teaching.mrbelshaw.co.uk

WARNING! This website is no longer actively maintained. It is an archive of 2 years work by Doug Belshaw who now blogs at dougbelshaw.com...

There are a number of dark arts in the world of education: classroom management, keeping on top of marking, applying for teaching jobs, being three examples. In this post I intend to deal with the last of these. I can only speak from my own experience, although I have been fairly successful in getting interviews from my applications. Any views or additional advice in the comments section would be very welcome!

The things I would advise to be in any letter of application for a teaching-related job would be:

• The specific things you have been asked to include in the letter that accompanies the application pack you received
• Your academic track record
• The educational philosophy that informs your teaching
• What you can bring to the role for which you are applying
• Extra-curricular stuff you can offer

Let’s see how that breaks down.

1. Put your name and contact details at the top of your letter of application, centred (address, phone, email, etc.)

2. Address the headteacher properly (check if they’re a ‘Dr’ for example) and then in the introduction list your positive qualities and your academic achievements. I tend to start with saying something like,

I am creative and enthusiastic teacher with excellent ICT skills writing in application for the post of X at Y school.

Talk about how your studies inform your teaching, using phrases like ‘putting theory into practice’.

3. Following that paragraph I would talk about one’s educational philosophy. For example,

I believe that to be an effective teacher one must also be an effective learner, which is why I continue to develop and challenge myself.

Go on in this paragraph to discuss how your teaching is informed by various theories and what you feel the purpose of education to be. Link this to how you would approach the role to which you are applying.

4. In the next paragraph talk about specific issues to do with the post to which you are applying. Do your homework: read newsletters, inspection reports and the like to ascertain what the school is proud of and where it is looking to develop. Remember that you are trying to associate yourself with the school as much as possible, so use phrases like,

As X at Y school, I would focus on raising examination achievement whilst preparing students for the world outside the school gates. One of the most motivating ways to engage 21st century learners is through the pedagogically-sound use of ICT. Over a period of time I would aim to raise the ICT capabilities of staff in the Z department at Y to make the use of educational technology part of their everyday toolkit.

5. Next it’s the turn of non-teaching aspects. So if you’re a tutor, mention what you’ve been doing with your tutor group. Put across a picture of being warm and friendly - someone to turn to, yet someone who checks on their progress. Don’t paint it as a bed of roses: be honest if you’ve got a difficult group, but be sure that you show how you’re ‘turning them round’ through working with a team of colleagues.

6. If you’ve got other strings to your bow - sports, music, etc. - then write how you currently (or could in future) run extra-curricular groups. Have a look at the extra-curricular programme of the school to which you’re applying - are there any gaps which you could fill? Suggest them!

7. The next paragraph should talk about reasons for applying for the job. Sometimes this might be implicit - for example if you’re going for a promotion. It’s always a good idea, however, to mention why you’re applying for a job if it will involve you moving. Family ties or a pleasant place to bring up your children are always good reasons to put down. If you mention that the school sounds like a place you would send your kids, there’s extra bonus points!

8. The first and last paragraphs are the clinchers, and of those, the last is the most important. It is, after all, the one that will stay in the mind of the reader and therefore potentially decide whether you go on the ‘rejection’, ‘possibly’ or ‘definitely’ piles r.e. interviews. Always mention the name of the person to which the letter is addressed in your conclusion, always mention some more personal positive qualities, and always ‘big up’ the school to which you’re applying. If you can massage the ego of the person to whom the letter is addressed, so much the better:

In conclusion, Mr X, I would hope to add to the pool of expertise and excellent reputation of Y school through my leadership skills, innovative teaching, and infectious enthusiasm. I would look forward to teaching in, according to the recent governors’ report, a school in which pupil behaviour is ‘very good’, achievement is recognised, and I can make a real difference.

Additional tips:

• Quote what they have told you back at them in the context of your application. If they are a specialist school, talk about how this is a bonus for your position; if they are proud of the results of a recent inspection, quote excerpts back at them, and so on!
• If you feel it is appropriate, attempt to use some humour. Do so sparingly, however…
• There is a bit of a debate over which typefaces/fonts to use to influence people. After reading this blog post, I now favour Georgia over Times New Roman for both my essays and letters of application. (I’ve actually considered using it for this blog, but it would involve a whole redesign…)
• Invest in some quality paper and print onto that. Try to get heavyweight stuff with a slight texture - you’re trying to make an impression!
• Although teaching authorities have different application forms, most put them on their websites. Not only does it look more professional to fill them in electronically, but you’ve then got a copy to use if you ever apply for another job in that authority.
• Unless they specify that you can submit your application electronically, don’t. Even then, I would do so with caution. At present, if you send it by post there’s a great probability it will get to be read by the person who matters - and you have more control over presentation!

Here endeth the lesson. I, and others applying for jobs, would be interested in your views and advice in the comments section!

Images: Random Letters, old typewriter, The New School & Postbox @ Flickr

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