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Any secondary school English teachers out there who can help me with job interview?

8 replies

hackneyzoo · 24/02/2012 17:48

It's been five years since I had a job interview and have just been shortlisted for an English Teaching +SEN post. I am originally an English teacher, but for the last five years have only been doing minimal English and mainly working with 14-16 year olds with EBD and SPLD offering a skills based curriculum, so am a bit out of the loop.
If you are a HOD what sort of questions would you be asking potential candidates for an English post in your dept.? The school is 14-18 and 'outstanding' according to it's Ofsted...no pressure then..!

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notnowImreading · 24/02/2012 17:59

For experienced colleagues, I always ask 'What does an outstanding lesson look like to you?', 'Can you describe for me your favourite teaching strategy?', 'How do you intervene if a pupil in your class is underachieving?' (for this one, I then go on to focus on different levels of underachievement eg A* candidate getting high Bs, C/D borderliner, D grade student getting E/F etc).

I also ask about planning for mixed ability classes at KS3 and differentiation, assessment for learning, approaches to homework, extra-curricular opportunities you want to explore/offer, etc etc. I usually end on 'What can you bring to the department, in addition to what you bring to your classes?' for which I'm looking for things like energy, a positive outlook, support for new staff, loyalty, creative thinking, organisation and a willingness to tidy the stock cupboard!

Good luck with the interview. Focus on energy, high quality outcomes, relationships with pupils and colleagues. If you can, squeeze in a bit about the learning environment as anyone leaving will probably have let their classroom start looking a bit rough and they'll like the idea that you can reinvigorate the space.

hackneyzoo · 24/02/2012 18:09

Thanks notnow, that's given me plenty to think about. I'm really rusty on the strategies dealing with under achievement as have been focusing on Entry Level English the last two years, so using very different techniques, so am going ot have to do a fair bit of research and refresh my memory!
Do you look for a comprehensive understanding of the GCSE/A level exam board requirements, or would it be acceptable if a candidate had a basic knowledge but was willing and focused about putting in the hours if they got the post? (IYSWIM...didn't explain that very well)
The job I'm going for is a maternity cover, I'm not sure if that will make a difference to how I will be interviewed...

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notnowImreading · 24/02/2012 19:31

Hi again, yes, I think I would like to see that any candidate had knowledge of the gcse syllabus - I expect you can find out the exam board from the website. If it's AQA, I can fill you in.

hackneyzoo · 24/02/2012 20:18

Thanks not now, really appreciate your input. I know the exam boards so will do my homework, I think they are doing Edexcel, which I have an ok knowledge of. I just need to get up to date on controlled assessments. So will download the specs and get preparing!

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DanFmDorking · 24/02/2012 21:39

What would you do to involve those students that find English difficult?
How would you motivate an unmotivated student?
Some students are good at English and enjoy it. How would you keep the interest of a very able student that easily gets bored easily?
What makes a good teacher?
Why do you want to teach at this school?
What would your classroom look like?
What did you learn in your last school?
Tell me some difficulties that some students had and how did you help them?
How would you set about teaching a mixed ability class?
How do you handle classroom management issues (naughty boys!)?
What makes good teaching?
Have you seen any good teaching taking place?
Why was it effective?
How could you tell?

Tell me about one of your lessons that went totally wrong.
What went wrong and what did you do?
Tell me about one of your lessons that went really, really well.

If you have some money to spend for the English Dept, what would you spend it on and why?
How would you actively involve parents?
If you had a troublesome student:-
a) What would you do first of all?
b) At what stage would you refer the problem to your line manager (Head of Dept)?
c) At what stage would you involve the parents?
What do you like about teaching English?
What do you hate about teaching English?
If you learn that a student is being abused, what would you do?
How would you inform a parent of a students? progress?
How would you ensure that a students? progress is maintained throughout the year?
What 'progress checks' would you use and how often?

Good Luck

hackneyzoo · 24/02/2012 21:53

Thank you DanFM, exactly what I needed. Am off to practice interviewing myself! Those questions are completely what I was after to give me a bit of focus in preparing.

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hackneyzoo · 08/03/2012 16:40

Just thought I'd come back and say thank you Notnow and Danfm, your questions were really useful and I got the job! Smile

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DanFmDorking · 08/03/2012 19:23

Excellent, well done and thanks for reporting back.
Now the hard work starts!
Good Luck

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