References?

[madnessitellyou]

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!

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)

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

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).

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!

@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!

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!

@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!

@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.