You’ll probably be asked a few questions to see if you have done your research on the school, about its ethos for example. Probably something about safeguarding (what would you do if a child disclosed abuse to you) and maybe how you would deal with an irate parent.

In terms of the task, this is likely to be computer based to assess how IT literate you are.

Good Luck!

Tests I had included typing a response to a parent who's child lost their PE kit I think? Then prioritising done tasks (phone ringing, a child is missing, paper jam in photocopier etc!) and I think just a simple excel test, no formula though, just formatting, and sorting data

What do you know about safeguarding (dont bluff if you know nothing - say you will need training) but if you note the designated safeguarding lead on arrival - there should be a picture in the reception area.



Prioritising and confidentiality

Keeping children safe in education. The single central record. Google those things if you don't know.

Always prioritise child over any other task (ie dealing with poorly child rather than answering phone).

Flexibility, sense of humour, used to working under pressure.

Hi read the school’s safeguarding policy. Understanding safeguarding and confidentiality are so important to the role but as a PP said don’t bluff it and refer to policy and designated safeguarding lead. Unless you have worked in schools before we wouldn’t expect you to know it but would expect you to recognise how important it is. Admin task should be straightforward.

I have done a couple of school admin interviews - didn’t get the jobs but I can say for all of them, the test included prioritising a list of tasks (a safeguarding thing should always go first) and then writing a letter to parents including some key pieces of information provided. I’m sure this was 30 minutes though so maybe yours will be different.

Interview part was just the usual asking about experience and why I wanted the job and what I thought I could bring to the role.

Questions may include how you cope under pressure, how you deal with an angry parent, will definitely be a safeguarding question. If a church school may be a question about values.

Task may include writing report for governors, so presenting data, drafting school newsletter, prioritising tasks.

Yes I would have a go on Excel. They won’t expect you to be an expert on it unless they have included it in their requirements, but being able to do the basics would be good.

Say you are willing to have training

I'm PA to the Principal in a secondary school so slightly different but my interview included safeguarding, why I wanted to work there, what I think I can bring to the role and the task was a prioritisation task and a reply letter to an irate parent. Good luck!

Safeguarding, safeguarding, safeguarding - this is the latest guidance and is worth reading (and drop in that you are aware of it if you can) assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1101454/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2022.pdf

Totally agree with safeguarding, look up the DSL lead on website, good to quote that report issue to them, what would do if child disclosed? Don't promise keep it secret etc? But read up on it for sure
also question on confidentiality. How would handle difficult parent/person.
Look at website and school ethos /motto , is it a specialist school ? What makes it unique? And why do you want to work there.

I had an hour of tests included looking at a financial order basically spotting mistakes, formatting a newsletter, if they ask you to check a document don't just rely on spellcheck as that won't tell you if it reads correctly.
Good luck it is a lovely job with lots of variety

Make sure your English and Maths skills are up to par - double check everything before you hand it in.

We had a number of candidates who all interviewed well but only one could add up (with a calculator), it was shocking. And that was even with me gently encouraging them to check things!

I've created the assessment tasks for interviews.

Typing will be covered likely in a 'compose a response to this email from a parent', then save it - it'll be either onto a memory stick or a particular area. Use Save As so you don't overwrite the original. They might ask you to 'create a pdf', which is done by picking Save As and then As Type pdf on the dropdown below the filename box.

Excel will probably be a 'add these names & form groups into the spreadsheet, now sort into alphabetical order by form' task - so filling in the fields, then highlight the table, click Data - Filter - Select Form group dropdown to show 7A, highlight rows - Sort - A-Z by Surname. Then save the spreadsheet. Possibly answer a question where you have the answer in the table data - it's likely that there's two children with similar names in the table, so be aware of this, as it's a good test of attention to detail.

They might ask for a handwritten answer to a prioritisation task. As others have said, it's always the safeguarding/life and limb issue that comes first. And if you haven't been trained in it before, the overriding principle of Safeguarding is don't ignore it, don't keep secrets, always report even if they ask you not to.


I've had a couple of interviews where the tasks have been pulled from the internet, rather than created by somebody who does the job - it's not a disaster if there's something you can't quite work out how to do, as long as you can do the majority and can see what you need to learn.

On another, they had somebody pretend to be complaining in a phone call, the key there was to be polite, professional and tell them that you will find out the answer and respond to them at a certain time.

They aren't necessarily looking for somebody who already knows everything, they'll want somebody who can and will learn as they go along, who can adapt to changes (like using a different database) and can think on their feet/will ask questions, rather than panic and shout or cry. If it's a faith school, it's handy to know a bit about the faith concerned and they really like people who are already or are interested in becoming First Aid qualified (likely to be a requirement of your role, by the way).

Personally, I think that one of the most important things is to never use apostrophes for plurals (so it's 'All students go to room 45 at 12pm', not 'all student's go to room 45 at 12am' - yes, I have seen the afternoon times given as am before) and know the difference between your (your choice) and you're (you're going to need to know this).


Honestly, we've taken on people with zero Excel experience on September 1st and they're blasting their way through detailed spreadsheets, running reports on SIMS and teaching other people how to do those things within a few weeks. It's not 'easy', but it's easy to learn. Especially when you're surrounded by people in the business of explaining things so that others can learn.

Good luck!