NQT interview in an RI school - am I over thinking it?

[nearlyteaching]

Hello! First post here and i'm looking for advice!

A job vacancy has come up at a local school in a great location for me and i've been invited to interview. As a soon to be qualified teacher i'm excited to find my first job! The school is requires improvement and not a 'university partnership school' so i'm not sure what sort of support they'll have for an NQT. It's also 1 form entry so no yeargroup partner to support me.

They have a new head teacher and a monitoring visit says that they are making some improvements, but i'm worried that as an NQT too much will be expected of me and i've never been in an RI school before so i'm not sure what too expect. Due to coronavirus i'm not able to visit and chat to staff and students as i'd like, so i'm looking for some advice!

As an NQT would you work in an RI school?
What questions are essential to ask at interview?
Are there any redflags?

I'm worried that i'll get the 'if we were to offer you the job, would you take it' and say yes and then realise I made a mistake when I get there.

I joined an RI school as an NQT and I'm still there. It's now good and on its way to outstanding (imo). The new head had started to implement changes before I started. It was hard work for the first few years as schemes of work, behaviour policies etc would be brought in and changed if they didn't work. When a new subject leader was appointed everything would change again. But I think it was the trial and error and SLT working hard to implement changes that turned the school around.
It depends on why it was RI - have you read the Ofsted? Any safeguarding issues I'd avoid. Have they employed new SLT? Does it have a history of poor Ofsted's?

Hi nearlyteaching

Aside from the RI issue, the thing that jumps out at me is that it's single form entry. I probably wouldn't recommend single form entry for an NQT/inexperienced teacher as being able to share ideas and planning within a year group is invaluable.

Congratulations on your interview.
I didn't answer your other questions:
The support I received was great but have nothing to compare it to.
Ask at the interview what support they put in place for NQTs - peer coaching, can you observe other teachers, constructive feedback, how often they observe you, moderation, who will be your mentor etc. I'd also ask what schemes of work they use. For example we use white rose maths and there's loads of support online which would help you with planning as a one form entry school

I was going to eat the same as @Spellotape. The thing that would make me reconsider is the one-form entry aspect. Don’t underestimate how valuable it is to share planning and ideas with a colleague (and potentially halve your planning load). I’ve been teaching for 13 years and will not have a YG partner in September. I am not looking forward to it! I’ve worked in an RI school and it was fine (tough, but fine) but I wouldn’t have survived without my amazing parallel teacher!

The RI wouldn’t concern me but the single form entry would. I’m starting my NQT year in a 4 form entry thank god, because I’m likely to be in a year group I’m not familiar with (I’m an EYFS specialist going into lower ks2). I did my second placement in a RI school which was arguably more “together” than the Good school I did my first placement in.

Ask what support they have for NQTs. They are obliged to give you a year with certain things like not subjecting you to daily discipline issues that are unreasonable for the setting (eg giving you a child with extremely severe behaviour needs and no support). You also have to have a mentor and legally fill out certain documents etc. You also have to register with an appropriate body which is kind of like a third party that ensures the quality of the training you’re provided with. I just learned this in an online lecture on our NQT year 😂

But yeah anyway ask what support they have for NQTs. How many NQTs/RQTs work there currently or is it the kind of school where everyone has been there for ages? That would make me consider things, if all the staff were long term and experienced and I was the only NQT for ages. I would question how good their support would be.

Also ask what the best thing about working at the school is in their opinion. My interviewers enjoyed that question!

I agree with checking out the ofsted and being wary of the single form entry. Next year is going to be particularly tricky with the kids having been off for so long, so if behaviour is a concern on the ofsted report, I wouldn't go near that school (and I say that as someone working in a tough school now).

What's good with RI schools is they get additional support from ofsted to improve. Funnily enough, the worst school I ever worked in was "good" and I've heard that from a few teachers. At least with a RI school, they know they have to shape up, so I would imagine they'll be quite hot on training up their staff and working on their faults. Bringing in a new head as well, suggests to me that the governors are taking it very seriously. So the RI itself wouldn't put me off.

I would look at the Ofsted in detail, and decide which bits, if any, worry you.

I did/am doing my NQT in a school which got an inadequate ofsted after I took the job (previously a good school)- however it was inadequate on leadership only, and basically the inadequate was due to a few instances of offrolling- which is obviously awful but doesn't affect the day to day life of an individual teacher much.

The head resigned and the new head/MAT have been great and this year has been a mostly positive experience. This was at secondary level, though.

How long has the school been RI for, and is it showing signs of improving?