School Admin Interview and Intray ... help

[LauraJ123]

Hello
I have a interview 30 mins and an in tray for 25 mins.

What questions may I be asked if you have done similar interview. And answers you gave if you got the job?

I will read up safeguarding and school policy from website.

Any help on what in tray activities you did.

I am also looking at old posts on here.

Thanks Laura

It will be a list of things like:

• type a letter from the headteacher thanking someone for their help with an event
• book a room at the council for staff training next month
• log a safeguarding report on the school database
• parent wants to speak to headteacher about abusive father
• invoice to be paid
• teacher has phoned in sick and there is no cover

it will be fairly obvious what should be prioritised but there may be some more subtle items in there that you need to think about how important they are vs other more everyday tasks that aren’t urgent.

interview questions will be based on the essentials in the person spec on the job description.

A popular in tray exercise for this type of role is a priority activity. You'll be given a list of scenarios and will have to order them according to how important you think they are - so which one you'd attend to first and so on. Could be things like a parent at the desk shouting, the phone ringing, a child turning up at the office feeling sick, a lunchtime assistant asking about a child with allergies. You get the idea!

Obviously I have no idea if they'll do this one but definitely worth a though just in case. Good luck!

Just an extra tip look at the school website for their safeguarding leads details etc and familiarise yourself with safeguarding policies as this will be asked

I’ve had similar but for teaching/pastoral roles. Best tips are to prioritise any potential safeguarding and tell the DSL asap (might be scenarios like a child hasn’t turned up and no one is answering the phone at home/child unexpectedly gone back to parent’s country for a ‘special ceremony’ (fgm)), and also to delegate/use other people rather than handle it all yourself. They might also ask you to draft an email/make an action plan to give more detail on one of the scenarios.

thank you all for your help

@LauraJ123 when is the interview? Good luck 😊

Monday. Ive not had an interview in over 15 years so nervous but trying to do as much research as possible so im more relaxed

They'll be looking for a busy, hands on, can do person. Just portray yourself as someone who will get stuck in and juggle a million tasks. Good luck.

Safeguarding is always number one!

How did you get on I have one tomorrow!

I didn't get the Job:(

The interview and in tray went well though. But the other lady had school office experience so she got the job.

But to share my experience for others.

The in tray was a paper exercise.
I had to put in order the five in tray activities, give reasons, and respond to the email on paper.

1. Mum emails about her daughter being upset about a issues in the school bus
2. Bus driver emails to say some students are good on the bus but a group of students are causing problems for the girls
3. an angry parent at reception
4. need to reply to the local authority about a meeting in a months time
5. a parent is requesting time off for a holiday

The interview was questions as follows

what experience do i have?
what do i know about safe guarding?
how would i react if a child comes to me with an issue?
how to i keep on top of my work load?
as it was a faith school a little bit about how i would help with this bearing in mind not all student are of that faith?
would i be prepared to help out at school activities (noticed would be given)?

good luck hope you do well and get the job

At least school interviews tell you on the day

yes i wasn't expecting that. was good to not be waiting around I can move on now and try find another job