GUIDANCE NOTES For Final Year Bachelor of Education & PGCE students

2014 - 2015

INDEX Page Introduction 1. What are my chances, in the present employment situation, of getting a teaching post?

1

2.

Registration with the General Teaching Council NI

2

3.

Will my Stranmillis University College qualification be recognized outside Northern Ireland?

3

4.

To Whom do I apply? The Controlled Sector The Maintained Sector The Voluntary Sector Integrated Schools

1

6 6 8 9 10

5.

Is it true that canvassing will disqualify a candidate?

12

6.

What happens if an applicant fails to disclose a criminal conviction?

13

7.

Access Northern Ireland

14

8.

If several posts become available at the same time, may I apply for more than one?

15

9.

How important is the application form?

16

10.

Will I be asked on the application form to name referees?

17

11.

How should I prepare for the interview?

18

12.

Sample Interview Questions?

24

13.

What happens after the interview?

28

Appendices a.

NISTR

b.

Prospects

c.

Useful contact information

d.

Official Student Transcript

e

Stranmillis University College Careers Service / Data Release Form

29

INTRODUCTION Perhaps it is hard to believe that you are now in the last months of your course at Stranmillis University College. Among the many things crowding into your mind at this time such as final assignments, dissertation, examinations, there will also feature the slightly daunting but certainly exciting prospect of future employment – and how to get it. This document will attempt to answer some of the questions relating to applying for teaching posts and preparing for interviews, which may concern you at this time.

1.

What are my chances, in the present employment situation, of getting a teaching post?

As a graduate student of Stranmillis University College your chances of getting a teaching post are very good. The most recent official HESA statistics are for those students leaving the University College in 2013. Out of 129 Bachelor of Education and 15 PGCE students we received 106 and 13 completed surveys, respectively. They indicate that approximately 88.68% of Bachelor of Education students and 92.31% of PGCE students gained employment in a permanent or temporary capacity.

2.

General Teaching Council N.I.

All teachers who wish to teach in Northern Ireland are required to register. Further details and forms are available by contacting: General Teaching Council Northern Ireland 3rd Floor Albany House 73-75 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7AF Ph: 028 9033 3390 Fax: 028 9034 8787 www.gtcni.org.uk

3.

Will my Stranmillis University College qualification be recognized outside Northern Ireland? England & Wales Qualifications which confer ‘eligibility to teach’ in Northern Ireland are automatically recognized in England and Wales. Stranmillis University College graduates are highly esteemed by Local Education Authorities in England and Wales and the University College frequently receives literature, and sometimes visits, soliciting applications. You will be required to register with the General Teaching Council and your forms should be forwarded to Learning & Student Services for signature.

Scotland Teachers in Scotland must be registered with the General Teaching Council of Scotland. Each application for registration is treated individually and on its merit. In

general, Stranmillis University College graduates find no difficulty in obtaining registration and the consequent eligibility to be considered for teaching posts, in the various regions into which Scotland is divided for administrative purposes.

Republic of Ireland Qualifications obtained in Stranmillis University College are accepted in the Republic of Ireland but to achieve full recognition and be eligible for a permanent post, teachers must demonstrate competence in the Irish language. If you are a primary or post-primary school teacher who qualified outside of Ireland and you wish to teach in a recognised school in Ireland, you must apply for recognition of your qualifications prior to registration with the Teaching Council.

Elsewhere in the World There is hardly a part of the developed world where you will not find teachers who were trained at Stranmillis University College. You may be asked to arrange for a comprehensive Student Transcript on the subjects studies, duration, professional courses followed and the age ranges of pupils taught during the school based components of your course. To obtain this information, please contact:

Dr Clifford Boyd Vice Principal Stranmillis University College Belfast BT9 5DY Ph: 028 9038 4261 Fax: 028 9066 4423 [email protected] www.stran.ac.uk

4.

To whom do I apply?

Teaching positions will be advertised in the Northern Ireland press by local employing agencies. The following information is offered as guidance in applying for teaching posts. While it has been compiled with due regard for the known practices of the various employers, it must be understood that it cannot be regarded as a definitive document from a legal point of view.

The Controlled Sector Teachers in the Controlled Sector are employed by one or other of the five Education and Library Boards. Application forms are obtained from and returned to the following addresses:

Belfast Education and Library Board 40 Academy Street Belfast BT1 2NQ Tel: 028 9056 4000 www.belb.org.uk/

North Eastern Education and Library Board County Hall 182 Galgorm Road Ballymena BT42 1HN Tel: 028 2565 3333 www.neelb.org.uk

South Eastern Education & Library Board Grahamsbridge Road Dundonald Belfast BT16 2HS Tel: 028 9056 6200 Fax: 028 9056 6266/7 www.seelb.org.uk Southern Education and Library Board 3 Charlemont Place The Mall Armagh BT61 9AX Telephone: 028 3751 2200 www.selb.org

Western Education & Library Board 1 Hospital Road Omagh BT79 0AW Ph: 028 8241 1411 Fax: 028 8241 1400 www.welbni.org

The Maintained Sector Teachers in the Maintained Sector are employed by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) which was brought into existence by the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989. The address of the Council’s office is as follows: Council for Catholic Maintained Schools Head Office 160 High Street Holywood County Down BT18 9HT Tel: 028 9042 6972 Fax: 028 9042 4255 www.onlineccms.com

The issue and receipt of application forms is, however, the responsibility of the five Diocesan Education Offices with addresses as follows: Armagh, Clogher and Dromore Diocesan Office 1 Killyman Road Dungannon BT71 6DE Ph: 028 87752116

Derry Diocesan Education Office Colmcille House 1A Miller Street Londonderry BT48 6SU

Ph: 028 71261931

Down & Connor Diocesan Education Office 73 Somerton Road Ph: 028 90327875 Belfast BT15 4DE

The Voluntary Sector The employers in the Voluntary Sector are the respective Boards of Governors and applications are made directly to the schools. Advertisements will indicate how this is to be done.

Integrated Education The following information has been obtained from the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education web site. The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) was established in 1987, its role, to co-ordinate efforts to develop Integrated Education and to assist parent groups in opening new integrated schools. The first integrated school, Lagan College, was established in Belfast in 1981 by the campaigning parent group All Children together (ACT). In 1985 three more integrated schools opened in Belfast, offering parents in the city an alternative choice to the existing segregated schools. This is not to say that some schools were not religiously mixed but where this happened it was more to do with local circumstances and the religious mixing did not extend to governors or teaching staff. There are currently 62 integrated schools comprising 20 integrated second level colleges, and 42 integrated primary schools. In addition there are over 19 integrated nursery schools, most of which are linked to primary schools. If you are interested in applying for a post in this sector or require further information on integrated education or any related topic please contact: N.I. Council for Integrated Education 25 College Gardens Belfast BT9 6BS Ph: 028 9097 2910 Fax: 028 9097 2919 www.nicie.org.uk

5.

Is it true that canvassing will disqualify a candidate? Any approach, direct or indirect, by the candidate or with the knowledge and approval of the candidate, to any member of a school Board of Governors or to an employing authority e.g. Area Board, CCMS, or to any of its committees, will be regarded as canvassing, and will disqualify the candidate. A personal or written request to a head teacher for information about a teaching post is not regarded as canvassing. Many school principals appreciate an opportunity to discuss the post with the applicants and it is, therefore, advisable to telephone the school to find out if a visit would be appropriate. There is, however, a growing tendency for principals to invite only those candidates who are short-listed to visit the school simultaneously as a group. In addition, you may seek advice from a Careers Adviser about providing schools with a CV and a covering letter expressing an interest in substitute cover. The Careers Service at Stranmillis University College is open to graduates up to two years after graduation.

6.

If several posts become available at the same time, may I apply for more than one? There is nothing wrong with applying for several posts with the same employer or with several different employers…..…indeed this would be a sensible course of action. A separate application form should be completed for each post for which you are a candidate even when those posts are with the same employer. Occasionally, when two or more posts are in the same school, the employing authority

may indicate that one application form will suffice. Completed application forms should be submitted to the employing authority by the stated closing date. Make due allowance for postal delays! Posting by Recorded Delivery is recommended where delays are possible.

7.

What happens if an applicant fails to disclose a criminal conviction? Teaching is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (NI) Order 1978 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Exemptions) (NI) Order 1979, and from the provisions of similar legislation in other parts of the United Kingdom. Applicants must, therefore, disclose information about criminal convictions which for other purposes are “spent” under the provision of the Order. Any information given will be completely confidential. Failure to disclose such convictions could, in the event of employment, result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the employer.

8.

Vetting and Barring Scheme New employees and those moving jobs or volunteering posts, who want to work with children or vulnerable adults, must register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). To find out more information visit: www.direct.gov.uk/vetting

9. How important is the application form? It is impossible to overstress the importance of care in the completion of application forms. The appearance of a form, quite apart from its contents, tells a potential employer something about you. Read the form, including the small print, several times before even attempting to complete it. A useful practice is to photocopy the application form, fill in the details and, only then check for clarity, accuracy…and spelling! Transfer the details to the original application form NEATLY, ACCURATELY and COMPLETELY, paying due regard to any special instructions e.g. are you asked to use black ballpoint, block letters etc.? A carefully thought out and thoroughly prepared curriculum vitae, regularly updated, is a very useful document for your own records but most employing authorities will not accept anything additional to the completed application. Use the application form to list relevant qualifications including those gained outside the college and interests/ pursuits/ enthusiasms which are relevant to the post.

10. Will I be asked on the application form to name referees? Employers do ask for the names of persons to whom reference may be made. When deciding on referees you should bear in mind the fact that they may be asked to comment on your character, career and professional competence. It is important, therefore, to choose persons who you know well enough to make informed comment on you, for example, a member of the University College staff who knows you well,

the Vice Principal of the University College who will have access to a complete record of your academic and professional progress, or the principal of a school in which you had school experience. Your clergyman or some other person of comparable status will be able to act as a personal referee.

Prior approval of the persons concerned should be obtained before naming them as referees. The only exception to this rule is the Vice Principal of Stranmillis University College who may be named without prior consultation.

11. How should I prepare for an interview? Please find to follow some helpful hints on preparation and presentation for the interview. Remember that the interview is just ONE aspect of the selection process. Prepare thoroughly, think positively and look on the interview as an opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities. Do your research Review the employer’s job description and person specification, and your application form (you have kept a copy, haven’t you?) Ask yourself what additional points you need to make at interview and find evidence which would persuade the interviewer that you meet the requirements. First impressions really do count Let’s face it – an interview is not the most comfortable of situations and you are likely to feel apprehensive beforehand. However, make the effort to give a good first impression. If initiated by the interviewer, give a firm handshake. Establish eye contact but in a natural way – good non-verbal communication goes with the good interpersonal skills that the employer will be seeking.

Focus your interview performance Expect to do most of the talking but remember that an interview is not an interrogation; the best candidates are able to conduct the proceedings at the level of a friendly but purposeful conversation. It will be vital to get across your: 

Intellectual abilities – this could include your ability to draw a specific conclusion from a mass of information, or think on your feet in a work situation.



Personal achievements – such as those within your non-academic activities and work experiences, especially responsibilities and achievements.



Communication skills – how you answer can be as important as what you actually say. Be prepared to give examples: for instance, a presentation you made.



Commitment – examples include evidence of your motivation, commitment and ability to work under pressure, your determination to succeed and ideas regarding your long term goals.



Self-discipline – this could include evidence of time management skills, ability to multi-task, plan for and meet deadlines etc. Interviewers may look for evidence that you have made good use of your time and opportunities so far.

Answering questions Identifying potential question areas using the job description and person specification will help you feel more confident about what to expect. Try to use a structured approach to answering questions, such as the STAR system (see previous section). This helps keep your answers concise and to the point. If the interviewer feels you haven’t fully answered the question they may prompt you for more detail, or ask a supplementary question. Avoid the temptation to waffle. Help, my mind’s gone blank! It happens. However, you can buy yourself some precious seconds by asking the interviewer to repeat or rephrase the question. In some cases you might feel your answer to a particular question wasn’t great, but don’t let this distract you from the rest of the interview. Be enthusiastic and motivated, and answer all the other questions well and one slip-up might not affect the overall result. Any questions? Have a couple of questions prepared to ask the interviewer, for example concerning induction or training. However, if all your questions are answered during the interview it’s best not to ask something blindingly obvious just for the sake of it. Also, it might be uppermost in your mind but don’t raise starting salaries or holiday allocation.

One of the failed candidates for the copyrighters job wants to know “Wat was rong with his applicashun?” General Preparation  It is sensible to make a copy of your CV and each application form you complete. Please note, that many employers, especially in Northern Ireland, will not accept CVs. If this is stated on the application form, then you should not submit one. It will not be considered.  Make a list of all the essential information about yourself, your achievements to date and your other main interests. Be careful to check all references carefully – eg dates, grades and examining boards.  You might consider five principal headings for your CV: 1. Personal Details 2. Education & Qualifications 3. Professional Training 4. Teaching or other related experience 5. Relevant recreational interests and other enthusiasms

Personal Details           

Surname First name(s) Date of birth Place of birth No legal requirement to include these Age last birthday Present address – including postal code Telephone number including area code Home address – including postal code Mobile telephone number e-mail address (where applicable) Personality strengths and assets.

Education & Qualifications (most recent to be listed first)        

  

Post-graduate study and qualifications obtained as a result; University or College attended – with dates; Degree(s), etc. conferred – with date(s); Special academic distinctions won after school; Other special distinctions won after school. Post-primary school(s) attended– with dates; Public examination results – year, grade, awarding authority in each case; Offices of responsibility held at school (e.g. head boy or girl, prefect, monitor, librarian, club secretary, editor, team captain, etc.); Special academic distinctions won at school (eg prizes, scholarships, etc.); Other special distinctions won at school (e.g. representative honours, etc.); Course(s) followed;

Professional training  Nature of teaching qualification  Main course details, e.g. o Academic subject o Education o Curriculum Studies (life and work elements) o Dissertations or special projects o School experience  Ancillary qualifications, eg First Aid, Swimming teachers’ award.

Teaching or related experience  Unqualified experience, if any, eg V.S.O., Wider Horizons  School experience details – with number of weeks  Youth Club or youth organisation leadership – with number of years  Other experiences of working with children or young people  Outreach experience in other countries  Summer camps organisation – with sponsor group and age range  Community service involvement, eg service clubs, Gateway, PHAB.

Relevant recreational interests and/or other enthusiasms       

Artistic, e.g. music, drama, drawing, painting, design Literary, e.g. reading, writing Mechanical, e.g. engines, crafts, etc. Social, e.g. clubs, church, societies, cooking Athletic, e.g. individual and team sport, spectating, organising Collecting Environmental, e.g. conservation, ornithology, rambling.

12. Sample Interview Questions 1.

Please give the governors a brief resume of your training or career to date highlighting in particular your involvement in or experience of games for boys. (select main subject identified from application form or job specification).

2.

What do you think are the main considerations in managing behaviour for learning in the classroom?

3.

There is now a greater emphasis on practical mathematics. How would you strike a balance between the practical and the more traditional approach?

4.

How would you help a child learn to communicate clearly and with confidence?

5.

In what ways would you relate to parents to ensure their cooperation and to keep them informed about their children?

6.

What, in your opinion, makes a school an effective learning environment for children?

7.

What do you consider is the importance of extra curricular activities for children and what could you offer in this area?

8.

Please give the governors a brief resume of your experience to date in working with very young children and its relevance to this post. (KS1 or Nursery).

9.

This post being for a Key Stage One class, what do you perceive to be the most important qualities that the class teacher should have?

10.

What importance would you place on the relationship between the class teacher and parents and why?

12. Sample Interview Questions contd. 11.

How would you manage behaviour for learning during the early years?

12.

What steps would you take to deal with a child who is unwilling or unable to settle into the group situation?

13.

How could you help an unsettled child to come to terms with his/her new situation in the early weeks of school?

14.

What do you consider is the importance of Art & Design within the curriculum and how would you support a non specialist colleague?

15.

What do you think are the major projects or initiatives which might concern teachers in the coming few years?

16.

In what ways do you think Personal Development, as defined in the new N.I. Curriculum benefits children?

17.

What do you consider is the importance of Geography within the curriculum and how would you support a non specialist colleague?

18.

What do you see as the important features in teaching Religious Education in primary school?

19.

Some children with Special Educational Needs may lack confidence. Can you give us an example of how you would endeavour to raise a pupil’s confidence and self esteem outlining the strategies you might use?

20.

What strategies would you employ in order to encourage a child to develop a greater interest in reading?

12. Sample Interview Questions contd. 21.

What is your understanding of an individual education plan (IEP) and what are the key elements in it?

22.

Why did you choose teaching as a career?

23.

In what ways do you consider yourself well qualified for this post?

24.

How would you seek to make the transition from home to school easy for a child just starting school?

25.

What personal qualities or special aptitudes do you think a teacher of this age group needs to have?

26.

What is the value of your specialist subject to the school?

27.

What is your opinion of structured play?

28.

What are your views on the new NI Curriculum or on the new postprimary system and admission arrangements?

29.

What are the key issues relating to Child Protection?

30.

How would you deal with a disruptive child?

31.

How would you deal with a particularly timid child?

32.

How would you deal with bullying?

33.

What contribution can you make to the school outside the classroom?

34.

What are your own leisure time interests or hobbies?

12. Sample Interview Questions contd. 35.

Why have you applied for this position?

36.

What is your understanding of the proposals set out by the Department of Education in the Entitlement Framework and what are its implications, both for the school and for your as a teacher of Business Studies?

37.

Outline your experience to-date which would equip you for this post.

38.

In teaching this subject at KS4, what are the main considerations to make sure that good standards are achieved?

39.

Please outline to the panel some examples of teaching strategies you have used in the past to successfully your subject in an all-ability setting.

40.

Can you tell us about your most successful lesson?

41.

How would you approach the teaching of literacy within a class with a wide ability range?

42.

What is your understanding of curriculum enrichment and its benefits for post-16 students?

43.

Do you consider ICT to be a useful tool in the teaching and learning of your main subject? If so, why?

44.

Teamwork is an important element in any school. What qualities will you bring to the team?

If you are invited to ASK questions: Avoid spurious questions. When shall I know? What is the pattern of enrolments? Are arrangements made for induction? Is there an opportunity for my special interest? What about relations with other schools?

13. What happens after the interview? After interviews have been carried out, the Board of Governors or other selection panel will make a recommendation to the employing authority. The recommended candidate is normally informed that he/she is being recommended but that the appointment is subject to the employer’s approval. Should you be unsuccessful, you are encouraged to seek feedback from the panel to assist with future interviews. You are free to pursue other applications until confirmation of appointment has been received. However, once you have accepted a post in writing, you are obliged to take up that post. Failure to do so, unless there are mitigating circumstances such as illness or family bereavements, could result in legal action.

You will appreciate that any appointment is conditional on your passing your University College examinations/ assessments. Should you fail to qualify in June, you should, without delay, inform the principal of the school to which you have been provisionally appointed and also the relevant employer.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX (a) N.I.S.T.R.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE Re SUBSTITUTE TEACHING

IMPORTANT MESSAGE Re SUBSTITUTE TEACHING If you are going to be employed as a substitute teacher in N. Ireland schools you MUST be registered on the Northern Ireland Substitute Teacher Register (NISTR) before the end of August. Since the application process, which includes a criminal record check, can take EIGHT WEEKS, it is vitally important that this is completed as early as possible so that your name appears on the register by the end of August at the latest. Many schools begin searching for and booking substitute teachers during the summer months so the earlier your application is completed, the better chance of being offered employment from the start of the school year. The Department of Education has already advised schools that ONLY teachers registered on NISTR should be employed as substitute teachers. Futhermore the Department has recently advised all schools that all substitute days booked MUST be signed off for payment through the NISTR system. This will mean that if your application to join NISTR has not been completed on time, schools will NOT be in a position to book you for payment to be made through the NISTR system. To register, visit the NISTR website on www.nistr.org.uk where you will find out more about the NISTR system and where you can register online or download an application form. The benefits for registered teachers include: Free service – no fee to join or leave register Standard teacher terms and conditions Full rates of pay with pensionable service Choice of when you work, how far you are prepared to travel and which schools you work in

TO ENSURE YOUR AVAILABILITY ON NISTR BY MID – AUGUST YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION PROCESS BY THE END OF MAY If you are looking for permanent and / or temporary jobs in Britain, in the Republic of Ireland or in other parts of the world, you might also wish to consider registering your interest on www.eteach.com or www.eteach.ie where you will receive alerts about jobs that match your subject and location choices. There is no fee to register on these sites which are primarily for teaching jobs.

APPENDIX (b) Prospects

APPENDIX (b) Other Useful Resources Prospects (UK official graduate website) http://www.prospects.ac.uk/teaching_education_sector.htm Grad Ireland (Ireland official job and careers website) http://gradireland.com/career-sectors/teaching-and-education Getting a teaching Job (AGCAS Teaching Task Group) http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/docs/Getting%20a%20Teaching%20Job.pdf Times Educational Supplement

http://www.tes.co.uk Education Guardian http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/jobs/education

List of UK Local Authority LEA Websites http://www.schoolswebdirectory.co.uk/localauthorities.php Department of Education http://www.education.gov.uk Ofsted http://www.ofsted.gov.uk

APPENDIX (c) Useful contact information N.I.S.T.R. Substitute Teacher Register Human Resources Department Belfast Education & Library Board 40 Academy Street Belfast BT1 2NQ Ph: 028 9056 4000 ext. 4427 [email protected] Council for the Curriculum Examinations & Assessment 29 Clarendon Road Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3BG Ph: +44 (0)2890 261200 Fax: +44 (0)2890 261234 Textphone: (0)2890 242063 [email protected] Department of Education Rathgael House Balloo Road Bangor BT19 7PR Ph: 028 9127 9279 Fax: 028 9127 9100 [email protected] Department for Employment & Learning Adelaide House 39-49 Adelaide Street Belfast BT2 8FD Ph: 028 9025 7777 Fax: 028 9025 7778 [email protected]

APPENDIX (d) Stranmillis Official Student Transcript A transcript is an important confidential document that is issued to past or present students providing confirmation of their academic history. All requests for student transcripts need to be made in writing to Learning & Student Services who are responsible for collating and preparing student transcripts. An official transcript includes a covering letter, details of academic record and extracts from the Queen's University Belfast Calendar for the commencement year of the course. To assist us with preparation of a student transcript please include with your written request as much information as possible e.g      

Full Name (previous name if applicable) Date of Birth Your Qualification(s) attained Date(s) awarded by QUB Current and previous address details Institution/Address/Contact we should forward the transcript to

Documentation will not be released until payment of £25.00 is received. Cheques may be made payable to Stranmillis University College. Students who commenced a University course from September 1996 may access an unofficial copy of their academic transcript (record) QUB on-line.

APPENDIX (e) Stranmillis Careers Service & Data Release Form

CAREERS, EMPLOYABILITY & SKILLS SERVICES TO GRADUATES AT STRANMILLIS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

The careers service at Stranmillis University College is open to graduates up to two years after graduation.

Our Careers Adviser is available to discuss a range of careers related matters including:     

Helping you make decisions about your future career Deciding between options - employment, further study/ training Planning your job search strategy Making effective applications - cv and application form feedback Preparing for interviews or other forms of selection

To arrange an appointment please email or telephone (e) [email protected] (t) 028 9038 4371

Ciara Love Careers Employability and Skills Adviser Student Support Centre Stranmillis University College