Does age and experience hold you back when applying for a new role?

[enok]

I am a very experienced teacher over the age of 50 on ups3 plus a decent tlr. I also am able to teach all 3 science subjects to ks4 and biology to ks5.
Due to family reasons I need to relocate and am finding that although I have an amazing track record I am not even getting through to being short listed for an interview.
I would be grateful for any help indicating what I may be doing wrong? Or do Heads of Subjects want cheaper and mouldable ect's?

Sadly the discrimination is real. I have always been shortlisted for every post I have ever applied for. Now the landscape has changed. It is a different world and I don't really know how to navigate it. I guess... you have to apply for a leadership role - AHT or DH to justify your hefty salary (however not has hefty as the SLT). Funny how SLT begrudge your UPS salary but not their own! 🙄

You're probably too expensive. Better for them to employ a young inexperienced and cheap teacher than you unfortunately.

If you are applying for mainscale classroom teaching roles then sadly yes, this is possible. You will likely have much more success applying for promoted roles within your subject, or as a lead practitioner.

Just to give you some hope, a friend of mine started a new job as an English teacher last September. She is nearer 60 than 50 and the school was happy to pay her on UPS 3 (no TLR, but then she doesn’t have any additional responsibilities).

I think you might be OK as science teachers are in such short supply. If you were primary, you'd stand no chance! It's such a sorry state of affairs. Good luck x

My statement is based on experience in primary. I think you are right @CeciliaMars.

Is there any possibility you could offer a different science to KS5? As a biologist in a department full of mostly biologists I know our SLT would fall over themselves for someone that could offer something else if we had a gap.

I realise that may not be realistic (I couldn't) but worth exploring possibly.

Thank you for all your replies, great advice