Would you school employ someone who has all the experience and skills needed for the job but is nearly 60.

[BlueBloodedBlue]

Support staff position so no more expensive than a 30 year old.

Yes

Thanks for replying @dootball Hopefully you work at the school I've just applied to 😂

I hope so! I am over 55 and thinking of a new support position. Touch wood still fit. At 60 you still have 7 years before official retirement.
Go for it!

Good luck to you too. Thanks

Right now, yes! Our school are so short staffed and are finding it impossible to recruit support staff. You’d be snapped up straight away.

Yes. Can't get support staff for love nor money (but granted, renumeration isn't very attractive).

They'd be at fault of discrimination if they used your age as a grounds for / against employment.

You're right @Glera but they just don't have to offer an interview and I'd never know why.

Application forms no longer ask for DOB but dates on qualifications, School and University attendance obviously show one's age. For example, the one I filled in only asked for GCSEs not O'Levels (or even CSEs)

Yes, life experience counts for a lot!

Definitely.

More chance of you sticking around tbh if you've decided at that age that you want to do it and can cope with the salary and aren't motivated purely by not having to pay for childcare in the holidays or, 'it'll do till x finishes primary school next year' etc.

Good luck, get ready to sell yourself confidently at interview.

I'm 58 and starting a new teaching role I've been invited to take on. You have so much to offer. Good luck!

You're right discrimination is very hard to prove. But many schools are struggling to employ support staff, so are mainly looking for someone who's interested with appropriate skills and qualifications.

Yes of course! Recruitment is really difficult in schools at the moment, far fewer applications per post and a strong application will always be invited to interview.

Schools cannot discriminate based on age!

Most of my recent support staff appointments have been slightly older people. Life experience counts for a lot!

Absolutely. The wealth of experience and knowledge that they could bring to the role is immeasurable.
A teacher joined my school in September full time, they are 62. It really doesn’t matter about age as long as they are capable for doing the job.

TA started in September is 62, wealth of experience and only wanted part-time, which is just what we wanted. Good luck with your application.

Thank you all. I've just found out I've got an interview so fingers crossed.

Good luck BlueBlood. Remember you're checking out if you actually want to work there too, not just them checking you out.