Should I ask head re suitability for job?

[iPodge]

A TA vacancy has been advertised in my girls' school and I'm not sure if I should go for it.

Apart from some TA work in a school in my gap year in the dark ages, my experience is thus. I'm currently a midday supervisor at the school. I also am a temp TA just on a Friday and have been for this whole year and have been a forest school assistant this year too.

The interview process is long and involved and I'm not good at interviews but would obviously give it a shot if it was worth it.

My question is, would it be acceptable to ask the head if it's worth me applying? If she says well no, we need someone more experienced then fine. But I don't want to put myself through it if there's no hope.

Definitely speak to the head. You're known to the school, you know their policies and ways of working and you've been doing the role one day per week. I definitely think it's worth a shot unless they are specifically asking for a qualification you don't have. Even then they may help out you through the training. Good luck.

You have nothing to lose

Apply

Make sure you hit all the must haves on the job description on your application

Thanks. I'll get on with filling out the form and try to speak to her tomorrow to gauge it. I guess I won't know if I don't try!

Google questions for TA interview

It sounds like you've plenty of experience and schools often seem to employ people they know e.g. midday assistant. I'd ask head teacher or just apply. Be confident.

Well I asked if it was worth me applying and she stopped short of saying no but she absolutely meant it. Every word that came out of her mouth was negative and she ended by saying that she couldn't make the decision for me, after all, there might be other 'mum helpers' that might apply.

Thanks for the support everyone. At least I didn't make too much of a fool of myself.

Her response will be because she has to be neutral at this stage - does she actually know your full experience?

Is it a TS classroom assistant or special needs TA?

Classroom assistant. Yes she knows, she gave me both the extra roles at the school and one child in particular in my current class has SN and another one suspected. I work with both.

I appreciate she has to be neutral, I guess I just expected her to say they'd need more experience or ideally A, B and C, not be so negative about it. Hey ho.

Then you have to apply even if it’s jus to show interest

You may not get it, they don’t like losing volunteers because they are hard to be replaced

They may consider you for next time

Do they have a supply list you can go on?

It sounds like you have plenty of experience to be a TA! Did she give any reason why you shouldn't apply? They do have to be fairly neutral but certainly not negative!

What exactly did she say?

Apply. If nothing else it will give you more experience and confidence of the application process.