Please help me write the right thing on an application form.

[DumbledoresGirl]

I am applying to do a returning to teaching course. I am a bit stunned at the level of questioning on the application form and the fact that there is an interview before you are accepted onto the course - I would have thought they would have just accepted that you are a qualified teacher looking to return - but anyway.

I have been out of the world of jobs for 11 years, have zero confidence in myself, and the thought of filling in a form asking questions at this level is rather daunting.

So please help! The questions I need help with are:

1. Please give reasons why you are considering returning to teaching and
2. With reference to specific examples [oh my God!] how have you "kept in touch" with recent issues in education?

For 1) so far I have thought of saying that I want to return to teaching because it is the job I did for 8 years and feel best qualified to do. It is a job I find fulfilling and stimulating. As a teacher, I felt I could make a difference to the lives of the children I taught (Is that too wishy washy?) It best fits with my requirements as a mother of 4 school aged children (ie the holidays!) Also, hoping to include something about the flexibility of working part time - don't know how to express that.

For 2) eek! Do you think it would count to say I have 3 children in FT education and one at preschool and I have followed their education closely? Hmmmm, not sure about that one. Also, worked PT in a school 5 years ago and have been accepted to mark SATs papers by examining board (but not actually done any marking yet) What else could I say as all of that, apart from the work in school, is a bit tenuous.

BTW, don't bother telling me to get some voluntary work at children's school as this application has to be filled in NOW TODAY! (interviews are next month)

Please offer any comments on what I have thought of so far and also, any other ideas you might have!

Oh damn. I made the OP too long and now no-one is going to be bothered to read it.

OK look, basically, the OP is asking what should I write in answer to these 2 questions on a form applying to do a returning to teaching course:

Reasons for returning to teaching

How have you kept in touch with recent issues in education?

I think having children in education counts, likewise the SATS marking stuff.
I'm sure you read the education supplement of some well known broadsheet too...yes... (just be sure to read it from now until interview etc!!)

Message withdrawn

Hmmm, I do read the education section of The Sunday Times, but it is more from a parents' perspective than a teachers.

I hate these sorts of questions.

but as a teacher surely you will benefit from having an understanding of the parents point of view...?

oops, please insert a ' where appropriate!

I could buy and read the TES (Times Educational Supplement) for the next few weeks I suppose (yawn).

Good grief though, what will they ask me in an interview? I feel that if I was up to answering interview questions, I wouldn't need to do the course.

I would also love any advice from anyone who has done one of these courses.

Don't worry, I missed out a ' in my post too!

I think the amswers you've given are fine - except the bit about it fitting in with your childcare; it sounds too much like you're returning to teaching solely because it's convenient to you. Can you expand on the fulfilling/ stimulating bit - it's a tremendously rewarding career with opportunities to develop your skills over time, you feel you can make a positive contribution to whatever school you will work at, etc. As to the practical "why you are returning", something about changes in your domestic arrangements are such that you now feel able to continue the career you enjoyed so much. 4 kids in various stages of education means that you must have kept in touch. Re recent issues - google Early Years Foundation Stage, launched March this year. HTH - good luck

Thanks for that Hassled. Good advice.

You don't think it is relevant to say that the job would fit with being a working mother? I thought it showed I had considered the commitment teaching would add to my life and decided I could fit it in (surely they are trying to ascertain if it is worthwhile re-training me or will I give up after a few weeks because I can't fit it in with my other commitments?) Is there a more positive way of saying the same thing?

Message withdrawn

Actually I have neither but I am crossing that bridge when I know if I have a place or not. The course itself is only 6 weeks.

I also only want to work part time once the course is finished and thought teaching lends itself more to part time work than other careers.

Good Luck for the interview - I'll be watching to see what happens. It's so difficult not to be wishy-washy isn't it.

I am thinking of doing the returning to teaching course next year. I think the returning to MFL is 10 weeks long at my local uni.

Message withdrawn

Yes I wouldn't imply it is a problem, that is for sure.

Between you and me though, it looks like it will be a nightmare. Ds3 will just be starting school and I found out today that for 4 weeks the class is divided into two and they alternate going mornings and afternoons! So I will need to find someone who is flexible enough to have him at different times of the day. Only after four weeks will he go to school full time and will then be able to go to the after school club which I hope to get dd and ds2 into. Ds1 is starting secondary and will come home by himself but then have to be home alone for an hour and a half - that should be OK, but it is all going to be new. The timing of the course could not be worse, tbh, but if I don't do it in September, I will have to wait until next March, which isn't really going to be an option.

Oh dear, just realised the form also says "anything else you would like to add in support of this application?" I am scraping the bottom of the barrel as it is! Would it be OK to leave that bit blank or do you think that is code for "Don't bother interviewing me"?

Message withdrawn

"I want to return to teaching because it is the job I did for 8 years and feel best qualified to do"
Hope you don't mind me saying, but I think that bit needs rephrasing slightly, at first glance it looks like you're saying it's all you can do - I know that's not what you mean but...
Depending on how much space you have you might want to expand on the making the difference to the lives of children.
For 2, as someone else asks, can you subscribe quickly? PLus,are the interviews going to be after you've done the marking? If they definitely are, put that down, as if they ask for details, you'll have them.
Did you originally leave teaching because you had your DCs? If that's the case then I think it would be quite good to say that you originally left teaching because of family commitments, now you have long-term stable arrangements for these you want to return to teaching for the same reasons that you used to enjoy teaching, i.e... (everything you've said).
Sorry this is long and rambling, and good luck!

Thanks again for all comments.

I am afraid the marking thing is even more tenuous than that. Edexcel have accepted me to be a marker but they did so too late this year to offer me a contract so I won't actually get to do any marking until May next year. I think the marking thing is only worthy of mention in that it shows I have retained an interest in education (and also it shows another institution has taken the trouble to take out references on me and found me worthy of employing - very weak I know).

Yes I gave up teaching to have my family. That was 11 years ago and I have done virtually no teaching in all that time. Now the oldest is starting secondary and (more to the point) the youngest is starting primary, so that is the reason behind my timing.

Thanks again for all comments. Just bumping for the evening crowd amongst whom there may be some teachers/returners to teaching.