How to apply for a promotion (A guide for teachers)

Whether you’re an experienced teacher or just starting out, applying for a new role can be daunting. While every school has their own variation on hiring policies and practices, there are some key dos and don’ts when it comes to putting your best foot forward and giving yourself the best chance of success.

First things first – is this job for me?

Don’t apply if you don’t meet the essential criteria…

Make sure you have the necessary qualifications to be eligible for the promotion at all. This could include a higher teaching qualification such as an MA in Education, or something specific to the role such as advanced safeguarding training, so read the job description and eligibility criteria carefully. You don’t want your employer to think that you’ve rushed your application or ignored their instructions, as this suggests you aren’t taking the process seriously.

…but do respond to show your interest.

Instead of sending an application that they can’t use, let your employer know that you are very interested in the opportunity but understand that you aren’t currently eligible. Ask if they can support you with training so that you could apply for similar roles in future. This shows that you are proactive and driven but also that you value their time and expertise.

Great, I’m eligible – what next?

Whether you’re an internal or external candidate, you’ll probably be asked for a cover letter of 1 or 2 sides expressing your interest in the role and detailing your relevant skills and experience. If you’re external, expect to be asked for your CV as well – remember they don’t know anything about you or your qualifications yet. Your goal with the written application is to get an interview, so resist the urge to squeeze in every impressive thing you’ve done at the expense of a clearly written, professional letter. 

Be confident, but not cocky

A job application is the perfect time to show off some of your proudest achievements and best qualities, but if you come across as arrogant then nobody is going to be excited about working with you. Suggesting that you are the best teacher in your department won’t win you any friends (especially if you’re an internal candidate!) but if your classes performed the best overall last year then that’s an impressive accomplishment that your employer needs to know about.

Specific examples of general excellence

You need to convince your employer that you have consistently excelled in different areas, both in the classroom and beyond. Use concrete examples of things you have done that meet the skills they are looking for, linking them to as many points of the person specification as you can. If you are still early on in your career, some of your relevant experience may not be from teaching. In this case, better to include a strong example from a different context than a tenuous one that happens to be school based.

An assertive account of how you meet the criteria they’re looking for should get you in the room; but then what?

The selection process – what can I expect?

What happens next is up to your employer and will vary based on the nature of the role as well as the pool of candidates – it may not be necessary to ask for a teaching demonstration if the position is only advertised to internal candidates whose teaching ability is well known to the school. No matter what the plan for the day, details of any tasks that you’d need to prepare resources for should be communicated to you in advance. If they aren’t shared with you, never be afraid to ask. Good employers want their candidates to have a successful day, not be caught off guard, so any omission will almost certainly be accidental; we all know how busy schools can get.

For example, you know that a lesson observation will be part of the selection day. However, it’s now a few days before and you haven’t been told what year group your lesson is aimed at. Get in touch and politely ask for whatever info you need to make the lesson as successful as you can. You’ll be able to show the best version of yourself on the day and you’ve shown initiative – win-win!

Common tasks to expect might include;

• A formal interview, most likely with your potential line manager and the school’s headteacher
• Teaching your subject, probably about half a lesson’s worth
• A written task relevant to the role, for example to plan a lesson or respond to safeguarding challenges
• Giving a presentation of a previous project or a specific example of pedagogy
• Delivering an assembly
• Answering questions from a panel of students or parents

It’s not uncommon for one or more of these activities to be unplanned – they might be a total surprise on the day, or you might get a basic description such as ‘subject-based writing’. Don’t panic – ask if you need any clarification about the task, and remember all the other candidates are in the same boat.

An overview of the interview

Most people find the interview to be the most nerve-wracking part of the day, but try not to dwell on it too much. While it can certainly be intimidating to sit in front of senior staff for a grilling, ensuring you come prepared means you can present your skills and experience confidently. Read the school’s policies beforehand, especially safeguarding, behaviour and feedback. These are likely to be on the school’s website, and you can then reference them during your interview – even if you are applying internally, it’s good to have a refresher!

Prepare answers to common question themes such as:

• Strategies for fostering positive behaviour and student engagement
• Dealing with challenging behaviour
• Assessing student progress and performance
• Using technology to facilitate teaching and learning
• Methods to differentiate for students of different abilities
• Motivating students to achieve their best
• Safeguarding – there will always be a safeguarding question so make sure you’re ready for it. This could be a dealbreaker if you are new to the school or applying for a pastoral role where safeguarding is a large part of the job
• Managing colleagues – especially if you are applying for extra responsibility or a leadership role

Having specific examples to share for these questions will make your answers more convincing and memorable. If you’re unsure what is meant by a question, just ask; you don’t want to come across as someone who will pretend they know what’s going on and try to bluff their way through situations. Much better to be honest and ask them to repeat or rephrase the question, then take some time to think carefully about your answer.

Last but not least, be positive and polite throughout the whole application process, whether that’s in the way your write your emails or how you present yourself on selection days. Smile and engage with students and staff as you move around the building, thank people for their time and consideration and try to enjoy the experience of sharing your proudest achievements.