I can't find a job I like the look of

[fluffyslipper1]

I'm not sure if I'm being way too fussy but I can't see anything I'm interested in. A lot of schools just don't look too great from ofsted. I know it's not the full picture but everything on Tes near me requires improvement. The reports just talk of aloft of students or teachers not being passionate or huge absences.

What Do I do. Just apply anyway?

I suppose the first question is whether you need a job for September? If so, you really can't afford to be too fussy, especially if you are limited geographically.

Can you visit any of the schools?
Round us, most schools are now beginning to allow prospective applicants to look round. Some are inviting shortlisted candidates to look round. Then you can get a better feel for the school rather than an Ofsted inspection, which rarely captures the reality, or the reality now at least.

You also may need to think about what kind of school you would like to teach in - does that school exist? You don't give the impression of having particularly enjoyed your experience in either of your placement schools. Arre you sure state school secondary teaching in this country is what you want to do?

@Scarby9

I suppose the first question is whether you need a job for September? If so, you really can't afford to be too fussy, especially if you are limited geographically.

Can you visit any of the schools?
Round us, most schools are now beginning to allow prospective applicants to look round. Some are inviting shortlisted candidates to look round. Then you can get a better feel for the school rather than an Ofsted inspection, which rarely captures the reality, or the reality now at least.

You also may need to think about what kind of school you would like to teach in - does that school exist? You don't give the impression of having particularly enjoyed your experience in either of your placement schools. Arre you sure state school secondary teaching in this country is what you want to do?

I'd love to teach at a grammar school. The problem with the school I'm at is it's notoriously known in the area for its poor teaching and also students that aren't achieving anywhere near the national average.

I've seen some amazing schools in the past but I missed the boat on them. I do want to teach I know 100% I'm passionate about my subject I just want the kids to be too

I know 100% I'm passionate about my subject I just want the kids to be too
We'd all like that. The reality is that they aren't. Even in my y13 class, there are students who are there because they needed another subject they'd got grade 6 in.

@MrsHamlet

I know 100% I'm passionate about my subject I just want the kids to be too We'd all like that. The reality is that they aren't. Even in my y13 class, there are students who are there because they needed another subject they'd got grade 6 in.

Half the issue if I'm honest was my schooling. It's the fact I was so far removed from the current way of teenagers and we weren't allowed to talk this way etc in private school.

Part of making the kids passionate about your subject is you.

I teach German. Few kids just appear living it. I have to work hard/ build a rapport with them and link it to their experiences in order to make them enthusiastic.

You need to see some schools. The second best (for me) of the 5 schools I've worked in was satisfactory bordering on RI- but the staff pulled together and that made it a great place to work where I learned a ridiculous amount.... Don't rely on Ofsted to tell you what you need to know.

Firstly, don't solely rely on Ofsted. I'm a trainee also but I've worked in lovely RI schools and visited outstanding schools where I wouldn't want to work ever. You really need to visit to get a feel for the place.

The most engaging thing in the classroom is you. Academically you could be the best thing ever but if you don't build relationships with the children then they won't want to learn or love your subject.

I say that as an ex grammar girl and as the mum of a DS at a grammar. The subjects he loves are those where his teachers are engaging and have amazing rapport with the kids. Grass isn't always greener in the indy sector either.

Half the issue if I'm honest was my schooling. It's the fact I was so far removed from the current way of teenagers and we weren't allowed to talk this way etc in private school.
I went to a single sex grammar school. I left in the 90s. I've taught in schools in all ofsted grades.
The way students talk in front of me is not the way they talk with their friends.

As pp said it depends how badly you need a job. Perhaps doing supply for a year would help you to decide if there's a school out there that would suit you.
From reading your other threads and this one, I do think you need to have a really honest look at whether teaching is for you. You seem to have extremely high expectations of how teaching will turn out, both in terms of the staff you work with and the children you are teaching. You become downhearted and discouraged when they don't live up to your expectations.
I really think you need to resolve this first rather than continually searching for that "perfect" school to work in.

By the way, I also attended a very "nice" girls grammar school where we wouldn't have dreamt of behaving the way some pupils seem to do now. I have always worked in areas of very high social deprivation. It doesn't necessarily follow that you can only teach in the kind of school you experienced but you need to open your mind.

I'd love to teach at a grammar school. The problem with the school I'm at is it's notoriously known in the area for its poor teaching and also students that aren't achieving anywhere near the national average*

You are always going to have children who struggle, your job as a teacher is to help them meet their potential. Sounds like you're not happy teaching lower ability children but unfortunately even in private schools there will be children with special educational needs. How do you scaffold their learning or break it down?

As others have said, you need to seriously consider if teaching is right for you. A lot of the RI schools will struggle with underfunding, if it's in a socially deprived area then sometimes there are bigger fish to fry than getting them to get As because making them feel safe and looking after them is more important. You're not so amazing that children will instantly hang off your every word - you need to build relationships with them.

I'd love to teach at a grammar school. The problem with the school I'm at is it's notoriously known in the area for its poor teaching and also students that aren't achieving anywhere near the national average

By the nature of averages, not all children can be average or higher.

You've had it in for this placement school for weeks, if not months, with most threads including a dig at how you know more than the teachers there, the teachers aren't very good and so on. Without wanting to sound harsh, your recent threads showed that 2/3 through your training year you are not handing in planning in good time, and you don't like teaching children from their current starting point.

I've worked in schools in all 4 categories, each had their own highs and their own challenges. The idea of walking into a grammar school or outstanding school and all the students automatically sit adoringly absorbing the wisdom of the teacher is a fantasy.

A good teacher takes their passion for their subject and makes it accessible to the children sitting in front of them, regardless of whether those children are naturals in the subject, bright but apathetic in the subject, middle ability, lower prior attaining for whatever reason, currently dealing with personal issues, have no stable place to live, are living with mental illnesses, are weaker academically but really hard working, have English as their second language, and accounting for any SEN requirements (because SEN does not mean low ability).

Half the issue if I'm honest was my schooling. It's the fact I was so far removed from the current way of teenagers and we weren't allowed to talk this way etc in private school.

I went to a bog standard comprehensive and I would never have spoken to teachers the way some students speak to staff. But I knew fine well which teachers cared about me and my classmates and which only thought about themselves and their subject.

Half the issue if I'm honest was my schooling. It's the fact I was so far removed from the current way of teenagers and we weren't allowed to talk this way etc in private school.

This is such bullshit. I went to a highly selective private girls' school where I never saw and example of poor behaviour beyond a tacit eyeroll. Then I went to Oxford where most people were fairly up for learning. Now I'm an SEMH/ autism specialist and almost exclusively teach children with severely challenging behaviour .

Suggesting that you can only teach children just like the one you were in nonsense.

an is

Must do fewer things at once.

I know I have replied to your other threads but I would add, don't base your judgement on an Ofsted grade alone. I worked in an outstanding 6th form college at first and it was fine but not amazing to work in.

I moved to a good comprehensive school and love it. The professional development has been far superior and I have learnt so much.

Not all children are academic but they still deserve good teachers. They need people who will bring out the best in them and improve their life chances.

From all of your posts, and I don't mean this unkindly, I don't think teaching in a comprehensive school is for you. Maybe a selective school or 6th form college may suit, but all have their issues.

I agree with the comments above. I also went to a selective private school and then Cambridge but have enjoyed working in inner city comprehensives all of my career. Your own school experience isn’t the problem. Expecting the kids to just automatically love the subject is. I am always a little concerned when people tell me they want to teach at secondary level because they love their subject. You’ve got to enjoy motivating the disengaged, finding ways to get basic ideas across to those who will never love your subject, using a cold break duty on the ball court to connect with a particularly grumpy year 9... However selective the school you work at, teenagers are going to be disengaged and disinterested sometimes. It’s part of the job spec!

In terms of what schools to apply to, RI schools can be lovely, supportive places to work which were just unlucky with ofsted, or chaotic, stressful places where staff are demoralised and overwhelmed. You need to find out more.

Why don't you just hold out for a NQT job at a grammar or a private school then? You obviously do not enjoy teaching any children who may struggle with content (which is LOTS). No point in you starting at a school then ending up with the same attitude towards it as you have towards your placement schools.

Well then apply for a grammar school then. But you'd be surprised. Oddly they've still teenagers who hate some subjects and have other stuff going on which means that behaviour isn't some kind of imagined perfect.
We have jobs going at mine. Another local grammar school is hiring and local intelligence suggests the head there loves hiring NQTs (make of that what you will) and doesn't hire people already on UPS.
You need to get out of this mindset. All schools are different and quite frankly don't bother with OFSTED. I have been teaching since 2002 and in the same school for a very long time. I have been through an OFSTED once. They're a snapshot of a moment in time and as such not hugely helpful.
But this is all irrelevant. As others have said, you need to consider if teaching is actually for you.

Also remember that grammar schools are schools often chosen by the parents. Of course a lot of children want to go to grammar, but many are pushed or simply pass the exam and therefore go. Grammar school doesn’t automatically mean “really eager naturally academic top behaving” student,

Not dissing grammar schools btw everyone.