Any advice on getting a job in private school?

[absopugginglutely]

I’ve been teaching in a state school for 5 years and a dream job has recently come up in a very successful private school and I am just desperate to get it!

I’m currently updating my CV and will send it round to friends who are good at that kind of thing but I’m wondering if anyone here has any advice on how to impress or what not to say at the interview?

Thanks

Tour the school with the head first by appointment. Nb: I'll never go back to state!

I work in an independent school ...
The staff are just people the same as a state school ...and children are children !
But if I can offer any advice....speak correctly ..shake hands ...and wear smart but classic coloured clothes !!

Think about what extra curricular you can offer (sports etc) and whether you'd be willing to do boarding duties or assistant house parent roles. Does the school do Saturday lessons?

Flexibility to teach other subjects (often games!), but depends what subject you are

Ask - are they planning to stay in the TPS long term. Many independents are leaving due to funding

Have worked in six independent schools (two as support staff prior to teacher training) and four others as teaching staff - ranging from smallish local prep schools to top ranked ones.
Are you Looking at primary or secondary?

Thanks all. I would probably need to buy a new wardrobe anyway so that I can look the part. I know of someone who works there and they always look understated and pretty.
It’s for age 4-13.
I have to write a hand written letter to the head teacher attached to my application form- eek!

Use your cursive script!

Thank you!

Aha ok! Have worked in prep and senior and the expectations are slightly different.

In my experience prep schools tend to be quite traditional in outlook and approach. I would dress fairly conservatively for the interview if you get one, dress and jacket always a good bet. If it’s 4-13 then it’ll be still preparing people for common entrance I assume? Definitely think about what you can offer that’s extra- extra curricular activities are usually mandatory for staff and willingness and ability to contribute will be really important.

Thank you. I am applying for a Year 1 class teacher job so I imagine that it will be fairly low pressure in terms of entrance exam prep etc.
I will be coming from an Outstanding state primary with very good results so I think I stand a good chance as long as I do okay at the interview.
Fingers crossed eek!

Ask - are they planning to stay in the TPS long term. Many independents are leaving due to funding

^^This is very good advice, OP! Take heed of it. Teachers' Pensions is becoming unaffordable for many independent schools. I forsee an exodus from the scheme in the very near future. It will no doubt be replaced with a lesser product. You'll need to take this into consideration when transferring to the private sector.

Yes a friend left state to go private two years ago and they’ve just announced they’re coming out of the TPS.

She’s devastated

^^This is very good advice, OP! Take heed of it. Teachers' Pensions is becoming unaffordable for many independent schools. I forsee an exodus from the scheme in the very near future. It will no doubt be replaced with a lesser product. You'll need to take this into consideration when transferring to the private sector.

This is very good advice. My friend works at an independent where they’re currently deciding what to do about TPS. Nightmare situation.

Lots of good advice. Agree - think carefully re. the TPS! My school have now decided to withdraw and are offering a much worse pension - it is causing enormous anxiety. I am seriously thinking of going back to the state sector for what’s left of my career.

Oh thank you. Definitely worth considering because the whole reason I want to go back full time is to boost my pension.
I wonder when will be a good time to raise this question?

It sometimes says in the advert whether they’re a part of the TPS so do some digging. There was also an article on the TES last week listing all the schools thinking about leaving the scheme so have a google and see if the school’s on there. Good luck whatever you decide to do

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.tes.com/news/revealed-schools-leaving-teachers-pension-scheme%3famp

Here’s the link

My husband is a PE teacher in state. You pretty much have to wait for someone to pop their clogs to get an opening in a private school around here!

I would ask the question pretty early on, OP.

TP is, I have to say, now ludicrously expensive since the latest increase last September!

I've worked in the financial department of an independent school for over 15 years. When I started the job, the school's contribution to TP was 14%. Now it is 23.68%. That's a huge increase and not all schools will be able to afford it.

The impression I have from bursar's discussion forums and school publications is that many (if not most) independent schools (my own included) are looking at alternative pension schemes, with a view to the possibility of pulling out of TP in order to ensure sustainability of the school.

I think it's fairly likely that only the larger, wealthier schools will be able to continue to afford TP in the near future. It will be the smaller prep schools that will drop it first but others will then follow.

I steer clear of any you have to hand write an application for.

Also pre-application tours are not common place in the independent sector.

@ Tinnedpeachesandcream thanks so much. Looks like I’ll be safe for a while and the school is well established, large and quite famous so I’m hoping they don’t get rid of TPS.

@ 80sMum wow that is a massive hike. Thank you for your perspective, it’s so helpful!

Ask about numbers. It may have the rep for being well known but indie schools are fighting every inch for every pupil. You will likely have to do marketing events and also some saturdays. Be wary of them suddenly announcing that you have to do a duty every Saturday or late evening. They keep these things very quiet so I've been to an interview where not only did they ask me how I would reflect the Benedictine way in my management style but half way through discovered that they wanted every Saturday plus staying for mass on a Thursday evening was compulsory. Be wary of being landed with match teas or supervision of away matches.

The kids will be lovely. Parents less so and it is hard dealing with certain types who because they are paying think they can call the shots. You have to handle parents very carefully and it is very different to state. However, I wouldn't go back to state now.

Thank you @Flyingarcher I dread the parent aspect tbh!