[Carey]

Is there anything that you wished you'd asked about before committing to a job in teaching? Something that surprised you that if you'd known about, you could have done some more research?
I've got a preliminary interview on Monday by phone and would be happy for any tips/areas to enquire about, either in the primary curriculum or in terms of policies.......
Wilksken, can I ask you in particular ?.. you say you feel at home after 6 months now in your job; what were the things which took a while to get used to ?

[speckythecky]

Excellent news on the interview, hope all goes well. Where is it and what age group?
can't help with the interview questions at the moment but Kims interview lasted about 10 seconds before she was offered the job.

[Angelonthemove]

Ask them, why should you want to work for them, what makes them so appealing in other words.

How is their staff turnover in last 3 years. Longest sering memeber, shortest, age group of staff. I have worked for companies here where everyone leaves after 12 months I now know why.

what is their biggest issue with regard to bad behaviour record.

Ask how many people they have interviewed and see if they have offered the role ot anyone who has then turned it down and ask why.

Close with do they have any reservations as to why you coul dnot be offered the job, good for overcoming any doubts they have.

Not sure if any of this is relevant, used to teach myself but years ago. but treat it as if you are also interviewing them. I have a list with enough questiones but mentioned the ones they have covered already.

And if you get the job you can always move to aother school if you hate it:laugh

Good luck

[Carey]

Thanks for that; it was an interview with a teaching agency and we discussed several of those exact questions Angelonthemove, for when I get to telephone interview stage. Fingers crossed.

[holland]

Good Luck Carey xxx

[willsken]

Hi Carey, sorry I took so long... Just seen this.

I feel at home now but I don't think there is anything in this school that took more getting used to anymore that another school in NZ would have been. (same catchment type)

The biggest one was the curriculum, very different to the UK. That was the hardest one for me and now I feel like an old hand!

The kids are different and respond in different ways than the kids in the UK. Especially the way you need to deal with some of the Maori students.

The staff here are a lot friendlier than in my last school. Everyone meets in the staffroom at break and lunchtime and once a week a department puts on a "shout"

There is a lot more extra curricular stuff going on and you are expected to embrace it and get involved. (I'm learning to love it!:roll)

I'll try and think of more.......:yes

[Carey]

Thank you; whoops I was just saying yesterday how similar the curriculum looked to the UK one! How is it so different, reading thro each subject(primary) it actually seems quite similar.
Any further detail on working with Maori children? can you elaborate? PM me if more appropriate.
Any comments from your boys on their teachers style, curriculum changes? How do they deal with History/Geog. for eg. which must be very differnet to Uk history/ geog. work?

[willsken]

Carey, the content is similar but it's assessed completely differently than the UK. Primary may well be a lot more similar. Tom is in primary and he has taken to it like a duck to water. Matt, in secondary has struggled more. As you say content in things like social studies are very different and he's not into school on the best of days! :roll Now after 8 months they are both very settled and happy. Teaching style here seems a lot more relaxed and focused on the whole child and not just about results (from what I am experiencing and this will vary from school to school)

I will PM you re teaching Maori kids. Will have to be in the morning now as I'm off to put the boys to bed. :) :nice1