Careers in school

A look at the schemes available for developing teaching careers

Find out about alternative career routes in the teaching profession as a number of teachers looking to progress in their careers discuss the schemes available. Jess Dix, a bright and articulate student at Warwick University, has just signed up for the Teach First scheme. What is the process of enrolment and has she chosen the right path? Gemma Edgcombe, a second year teacher on the scheme sheds some light on Jess' journey ahead. In the studio, presenter Peter Curran discusses development schemes with Martin Johnson, head of education policy and research at ATL, and Sir Iain Hall, training director for Future Leaders. We also meet Joanne Dunphy, a teacher at a London secondary school who has joined the Future Leaders scheme. Find out how the scheme works and see the arrival of her mentor, Sir Keith Ajegbo, as they discuss the direction of her career. How does Sir Keith think Jo is getting on, and what will she gain from their meeting?

Alternative Career Routes

Valuable advice and techniques for answering interview questions

Learn professional and personal development techniques with this easy-to-use advice on answering interview questions with confidence, for primary and secondary teachers. Education coach Simon Cooper-Hind works with interview candidates, sharing effective ways to help them prepare for, listen to, clarify and answer questions clearly, showing evidence and impact, while under interview pressure.

Answering Questions

Learn strategies and skills needed for successful job interviews

Watch expert advice and coaching on the skills needed for successful job interviews, in a professional development resource following two teachers who have applied for promotion. Science teacher Colin Douglas is determined to become a head of year but he suffers from crippling nerves and a tendency to waffle. Maths teacher Raj Jutley also interviews badly but the head of department is leaving next year and Raj wants his job. Both go through a mock interview and in a session with professional development coach Lee McAuliffe, each is given strategies to overcome their problems before facing the interview panel again.

Becoming a Middle Leader

Professional development and interview advice for teachers

Gain insights into professional and personal development as two teachers going for senior leadership positions get expert coaching and interview strategies to improve their interview performance, in this careers video for teachers. Assistant headteacher Rebecca Clark wants to become a deputy headteacher but lacks confidence in interviews, while Mike Lambert is frustrated in his role as a head of department and wants to become an assistant headteacher. Both Rebecca and Mike go through two mock interviews, and between their first and second interviews, professional development coach Simon Cooper-Hind reveals strategies to help each candidate overcome interview problems . Can they improve their performance in their second interview?

Becoming a Senior Leader

How easy is it for a black teacher to get a promotion?

Getting promoted to headship is considered tough going for some black teachers. This film tries to detect which part of this journey is most difficult and why. Is it deputy headship to headship, as some reports say, or is it earlier in the journey? We visit two north London secondary schools, one with a black headteacher, Luke Burton, who was promoted to headship after one interview. His experience is contrasted with that of deputy headteacher Guya Persaud at a neighbouring school who has so far failed to gain a headship despite making over fifty applications. The programme also shows the work of Rosemary Campbell Stephens, lead trainer with London's Investing in Diversity programme for black and minority ethnic teachers who want to go for senior posts in schools.

Black and Ethnic Minority Leadership - Going for Headship

What is being done to promote racial equality in schools?

Why are there so few senior teachers and heads from ethnic minorities? Peter Curran investigates by talking to Shiraz Chakera about the General Teaching Council's (GTC) Achieve Network, which aims to promote racial equality and diversity in schools. Peter also consults Rosemary Campbell about what the Institute of Education (IoE) is doing to improve progression up the career path for black and minority ethnic teachers. Careerwise gives one young British Asian NQT from Birmingham the opportunity to shadow inspirational head Dinesh Ramjee at his school in west London. Finally, we catch up with the programme's regular career coach Dr Jan McKenley. Jan facilitates the NUT/National College of School Leadership Equal Access to Promotion programme and this week she gives advice with black and ethnic minority teachers in mind. See the resources and support materials page for links relating to this programme.

Black and Minority Ethnic Teachers

Thinking of leaving? Revive your career instead

This programme is all about career rejuvenation and looks at why so many teachers consider throwing in the towel after four or five years. Peter Curran hosts a discussion with Professor Andy Goodwyn from Reading University, the Teacher Support Network's Patrick Nash, and education careers coach Susan Moss, about how to avoid burnout and keep your energy and enthusiasm for the job. Teaching is a flexible career with skills well suited to a stint overseas, so one solution to feeling jaded is to go abroad. CareerWise takes a trip to Brussels to find out how teaching in a European school has re-ignited one teacher's passion for the job. Finally, Fiona Flynn, from the Times Educational Supplement, visits a Harrow school which has made visits to schools across the globe integral to the continuing professional development for its staff.

Career Rejuvenation

Teachers recount stories about their colleagues

Peter Curran chairs a group of teachers who recount tales, both inspirational and frustrating, of bosses and colleagues who have made a profound impression on their careers. Accounts are told of teachers who have overcome a poor appraisal and managed to go on to triumph in the classroom. The use of humour is also explored along with the flip side of inspiration; those colleagues who have tested the job satisfaction in others. The panel of teachers providing the anecdotes are: Christopher Jenner Cole, Jonathan Heeley, Claire Willis and Robert Barber MBE. The free-flowing and personal conversations reveal the incredible impact their colleagues have had on them. Staffroom Confidential brings some of the country's finest teachers; many of them award winners, to share stories and beliefs in an informal setting.

Colleagues

How teachers can take control of their CPD

This programme takes a look at how teachers can decide the direction of their own careers, right from the outset. Lorne Charles explains how he has avoided the isolation that a classroom can bring by taking on CPD with the help of the General Teaching Council. In the studio, Peter Curran talks to Anne Jasman from the General Teaching Council and Alison Kitson from the Training and Development Agency. Peter is also joined by Patrick Nash from the Teacher Support Network, and all discuss how to judge what CPD to take on and when. The programme also explains how to put the skills into practice, while various teachers discuss the benefits that CPD has brought them.

Control Your Professional Development

Julia Mole investigates the procedures for becoming an AST

This programme follows Julia Mole as she takes the initiative for her own CPD, and investigates the procedures for becoming an AST. Julia is only in her third year of teaching yet is already lead teacher for history in County Durham, and is hungry to develop her teaching practice further. CPD coordinator, Marjorie Bedwell, talks Julia through the six criteria required to gain the status, and then takes her through a mock lesson observation to prepare her for the process of an official assessment. Julia also meets current ASTs at the school who advise on how to put together the required portfolio of evidence as well as provide other hints, tips and details of their own experiences of the assessment and what being an AST has meant for them.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Whole school

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