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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.

TA application- best references to use

1 reply

TapestryButterfly · 14/03/2026 17:14

I'm applying for a TA role at a secondary school starting when I graduate university, and I'm not sure who to ask for my 1st reference. For my second I have a great volunteer manager who I know will provide a good one. But the first needs to be from my most recent employer or my university. Therefore my options are my work manager or my academic advisor. My work's policy is to provide dates and responsibilities only when writing a reference, and I've only worked there for two months on a casual basis with few shifts. My academic advisor has never taught modules that overlapped with my interests so would be similarly impersonal (dates attended the university and grades). Does my work manager or academic advisor seem like a better fit?

I think it may be irrational but I'm concerned an impersonal first reference may discourage the school from contacting my second reference (especially since they're contacted pre-interview) which would give a much better report of my skills and personality. Then again I'm not sure if the school is looking for references that just provide basic info or more expansive ones. Is one more common?
Thanks for any insight!

OP posts:
Smeegall · 14/03/2026 18:24

The references I feel are more to check you're a real person who exists... Less about what they'll say about you!

Good luck!

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