With a 2024 survey showing that two thirds of independent schools are more concerned about staff recruitment and retention than ever before*, Professional Tutor from Kingston Grammar School, Surrey, William Bohanna, shares how engaging with initial teacher training programmes have benefitted the school, recruitment and how this approach can help the sector.
“I have been teaching Economics and Business Studies for over twenty years and still vividly remember my first teaching job interview. I was just finishing my PGCE at the Institute of Education and attended an interview at a Sixth Form College. I signed in at the reception and there met six other shortlisted candidates all vying for the same main scale position, and I had no idea that I would indeed spend the day getting to know these people. I had never attended anything like this before: two rounds of interviews, (including one with a Head of Department who tested my subject knowledge in some detail!), a tour and a lesson observation. At the end of the day all candidates were asked to wait back in reception, and I was called out of the room and was lucky enough to be offered the job – what a day!…”