What To Avoid When Looking For a New Teaching Role

As we are fast approaching Easter, it is the busiest time for recruitment within schools. Many teachers like to start a new challenge in September and of course NQTs are on the lookout for their first permanent position but it’s not always a piece of cake.

We speak to teachers on a regular basis who have accepted permanent positions, thinking it’s their dream role but in reality, it’s not quite the right fit for them. What steps can you take to avoid this?

Do your research! Visit the school

Every school is very different, especially with academies and multi-academy trusts nowadays so not every school is run in the same way. It is important that you share the schools values and that you “buy in” to their culture. Visit the school or setting before you apply to find out about what makes them tick. This gives you an opportunity to see the school in action, meet staff and ask questions. By walking around school, you will gain a strong understanding of what the school is like. Can you imagine yourself working there?

Ask Questions

On your visit to the school, make sure you ask suitable, relevant questions as it is easy to forget when you are put on the spot. (Why not take a notepad with some questions jotted down already!) You need to find out what kind of commitment will be expected from you. Many permanent positions can often mean extra hours ‘burning the midnight oil’ with planning and assessing. If this isn’t for you then maybe it is time to explore other options such as supply teaching.

You’ve had a look around the school, you’ve asked the relevant questions and are pleased with the answers so you decide to apply for the position advertised. You attend the interview and all goes brilliantly and are offered the position but whilst at interview stage, you got a bad feel for the school and you aren’t sure if it is the right fit after all but you are desperate to leave your current role, or maybe you’re an NQT desperate to secure you first position – what do you do?

Don’t just accept it!

Many teachers accept a role because they have “nothing to go to” or because there isn’t anything else available. NQTs are always extremely keen to get the NQT year completed they don’t stop to think about what the consequences are of working in a school not right for them. We speak to teachers on a regular basis who have had a bad experience at a school and as such want to leave the profession. The school they have worked in has not been the right fit, the Head Teacher hasn’t been approachable and the workload has been too much to manage. When they’ve asked for help, they have felt unsupported and miserable; they cannot see a way of it getting better so convince themselves that leaving teaching is best. So when you are offered a role that isn’t quite right for you, stop and think – is it worth it in the long run or are there other options?

This is where we encourage teachers to complete some supply work – it can be a great way of rekindling your passion for teaching without the added pressures and gives you an opportunity to get to know other schools in the area. Many Supply Teachers are offered longer term and permanent positions in schools they have been to on a supply basis so this can also be an excellent way of getting a foot in the door at your dream school.

Can you think of any other hints and tips for teachers looking for a new challenge? Why not send us your comments for us to share with teachers to assist them further.

Katie Holdsworth is our Branch Manager for Dorset and Hampshire. If you are interested in finding out about the supply teaching opportunities we have available, please contact her on 01202 932 960 or email Katie@classpeople.co.uk.