resign by 31st May, they cannot start somewhere new in September. The only people who can apply are unemployed teachers and the NQTs that haven't been snapped up.

Ask at your placement schools. Even if they're not recruiting, they may know of upcoming vacancies.

Thanks everyone.

You've given me quite a lot to think about. I think I'll keep an eye out when jobs start coming out and put on my big girl pants if I manage to get any interviews before I feel like a teacher!

I hope my placement schools are as supportive as you lot

I wouldn't even start looking until February/March time-just focus on your course.

Best of luck with your course. It's very hard. Try to take time for yourself.

Thanks leccy.

I just found out which school I’m going to today and I can’t wait. All of the speakers (there’s been a big ‘welcome’ conference) have reminded us to take time for ourselves so I’ll hopefully be able to do so.

I know a woman there too and she’s been filling me in a bit on what it’s like.

I’m excited and hope it stays that way...for a little while at least

Don't forget, start dates will be included in advertisements so you will find that many of them will
be for Jan/ Easter starts which you obviously couldn't apply for anyway.

Agree with above posters that it's very unlikely that many jobs for September will be come up now and less likely that July starts will come up much at all.

I interviewed in mid March to start as an NQT in September. Everyone in my cohort applied/interviewed between Jan and March.

We appointed a maths teacher in November last year for a July start, they were on placement with us, were good and we weren't going to let anyone else get them! That's maths for you...I don't think shortages in English are as bad.