Why am I not getting interviews?

[InsolentAnnie]

I have ten years’ teaching experience, eight as a HoD, plus two in my current pastoral role. I left a very toxic school about three years ago after massive period of stress (was basically constructive dismissal but left as it was just too much to try to fight). I had some time doing supply then worked in non teaching role for a year, then back on supply and now in a pastoral role where I’ve been for a couple of years. Don’t want to teach my subject again as really enjoying pastoral, so I’d love to get into SEN. Senco post came up at current school, I was encouraged to apply, then they gave it to another teacher who already had the qualification. I wish they’d just said I didn’t have a chance instead of making me go through the interview. I’m currently on several thousand £ less than an NQT and I desperately need to get a teaching role again, but I’ve applied for nearly fifty jobs and this was the only interview I’ve had. Even applying for my subject has got nowhere.

What am I doing wrong? My personal statements are good, I’ve got the experience, I have everything on the person specs, I just can’t get through the door. I’m beginning to think I should just retrain but I’ve no idea as what. I’m really good at working with the kids who don’t want to engage, I raised results in both schools where I was HoD, I’ve got excellent feedback from my current school (but they still didn’t want to give me a teaching role). I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

Never mind.

If you’re not getting shortlisted, there is something in your application preventing this OR the field is stronger than you are.

It’s natural to give a SENCo role to a currently practising teacher with the qualification.

You were likely shortlisted because you met the teacher part. They then put you through the process to give specific feedback based on the process. Keeping relations as you’re employed. Generally internal get shortlisted, unless there’s a clear reason not to.

Potentially if you’re applying for different roles to training / experience you’ve not given the narrative to this? Answering the questions the panel may have? You’ve explained here- do you explain in your application. With a ‘step down’ it could infer performance issues. Your task is to ensure the panel don’t think this.

If you’re secondary, maybe trying applying for primary pastoral roles?

See if someone can read your personal statement and look for anything glaring on there.

If you've written a generic statement, it will need tailoring to each job.

I'm guessing you're UPS. This makes you less desirable as a subject teacher because you're expensive. Plus you've now had quite a while out of teaching your subject so places may be concerned you won't be up to date with the curriculum, pedagogy etc. Are you teaching a shortage subject?

Frankly if I saw your employment history I'd wonder why you were now doing pastoral if you're then applying for non pastoral roles. Particularly if those roles are UPS. I think you'd need to explain this and really sell your want to get back into teaching.

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation Every statement I’ve done has been tailored to the job and school in question. I’ve had friends look them over (ex-assistant head, head of a PRU, and another teacher) and they say they’re good. I even got feedback from one of the heads I applied to and they said it was a great application but I was up against English specialists. There’s a lot of crossover between what I do now and SEN (I work in inclusion with SEN kids, school refusers, child protection etc), I’ve covered some SENCO stuff, I’ve done extra SEN training, I know how to apply for statements etc. But I’m not getting anywhere at all.

That is strange then. Perhaps you've just been unlucky with the roles you have applied for.

SENCO tends to come with leadership pay in secondary so if you've applied for lots of those roles I can see why you wouldn't get them.

Are you an English teacher?

We don't know the answer unless you asked all the places why you didn't get an interview. Have you missed something on the application form? Have you sent a CV instead of the asked for form?

Hearing what you say, I agree with Herc- you need to ask the HT shortlisting for specific feedback. As too, I’d ask a HT to read over your application. Those you list wouldn’t have the experience of shortlisting, or if they do, they’d be panel member. I know it’s the chop/ change in your career history I’d want to know more on.

Nope, everything meticulously checked. Keep asking for feedback but nowhere ever gives it aside from that one place. All the SENCO roles I’ve applied for have been MPS/UPS plus TLR. I wonder if it’s the fact that I left the last school I was HoD at mid-term - it looks like I was massively incompetent or hit a child or something! I’m not an English specialist, no. I think that counts against me too. But I have everything needed to do the SENCO role!

The timing of your leaving plus your career after does raise flags re your reason for leaving. If be explicit ind your application form about that.

Like others, I think the pathway after leaving might be leaving them with some questions. You have done a lot in 3 years, but that can be a blessing and a curse depending on the detail. If someone has a strong field then it's a huge risk to consider a more expensive teacher who has a very patchy recent history.

I know people who have done short term contracts, part time agency or part time intervention contracts because they wanted the flexibility when caring for young children or elderly parents and they addressed that in their statement, explained what they have gained from their experiences and how they are now ready to get back into a teaching role, so it can be done.

If you want a SENCO role though, you might have to look at doing the SEN award though.

Are you articulating a coherent thread through what you have done and how that journey links to the roles you're applying for?

That’s encouraging that it can be done, @LolaSmiles. I’ve tried to show how what I’ve done has led me to here - leaving that school ended up being a blessing in disguise in a way, as it showed me (through supply) that I want to work with EBD / SEN kids rather than in my subject area. As such I took the pastoral role rather than keep doing supply as it was similar salary, plus gave me more experience in that area. Maybe I should have stayed in supply though..!