The spring term is a popular time for teachers to consider the next step in their teaching career. To support South East job-seeking teachers in the job application process, the Department for Education’s (DfE) Teaching Vacancies has commissioned new research. This reveals the most desirable skills recruiters in the South East want to see in teachers’ job applications as well as tips for candidates to make sure they stand out from the rest.
Research carried out by YouGov revealed qualities that can mean an application rises above the rest. For teachers in the South East this included soft skills such as: passion and enthusiasm (30%), good communication (28%) and good organisation (16%) The top hard skills include: knowledge and understanding of the curriculum (40%), classroom management skills (39%) and writing and grammar skills (16%).
The research also revealed the most common mistakes that teachers involved in staff recruitment see amongst applications in the South East. These included: untailored applications (67%), grammar and spelling mistakes (61%) and leaving blank gaps in their work history (44%).
To support their job-seeking and cut down on the application homework, teachers can turn to Teaching Vacancies. It is easy-to-use, continually updated to reflect the needs of job-seeking teachers and allows users to filter roles on criteria including location, job title, education phase and working pattern. It is the largest source of primary school jobs directly listed by primary schools in England, and over 98% of secondary schools are signed up.
New research carried out by TeacherTapp, has also revealed the challenges teachers in the South East face when job searching. The biggest one biggest one being finding roles that match their desired location, job title, education phase and working pattern (44%) The next top ranked challenges finding time to search and apply to new roles (24%).
Professor Dame Alison Peacock, CEO of the Chartered College of Teaching has an extensive career in education, across primary and secondary level, head teacher roles and advisory roles. Her background as an Executive Headteacher, Honorary Fellow, Visiting Professor, and published researcher makes her a trusted voice on job application advice for teachers.
She shared her advice to help teachers overcome challenges when looking for new teaching roles: "Teaching is the most wonderful and influential profession, helping children and young people to grow into thriving adults, empowering the next generation to build a better world. Finding the right school and the right role for you is key to flourishing in your teaching career.
"Teaching Vacancies is a fantastic tool which you can use to ensure that your experience in schools is right for you, supporting and enabling you to further your career for career-long development. I wish you all the best in finding your next teaching role, ensuring that the environment and culture supports both you and your students to thrive.
Michael Eggleton, headteacher at Charles Dickens Primary School in Southwark, said: "At Charles Dickens Primary, we support our staff both in school and beyond. Teachers might take breaks for personal reasons, but leaving gaps in your work history can raise safeguarding concerns.
"Include everything, even non-teaching periods, and explain what you learned. For example, if you took time off to travel, mention how it broadened your cultural awareness. Teaching Vacancies allows users to filter jobs based on their criteria, making it easier to find the right role. More schools use the site than any other job site."
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “ Teaching Vacancies is a brilliant tool for job-seeking teachers. It saves time, letting them hone their application skills to showcase the qualities that schools are looking for.
"With job alerts, user-friendly filters and the ability to save and reuse application details, this platform streamlines the job-hunting process. Teachers can quickly find the right roles, focus on showcasing their talents, and secure their next career move."
Always check Teaching Vacancies to help you find the right role in London: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk