Summer has landed, teacher mode is deactivated! Whatever you have planned for your long days of freedom, we can safely say you’ve earned it.
Maybe leisurely lie-ins are on your wonderfully blank To-Do list or you’re catching up with the things you never have time to do during term time. Hopefully that nightmare class of terrors has been put firmly out of mind and your summer holidays are going to be everything you’ve been dreaming of for the last 11 months!
Once you’re feeling more like a human and less like a prisoner with limited toilet breaks, we hope you’ll enjoy this month’s newsletter. While work might be the last thing you want to think about, if you’re thinking of making a change, now is the perfect time to put your career goals in motion.
We’ve also got some summer holiday discounts to share to help make the most of your time off, a round up of the latest education news and some recommendations for tools and techniques that might make your teaching life easier. We’ve also got some interview tips if you are interested in applying for a new job – check out our latest vacancies.
Latest Teaching News
Flexible working – We mentioned in one of our previous newsletters that the government is keen to push flexible working as a way to improve teacher retention and worklife balance. The Flexible Working Ambassadors Programme has been extended for another year, to help more schools to trial and implement flexible working. Many schools are now working on this with some very positive feedback so far. The idea is that teachers will be able to plan lessons from home, job-share or work flexible hours.
Schools have been sharing case studies via the flexibleworkingineducation.co.uk website, where schools can also find resources and guidance on how leaders can design flexible roles and embrace flexible working.
Of course, making that work within schools won’t always be easy but if it can boost retention rates, it will definitely be high on the priority list.
Summer Discounts
As you’ll know, summer holidays are one of the best parts of being a teacher but holidays and days out can be expensive. Holiday companies are particularly evil for increasing prices but some are currently offering some small discounts to soften the blow!
Here’s some of the current discount offers on Discounts for Teachers:
ATG Tickets 25% off for theatre, shows and musicals. Indulge your cultural side after a full academic year of dealing with student dramas and classroom tragedies.
Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham 30% off the website prices. A perfect day out for lego-mad kids (and big kids) of all ages. Attractions also include rides, a 4D cinema and workshops to take lego building skills to the next level.
Jet2Holidays – Extra £65 teachers’ discount. Thinking of a last minute getaway? Jet2Holidays are offering an additional teacher discount of £65 on top of existing offers.
Transpennine Express – 20% off advance purchase train tickets. Take a day out to Edinburgh, Manchester, York, Liverpool or even head to the coast with discounted train tickets to Cleethorpes and Scarborough.
Trivia
Did you get the last one?
Can you name the Hollywood actor who once worked as a PE teacher?
Clue: His teaching experience would have been very handy in the sport based movie franchise that he starred in.
Any big Rocky fans will remember the inspirational line “You’re gonna have to go through hell, worse than any nightmare you’ve ever dreamed. But when it’s over, I know you’ll be the one standing. You know what you have to do. Do it.”
Of course these could only be the words of a former teacher, as Sylvester Stallone once taught PE before rising to Hollywood fame.
This month’s trivia is less film buff, more spelling nerd:
What English word has three consecutive double letters?
Clue: It’s a compound word starting with the letter B
Teaching Shortcuts
I know we bang on about AI a lot but there’s good reason to. Teachers are transforming the way they work with the use of AI tools across all types of work.
Using AI Tools to Create Quizzes from BBC iPlayer and YouTube videos
Tools including Edcafe AI and Quiz Wizard allow you to quickly generate a multiple choice or short answer quiz using just the video URL from iPlayer or YouTube. Quizzes can be adjusted for specific levels and the AI tool analyses the content to find suitable questions and answers to meet your requirements.
Some teachers have advised that this has helped to quickly set cover work for supply teachers, for example. So, next time you’re in a panic because you haven’t set work out, you’ll have this handy little fallback and look like you’ve prepared well in advance.
Job Interview Tips
At PK Education we’re helping teachers to find more flexible roles that are suited to their career goals. Whether you are just getting started in teaching and are looking for some interview tips or you need a refresher, we’re always here to help prepare.
Here are some of our top tips for boosting your confidence with thorough preparation and the key areas to focus on in interviews:
- Arrange a visit
Arranging a visit to see the school will show that you are genuinely interested in the job and you’ll also be able to get a feel for whether the school is the right fit for you before you interview.
- Research the school
Find out as much information as possible about the school prior to your interview. Read the latest Ofsted reports, the school policies and any other key information such as values and goals, on the school website. If you can refer to your research in your interview, this will show that you have done your homework and have a good understanding of the school already.
- Showcase how your teaching style suits the school’s requirements
PK Education will provide you with comprehensive details of what the school is looking for and you can ensure that both your interview answers and lesson observation are tailored to the school’s requirements.
- Prepare for the standard interview questions
There are certain questions that are nearly always included in teaching interviews, even if they are asked in slightly different ways. Prepare for the most common ones, and write down and practice answers using the STAR technique. This is:
Situation – Describe the context of the situation.
Task – Explain the task, what your role was and what the desired outcome was.
Action – Explain what specific actions you took.
Result – Describe how your actions impacted delivery of the desired results and include details of the results.
Have lots of examples prepared for different question such as:
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- How do you handle a disruptive student?
- How do you motivate students?
- What techniques do you use to adapt lessons for diverse learners?
PK Education can help you to get prepared for interviews and find the right role for you. By spending time getting to know you, we will help to match you to a role that suits your needs and ambitions.
And we couldn’t forget to remind you that you can get £100 in vouchers for every friend you refer to us when they complete 10 days’ work.
Enjoy your summer and get in touch if you are thinking about a career change in the near future and we can help find the right role for you, whether it is a part-time, supply or permanent job you are looking for.
Have a blast and make the most of the holidays,
From the PK Education Team.
