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Interview questions - School Administrator

22 replies

lookingforanewjob23 · 07/01/2023 08:34

Have an upcoming interview for a School Administrator role and was just wondering if anyone who works/recruits in that area could give me an idea of some of the questions that may be asked please?

I know there's an interview with some staff members and then a 15 minute test, no indication of what the test includes 🤷🏽‍♀️

OP posts:
Decorhate · 07/01/2023 08:42

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!

mikeflanagansmuse · 07/01/2023 08:58

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

Spendonsend · 07/01/2023 09:02

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

maryofthevirginkind · 07/01/2023 09:08

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.

BridasShieldWall · 07/01/2023 09:12

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.

PuppyMonkey · 07/01/2023 09:26

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.

toomuchlaundry · 07/01/2023 09:31

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.

lookingforanewjob23 · 07/01/2023 09:48

Thank you all!

I'll make sure I read over the values of the school and safeguarding procedures again before the interview.

I'm reasonably confident about my performance during the actual interview with panel, bit more nervous re the test, especially if it's based around Excel (my experience is practically zero). Worth doing some basic things on it this week? Just in case?

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toomuchlaundry · 07/01/2023 09:50

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

LaraReign · 07/01/2023 09:51

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!

lookingforanewjob23 · 07/01/2023 11:08

toomuchlaundry · 07/01/2023 09:50

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 hope I don't sound like a complete idiot here but what would you consider to be the basics? Just so I know what to prioritise looking at/learning over the next few days Smile

OP posts:
Swannning · 07/01/2023 11:10

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

lookingforanewjob23 · 07/01/2023 11:26

@Swannning I will read that, thank you!

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Quitelikeacatslife · 07/01/2023 11:26

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

WeAreAllLionesses · 07/01/2023 15:04

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!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/01/2023 15:41

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!

lookingforanewjob23 · 08/01/2023 09:51

All great replies, especially from @NeverDropYourMooncup (whose username made me laugh out loud!)

I really appreciate you all taking your time to reply, I'm reading and re-reading through every one of them and will make sure I take all of your advice on board as I prepare this week Smile

OP posts:
Elizabeth6383 · 27/03/2024 17:34

@lookingforanewjob23 how did it go?! I’m thinking of applying to be a school administrator but no experience so wondered how you found it

lookingforanewjob23 · 28/03/2024 20:42

@Elizabeth6383 the interview went very well, but I wasn't offered the job - the feedback given was that they felt I was over qualified (which was very frustrating!)

I've just recently qualified as a teaching assistant though, and been offered the first role I applied for Smile

Good luck!

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BLUEBABY123 · 09/05/2024 12:07

@NeverDropYourMooncup thanks for the helpful information.

Do you have any idea what might come up in the test for a school job in finance and facilities ??

Any ideas would be helpful.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 09/05/2024 12:29

BLUEBABY123 · 09/05/2024 12:07

@NeverDropYourMooncup thanks for the helpful information.

Do you have any idea what might come up in the test for a school job in finance and facilities ??

Any ideas would be helpful.

Good timing!

Similar excel tasks for finance, really, possibly changing the list to sort by who has or hasn't paid, who has free school meals entitlement, that kind of thing.

There will still be a safeguarding question. Prioritising tasks might be identifying the most important as salaries/school meals entitlement (as that's how kids get fed), possibly a safeguarding/welfare scenario where the parent says they can't pay or haven't paid for meals for ages - referring to the DSL as they might need help to claim free school meals/other welfare issues are at play here/the child could be going hungry, possibly a parent querying how much is spent where it could be they're buying food for a friend whose parents aren't topping up their account or they're being bullied or there's a payment mistake and the parent has accidentally paid school trip money into the dinner money item.

Maybe a 'do you speak out?' if you realise a member of staff might hold large amounts of cash taken for something or you aren't happy about whether the purchases are actually for the school.

Facilities could include working with contractors, following finance policy procedures for procurement or ensuring that the governor whose brother in law runs a construction company has made a pecuniary or other interests declaration and isn't on the decision making panel for that work. Or 'what happens if the lights stop working and the caretaker who isn't a qualified electrician stacks a chair onto a table to start working on them?'

It's sometimes a ridiculous environment to work in, but it's certainly interesting.

BLUEBABY123 · 20/05/2024 21:08

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Thank you so much for your response.

I will keep in mind all the points you made.

Sorry for the delayed response.

Interview is tomorrow 🙌

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