Moving from supply to a job but can't get an interview - please help?

[alwaysonmymind]

Hi -
Does anyone have any advice please? I've asked teacher friends and colleagues but I'm not sure they are being totally honest.
I've been on supply for 5 years, mostly long-term contracts, not very much day to day. I've been at last school 3 years part-time, due to illnesses, mat leave etc. They've been happy with my work and kept asking me to stay on, but with budget cuts now there is no position next year.
So I've been applying as my agency has said there isn't much work out there at the minute. I've applied for about 15 jobs, had two interviews. Feedback for one was "there was a stronger candidate" and other was"you talked too much about what you had done, not what you would do for us." Been teaching 20 years, specialising in EY, led in one school years ago for 8 years but got ill and dropped responsibility.
I spend hours on each application, I go through their website, ofsted report, person spec. I dont feel as though I'm churning out the same application. There's one more job, with a closing date on Monday.
Is it me? Am I too expensive? Too experienced? Should I dumb it down?
Any ideas, thoughts, advice would be appreciated - I can take criticism and reflect on myself.

How old are you? Probably too expensive, I work on supply and the majority of schools are full of nqt's. At least you are getting interviews.

Crimsonlake
Thanks for the reply.
I'm 45 and I'm aware that most of the posts I'm applying for are mainscale pay but it's regular pay! The headteacher has said she has praised me as she hasn't known anyone as versatile as me - PPA cover in Yr 6 one day or covering SLT in Reception the next. I am despairing atm!

Have you been applying since the May resignation date? Next batch of jobs will be coming up in November for January. Meanwhile, look out for tutoring as a stop gap, but as the holidays are about to start, it’s unlikely you’ll get a post for September. Your versatility will mean you’ll pick up daily work when the Autumn term starts.

Where are you based? You sound perfect or our school. We can’t find teachers for live not money. Keep offering them jobs and they go for a slightly higher paid one further in. We pay fringe rating...

Hairy Maclairy
I'm in Greater Manchester!
So do you think I'm not doing anything wrong in particular? It's really difficult to keep picking myself up but I guess I'll have to!
Thanks

Where we are they’re desperate for teachers!

Can you het to London or even parts of Leeds.

Are you looking for full or part time? If you were unwell years ago, do not say you went p/t due to the kob. Say for personal reasons. Is your attendance as a supply tip top?

I have no doubt that the receiving head will pick up phone and talk to the head at previous schools before making an offer if you aren't in a substantive post.

Good luck.

Should also read before inviting you to interview.

I'm in education but not at a school. Do they ask for a mini/micro teach? Can you take an example of a lesson plan? Look at their values on website and model them into an answer. Look at their ofsted and find some threads where your practice/ethos would help a key point improve.

Think about possible questions and have answers practiced. In my field there would always be a question about: subject specialism, dealing with conflict, equal opportunity (it's about adjustments to make the playing field level - so so many trot out diversity instead, time management (not post it notes).

On a practical level, are grammar and syntax ace on the application and no spellings that spell checker won't pick up. Neat hair, nails, tidy appearance, big smile, etc.

It also helps to say something positive: how you would live to work there, feel you can make an impact, were impressed with the children you saw.

Do you have anything extra to add that cd run as an after school/lunchtime club?