Typical Interview Questions

[NuttySupplier]

Kindly donated by Dottysbird
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, originally from
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The Course
Tell me about your degree/PGCE course.
When did you decide to apply for a place on a teacher training course and why?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of your course?
What parts of the course did you find most interesting and why?
Why did you choose this subject/these curriculum specialisms?
How have you developed in your subject (eg PE, Maths) during your course?

Teaching Interests
Why did you choose to teach this particular age range?
Is edu
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ion about passing examinations or giving an all round edu
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ion?
(Argue the merits of each approach).
What are the aims of the Nursery/Infant/Middle/School?
Are you interested in information technology? How might you use computers in your teaching?
How would you use the locality of the school and its immediate environment?
How would you structure projects to give equal access to all pupils?
What are the important things to consider when setting up a classroom?
What do you feel are the important skills or qualities an (IT etc) co-ordinator should possess?
How would you help other staff members to overcome their difficulties/reluctance
using computers in the classroom?
What are the uses and advantages of having a school environmental/nature study area?

The School
What makes a successful school?
What importance do you attach to co-operation with colleagues, eg those teaching parallel classes?
How would you
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e with lack of enthusiasm from colleagues?
Are you a member of a religious denomination (which)? Would you take part in the religious life of the school?
What is your impression of the school? – be diplomatically honest. An honest yet
balanced answer, stating the aspects of the school that impressed you and areas you feel need attention is better than blanket praise.
In what ways can parents help in the school?
How do you feel about parent helpers in the classroom?

Professional Issues
What are the main qualities of a good teacher?
What are your particular strengths as a teacher? How would you develop them
further?
What are your weak areas and how are you overcoming them?
How much noise and moving around in the classroom do you permit?
How would you seek to ensure high standards of discipline in your classroom?
Which of your teaching practices was the most successful and why?
Tell us about your curriculum planning and how you assess pupils.
Describe the best lesson given by you on a Teaching Practice.
What are your views on assessment?
How would you ensure that you respond effectively to the different needs and
abilities of individual pupils?
Do you differentiate between outcome or task?
How do you encourage students to work independently?
What are your feelings on sharing classes for specialist subjects – teaching your
specialist subject to another class, whilst their teacher takes your class in one of your (perhaps) weaker subjects?
How would you manage other adults in the classroom – give examples?
Regarding the extra time required by staff meetings, extra-curricular activities etc. do you anticipate any problems with time management?
How would you react if a senior member of staff queried or criticised some aspect of your teaching?
How do you take into account the background of your children e.g. social, linguistic, ethnicity, religious etc?

Pastoral
How would you assess your ability to make relationships with children?
What is your experience of having parents in school? To what extent should this be developed?
What methods would you use to build up effective relationships with parents?
How would you seek to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the children in your care?
Can you give me an example of when you have challenged stereotypical views?

Career Development
How will you develop yourself as a professional teacher?
What are your plans for the future?
How would you like to see your career develop?
Are you prepared to go on courses?
How long do you expect to stay here?
Would you aim to widen your experience by see
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posts in other schools after a reasonable period here? (You should commit yourself to at least two years providing of course that you and the school are satisfied with your progress).

The Extras
What personal interests or hobbies do you have that could be of value to the school?
(Say what interests you have but it is unwise to commit yourself irrevocably until you have had time to see how you
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e with the rest of your teaching load).

Yourself
What is the relevance of your previous experience to teaching? (Industrial
experience, va
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ion work, bringing up a family).
What are your interests outside college work and how involved are you?
What have been the major events in your life – both good and bad – and how have they affected you?

Personal Considerations
How easy will it be for you to get here by 8.30am?
Could you stay late occasionally? (or would it conflict with family or personal
commitments?)
Are you prepared to help with Saturday morning games or other similar activities?
Can you drive and have you a car?
If we were to offer you this post are you in a position to accept it?

[Gnomoospan]

Hi, I've just found tissite and it is great for me so thanks in advance! I am at the beginning of a supply career having worked 8 years overseas and just ahd a baby. I am very out of touch with what is going on in terms of changing edu
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ion in the UK and these questions will help for prospective interviews. i had one last term and didn't get the job based on the interview answers not the lesson I taught. They said I wasn't detailed or explicit enough in my answers, how much detail should I give i don't want to ramble and I don't want to spout off the wrong thing! They specified examples of good teaching experiences,what kind of thing??? I have lots but am finding it tricky to pin down something worth tal
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abut to be honest!
Any tips will help greatly!

[Gnomoospan]

Just read my post. Sorry for all the typos! Baby brain...

[NuttySupplier]

When I got asked that sort of question, I answered with those moments in time when you saw the spark of recognition/excitement/eureka in a child's eye... I used a fractions lesson I had done, where they all
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ted off 'hating' fractions, but through my enthusiam for it, and the teaching, they all loved the work in the end and asked for more and more, got them from level 2 stuff to level 5 stuff in a week.

If it's something that's stuck in your mind, it's probably stuck in the children's minds too... awe and wonder stuff, love it!

[Gnomoospan]

Thanks Nutty. I had a deaf girl in one class and between us we learnt simple sign language, particularly for menta maths andthe whole class used the signs. We taught each other other signs so she could sign in assembly and I taught the whole school how to sign Happy Birthday for the assembly that coincided with her birthday. The best thing was that she was first language Hindi so this was all ESL for her too. Does that sound ike the kind of thing??

[NuttySupplier]

Probably, if you present it as something you planned all along... Could you relate it to curriculum? Literacy targets etc? Sounds excellent!

[Gnomoospan]

Nutty, any chance of you emailing me all those interview q's so I can print them? My hubbie's applying for deputy jobs and wants to get in the frame for the interview. Thanks a million.

[NuttySupplier]

Done it... good luck to him! Is he applying to
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t September?

[Gnomoospan]

Yes, He's already met one head who've now advertised and the head said he hoped he applied because he could see them wor
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well together, good sign? He's never been a deputy before, so I hope that doesn't go against him. Would love for him to get it, not only for the money!!!!!!!

[Gnomoospan]

Oops sorry Nutty forgot to say thanks!
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