Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

References?

8 replies

madnessitellyou · 30/12/2021 10:26

PGCE student here. I've seen a couple jobs I'd like to apply for but have no idea what sort of references I should provide. My mentor? He left my placement school at the end of term - would it look odd that the form would say he's now at a different school (I haven't asked him yet). Tutor? Headteacher (who has never seen me teach and probably thought I was just a new member of staff)?

Help!

OP posts:
13luckyblackcats · 30/12/2021 15:09

Uni mentor, school mentor, School Direct mentor are all fine. Not weird that your mentor has moved school (is he still your mentor? Make sure you have a current mentor)

madnessitellyou · 30/12/2021 15:35

No, I start a new placement a week before the closing date so I haven't met my new mentor yet.

OP posts:
CJFJ1 · 30/12/2021 16:24

When I applied for jobs during my PGCE, I used my university tutor / mentor and the member of SLT at my placement school who was responsible for overseeing all the PGCE students placed at the school (they had a good idea of our progress, as our subject mentors kept them up-to-date with how things were progressing for each of us).

madnessitellyou · 30/12/2021 16:34

Thanks - would it be acceptable to ask my mentor from the placement I've just finished? The person overseeing all PGCE students also left at the end of term. I can ask my university tutor too. I also worked closely with another class teacher - could I ask thar person?

I'm - ahem- mature and haven't applied for a job where a reference hasn't been a simple matter of my current employer etc for years!

OP posts:
CJFJ1 · 30/12/2021 16:42

@madnessitellyou

Thanks - would it be acceptable to ask my mentor from the placement I've just finished? The person overseeing all PGCE students also left at the end of term. I can ask my university tutor too. I also worked closely with another class teacher - could I ask thar person?

I'm - ahem- mature and haven't applied for a job where a reference hasn't been a simple matter of my current employer etc for years!

I'm pretty sure that's fine. former colleagues of mine from previous schools I've taught at still use me as a referee from time to time on applications they're making (I'm now a Head of Department), even though I'm no longer based at those schools, and I don't recall it ever being a problem.

Good luck!

madnessitellyou · 30/12/2021 16:47

Thanks!

I think I'll message my previous mentor in the new year and see if he'd be happy/thinks it'd be okay.

At this point I'd just like to get some experience of applying for a teaching job!

OP posts:
CJFJ1 · 30/12/2021 16:49

@madnessitellyou

Thanks!

I think I'll message my previous mentor in the new year and see if he'd be happy/thinks it'd be okay.

At this point I'd just like to get some experience of applying for a teaching job!

Yes - definitely ask their permission beforehand!

Good luck. You have nothing to lose!

WayDownInTheHole · 01/01/2022 21:56

@CJFJ1

When I applied for jobs during my PGCE, I used my university tutor / mentor and the member of SLT at my placement school who was responsible for overseeing all the PGCE students placed at the school (they had a good idea of our progress, as our subject mentors kept them up-to-date with how things were progressing for each of us).
Same. The member of SLT knew us fairly well and also had our subject mentor contribute to the reference where useful. Uni tutor was the other one.
New posts on this thread. Refresh page