Internal TA interview tips for office person

[Rockbird]

I'm currently in a (primary) school office, in the process of being made redundant but a TA post has been advertised internally which I have an interview for.

The interview is going to be very formal by the look of it. Has anyone else gone this route and is there anything that you can think of that will help? Obviously I will research and do all the interview prep but I've only been told this morning and I'm stressing already! Thanks!

I know someone who went from admin to TA within the same school - so it's definitely doable!

Think about all the advantages you would bring by moving internally - e.g. knowing a lot of the children already, knowing school policies, having loads of training (e.g. safeguarding) already done. As admin, you are used to working under pressure and having to be flexible / prioritise - these are good qualities for a TA. You will also be confident in using a computer - many TAs I have worked with hate using the computers - so this could be an advantage in supporting children in IT lessons and creating resources. You need good communications skills working in admin - very helpful to a TA position. Good luck!

I guess that the school would also benefit from not having to pay you any redundancy if they are keeping you in employment?

Safeguarding is always key in interviews. I'm sure you know the procedures and who the Safeguarding lead is etc but worth brushing up on that.

I'd also have an answer ready if they ask why you want to be a TA (other than that you don't want to be made redundant )

Thank you all. I have done a little TA work before in a previous school but never actually applied for a TA role.

They've made it quite clear that I wouldn't get the redundancy! They made sure I knew that.

I've been told I'll have 10 mins to prepare to teach a group and then 20 mins to do it. I have no details about the age or subject. Yikes. That's the bit that's freaking me. I've been quite involved in safeguarding etc so confident with that.

Good luck OP, sometimes you have to do a literacy and numeracy test- its usually a Yr6 SATs paper.
Good luck with the interview.

Just going through my Watched threads list and wondered how the interview went @Rockbird

Thanks, it was a total farce! I didn't get it. Feedback was great, fabulous rapport with the children, safeguarding spot on blah blah. But they wanted someone to work with the SEN kids and I didn't have enough experience (which they knew). There was no mention of SEN children in the original advert.

So they advertised externally and the job description asked for experience with autism, speech and language, Makaton and a million other things! None of which was ever mentioned and none of which I have. So it was a total waste of time.

But the day after I was offered a job in the office of another school and I start after Easter so yay!

Great news that it worked out for you.

It's so annoying when adverts aren't clear - seems a waste of everyone's time.

Good luck in your new job.