Teacher Interview Questions

How should you answer questions?

Its OK to wait a moment to consider your answer. Your interviewers will
prefer a pause than an answer that isnt thought through.
Try to draw on practical examples wherever possible so if youre asked How would you deal with a child
who was throwing paper around the classroom try and think of a situation when youve had to deal with
something similar and explain how you responded and why that was effective. Your answers will mean a
whole lot more when theyre backed up with practical examples.
Start off discussing your philosophy what is your view on the topic?
Zoom in on the specific, using the SAR technique to deliver your example
S Situation: Describe the situation you were in this should be a specific example and can either involve
work with children or can draw on other aspects of your experience, either previous roles, your family life or
even your hobbies. Its a good idea to draw on a wide variety of experiences if possible.
A Action: Describe what you did in the situation. You should be very specific in outlining exactly
what you did, not what you might do, or what eg a team as a whole did, but what you did.
R Result: Describe the results you achieved what was the effect of your action, why was it successful,
what might you do differently next time if anything.
End by drawing the example back to your broader philosophy how does it influence your practice?
Example:
Interviewer: How would you deal with a child who was throwing paper around the classroom?
Interviewee (without SAR technique): I would ask them firmly but calmly to stop. I would make sure he
understood what he was meant to be doing as he might be acting up because he didnt understand or was
bored.
Interviewee (with SAR technique):
Philosophy I believe that its important to give clear and explicit instructions in order to give students the
best chances of understanding how to behave in an acceptable way.
SAR Last year I took over a class that had experienced several teachers over the course of the previous
year. It was clear that they had been given inconsistent messages about behaviour, and as a result their
behaviour was very challenging.
I made sure to implement very clear routines from the beginning: line up, walk in quietly, place
your planner on your desk, tidy your bags away underneath your tables and look to the board for the first
task. I also made a point of reiterating my expectations at the start of each lesson and using those
expectations as a framework for discussing behaviour concerns with students throughout. It was just as
important for me to stick to these expectations as it was for the students to comply with them, so the
expectations of me were as high as those of the kids. This worked well to formulate a mutual respect.
This is something that Ive taken forward with me in all of my practice. Every class knows what I
expect and know what to expect of me. The ideal is that after a few weeks these routines take place
without the need of any discussion, although Im constantly prepared to revive my mantra if theres the
slightest sign of standards slipping. As a result, students in my classroom feel safe and secure. Its
important to me that the focus switches almost entirely on the learning at hand as quickly as possible.

Question type

Introductory questions at teaching interviews

Have you enjoyed your visit to the school?
Why have you applied for this post?
Questions about yourself
Tell us about yourself and what inspires you.
What personal interests do you have that could be of value to
the school?
What unique qualities can you bring to the school?
How do you know when you have had a good day?
How do you handle stress?
Explain your choice of school or local authority
What makes a successful school?
How would you support the ethos of this school?
How could you integrate the community into your teaching?
Handling professional issues in the classroom
What are your particular strengths and weaknesses as a
teacher?
Describe the worst or best lesson you have given. What would
you do differently? Say why it was successful or unsuccessful.
How do you judge the achievement of pupils in your subject?
If we visited your classroom in October, what could we expect
to see?
What is the role of target setting?
How would you ensure that you respond effectively to the
differing needs and abilities of pupils?
How would you foster equal opportunities in the
classroom/school?
How would you accommodate children who have English as
an additional language?
How would you raise a child's self-esteem and aspirations?
How far do children in your classroom direct their own
learning?
What are your views on the value of homework?
Which is more important, teaching or learning, and why?

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Question type

Behaviour management
What are your views about discipline?
How much noise and moving around the classroom would you
permit?
How would you cope with a child constantly interrupting the
lesson?
How would you deal with bullying?
What would you do if your strategies for behaviour management
were not succeeding?
Pastoral care
What is the role of a form tutor and what relevant experience
have you had?
How would you seek to promote the moral, social and cultural
development of the pupils?
To which aspects of personal and social education could you
make a contribution?
How would you get to know your tutor group/class?
Your approach to working with parents and other adults
What is your experience with parents in school? How could this
be developed?
How would you deal with a hostile or aggressive parent?
How would you seek to work cooperatively with your
colleagues?
What support would you expect from staff as a newly qualified
teacher (NQT)?
How would you seek to work with adults other than teachers in
your classroom?
Give an example of when you have worked effectively within a
team?
Your career development
How will you develop yourself as a professional teacher?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Answering questions: interview performance tips
Panels are interested in how you answer as well as what you
say.
Answers should be sufficiently detailed to show how you stand
out from other applicants and should include examples wherever
possible.

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Taking time to think before giving a well-constructed answer is

fine.
Remember to ask for clarification if the question is unclear.
When you are offered a job, most schools will expect a prompt
response. Some may even ask at the interview if you will accept
the post if it is offered.