Teacher Interview

[Teach1234]

Hello lovely people,

I'm an NQT and had a lesson obs and interview (same day). Anyway I taught a condensed version of something similar I had done before with that year group which I had great feedback for at the time. Of course it is hard with a class you don't know and a very artificial and nerve wracking experience.

I thought it had gone relatively okay- no major glitches I felt I presented quite confidently etc. Anyway I was taken to sit outside and I could hear snippets of their discussion- and basically they didn't like my lesson- I didn't hear anything that sounded positive.

Then of course I have to go in for the interview, knowing they have zero intentions now of hiring me and I just lost all my confidence etc. When they asked at the end if I would say yes- I said I would accept- but I don't know why I said that- if they did hire me I would havs been very skeptical about their motives.

Just feel like absolute crap... does that make me a bad teacher? I was made up about getting shortlisted and I want to be proud of that but I just feel so low about it.

I'm not too bothered about the rejection itself- they have to pick the right fit- but even when they rang - all they said was unsuccesful went with someone else- no feedback at all- they couldn't get off the phone quickly enough. I didn't mention to them that I heard anything.

Surely they should check that they are out of earshot.

How do you pick yourself up and keep going. Feel almost like the DFE were just playing a cruel joke giving me QTS at the minute :(

Hi OP, I'm sorry you had such an awful experience. What they did was completely unprofessional and you must have felt so deflated before your interview. You can always email and ask for feedback. If you're feeling brave you could mention that you gathered from their conversation that they didn't like your lesson. Be prepared to not get feedback though. I was unsuccessful for a role last year and I thought it had gone well. When I was rejected with no feedback I asked and they ignored my email! Just remember that there is a reason for everything and the perfect school is out there. You wouldn't want to work somewhere like that anyway. Visit more schools, tweak your lesson and try again. Good luck.

Thanks x I had another obs/ interview elsewhere and I actually thought the lesson itself wasn't that great and there were certainly things I would do differently but one of the tasks was a reflection anyway- I had to sit in the head's office for 15 mins before they came back- so obviously they may have had a discussion but I didn't hear it so of course I felt that interview was much more relaxed (as it can be) and better x - still waiting to hear on that one.

Just a horrible situation- I definitely did not interview well at this one I was all flustered then- at least I still managed to see it through without letting on I suppose x

I think maybe I won't use that idea again! If I ahax

• sorry typo- if I'm interviewing for that year group that is.

It was one school out of many and sounds like a lucky escape. The right school will be out there.

I would be tempted to politely let them know that due to being left directly outside the room you could hear their discussion unintentionally which was not pleasant. Then say you hope this feedback is useful for their planning of logistics so future candidates don't have the same experience.

But up to you. I wouldn't if you are applying to very local other schools as you don't want headteachers to talk. It is just very shitty of them though.