Job interview next week - first role in a secondary school - any advice?

[BretonStripe]

I am being interviewed for a Parent Support Advisor (PSA) role next week but have never worked in a school before so I'm worried it may hold me back? I have many years of experience of helping parents of primary-aged children, and have volunteered in primary schools supporting children. I am a parent of secondary-aged children myself, and went to the school to meet the staff before applying.

I'm brushing up on the school's values, behaviour & attendance policies, along with the KCSIE guidance.

Any hints or tips please?

I’d ask ai for potential scenarios they might ask you to consider how you would support and have a good think about those. It’s the scenario questions that I find hardest at interview. Ask ai for responses too…

Also be yourself. If you’re not comfortable that will come across.
Goid luck!

All schools will ask a safeguarding question, so be ready for this - make sure you know who the designated safeguarding leads are, etc.

Thank you! When I went for a tour of the school the other week the staff, including the Head and SENCO were very friendly. The Head said to me I'd be "perfect" and "I really hope you apply!" so I think I'll be relaxed and comfortable. I'm more than comfortable visiting families in their homes (part of the role), and very passionate about supporting families (it's my background, albeit for a charity supporting families with younger children).

I shall look up some scenario questions for sure. Hate the STAR method but know it's a necessary evil! Hopefully there'll be some helpful examples on YouTube.

Just keep in mind safeguarding trumps everything if you get one of those priority scenarios.
good luck 🤞

As a pp said, there will definitely be something about safeguarding so I would advise reading Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children (both available online). They will also likely ask something around managing a caseload and prioritising your work load. Good luck!

Check the schools latest ofsted and look at their social media.
Have some good questions to ask ready.

Attendance is another current priority, especially linked to vulnerable groups (PP, SEND). More of a concern in secondary than primary (and more so in special).

https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-attendance-in-schools/2026-week-10

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bf300da44f1c4c23e5bd1b/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_-_August_2024.pdf

Thank you so much everyone, and sorry for the delay in replying!

Really useful tips and links, particularly the 'working together to improve school attendance' DofE document; it's really helped me to pick up some of the language to use (and reassured me that - on paper anyway - the government seem to want to work collaboratively with families and help them to remove barriers to education).

I think you can get basic safeguarding training online with scenarios to answer questions on.
I would study the school website and try and pick up on the ethos.

Yes, definitely scouring the website and learning their values, vision, charter etc I have already been to the school and met with the team, and it's a local school with a good reputation.

I have a background in supporting families for a local-authority funded charity, as well as volunteering in primary schools and other family support, so I've been having regular safeguarding children training for the past seven years. Will definitely write down a couple of examples to use though, thanks.

And it does not harm to try and slip in (in answer to a question) ... "Well from what I can see on the school website" - this tells them you have taken the trouble to look at it!

@BretonStripeA good source of info is always newsletters home. You get a good idea of what’s going on. If you can get them, Governing Body objectives and improvements. Ofsted report if fairly recent. Plus read the school’s safeguarding policy, attendance strategy, behaviour policy, discipline and sanctions policy. Gives you a framework for your role. They might have a parent/school agreement too.

Thank you - great tip!

Thank you, I am looking at all of these policies but am also conscious I don't want to over-prepare and stress myself out! I'm a bit of a bugger for massively over-thinking and over-researching, then not sleeping and stressing in the interview because head is full of quite possibly useless information ! My friends have warned me to restrict how much I research for this reason. Just trying to find a balance...

I agree.
You might be asked what you would do if someone disclosed something to u or what you would do if this happened if a child disclosed something as you were about to leave and no one else was around

I agree about not overdoing the research and getting jaded. You need to sound fresh and enthusiastic, not trying to remember stuff like at a French oral exam!
Just have an understanding of safeguarding and the school ethos and express a willingness to learn and take any training on offer. And a desire to be part of the school community.
I have been on the other side of this as a school governor and personality counts for a lot and how you might fit in with the team.

As well as safeguarding, it would be helpful to have an understanding of the basics of data protection too