Have an upcoming teacher job interview? Need to refine your teacher job interview skills? Then keep reading, we’ve put together all the information you need to help you land your dream teaching job.

Whether you are an experienced teacher or Early Career Teacher, interviewing for a role can be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.

Knowing what questions you’ll face is difficult to know, but there are common topics that are expected to arise. It’s important to prepare as it can make all the difference in showcasing your skills and experience.

Your CV will be used as a starting point and referred to throughout your interview so make sure that is prepared well and you can elaborate on it. Take a look at our guide on how to write a teaching CV.

Teacher Interview Questions – Suitability

Suitability questions assess how well your skills, qualifications, experience and personal attributes match the requirements of the job and the school’s culture and ethos. It helps the interviewer evaluate if you are a good fit for the role, the school and their pupils.

• Why did you get into teaching?
• What motivates you?
• What qualities do you think make a good teacher?
• Why did you apply for this particular role?
• Why did you choose to teach this particular age range?
• What are your core strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What can you bring to the role that other candidates may not bring?
• How does a teacher's personality impact their success?
• Why are you leaving your current job?
• What are your goals for the future?

 Teacher Interview Questions – School and Colleague Interaction

Questions around the school and your interaction with fellow staff members aims to assess how well you can work within the school community, build positive relationships with colleagues, and contribute to a supportive and cooperative educational environment.

• What are the key factors that contribute to a successful school environment?
• To what extent do you value collaborating with colleagues, especially those teaching similar classes?
• What is your teaching philosophy?
• How would you support the ethos of this school?
• How do you handle a situation where your colleagues lack enthusiasm?
• What are your thoughts on the overall atmosphere of the school?
• What is your perspective on having parent helpers involved in the classroom?
• In what ways would you collaborate with a teaching assistant within your classroom?
• Have you faced challenges working alongside senior and more experienced staff members?
• Can you recall a challenging instance where you had to provide feedback, and what made it difficult?
• How would you respond if a senior staff member questioned or critiqued an aspect of your teaching methodology or content?
• Tell me about a time you faced a conflict with a student, parent, or other teacher. How did you handle it and what learnings did you take from it?

Teaching Interview Question – Delivering Education

During an interview for a teaching role, questions related to teaching and learning serve to delve into your pedagogical approach, understanding of educational principles, and effectiveness in facilitating student learning. This helps understand your teaching strategies, ability to create engaging lessons, and commitment to student development.

• How would you define high-quality teaching and learning?
• Describe what an exemplary lesson looks like.
• Describe your worst teaching day or an unsuccessful lesson, what contributed to its failings and explain what you learned from the experience.
• If you were to observe a session in your classroom, what observations would stand out?
• Explain the teaching approach you believe yields the best results.
• Detail your approach to structuring teaching and learning for a diverse age range.
• What key factors should be taken into account when arranging a classroom environment?
• What would you do if a student is in danger of failing your class?
• How do you like to communicate and build relationships with parents or guardians?

Teaching Interview Questions - Encouraging Growth

An important aspect of teaching is having the ability to encourage growth and help a child reach their full potential. The school will ask questions designed to assess your ability to motivate and support students in their academic and personal development. These questions aim to evaluate how you foster a growth mindset, provides constructive feedback, celebrate achievements, and help students overcome challenges to make continuous progress. By asking such questions, the interviewer can gauge your commitment to nurturing student growth and creating a positive learning environment.

• What assessment strategies do you implement to gauge student progress effectively?
• How do you ensure the active participation of all children in the learning process?
• In what ways do you assess and document the academic development of your students?
• How do you inspire a disengaged student to become motivated in their learning journey?
• What methods do you employ to cater to the educational requirements of exceptionally gifted students in your classroom?
• How do you integrate adaptive teaching techniques into your instructional approach?
• Could you share your encounters with both highly achieving and struggling students in your teaching experience?
• How would you handle a student you found difficult to teach?
• How do you differentiate instructions to meet the needs of diverse learners?
• Describe your involvement in assessment for learning and assessment of learning practices.
• If a student fails to display advancement despite comprehensive planning and evaluation, what steps do you take subsequently?
• What support strategies do you utilise to assist students with special educational needs effectively?

Teaching Interview Questions – Safeguarding

Safeguarding questions help to evaluate your understanding of child protection policies, procedures, and commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of students. A school would want to know if you recognise signs of potential harm, how you would respond to safeguarding concerns, and your ability to create a secure and supportive environment for children.

By asking safeguarding questions, the interviewer can determine your awareness of safeguarding issues and readiness to prioritise the welfare of students in your care.

• What are the duties of a teacher in ensuring children's safety?
• Share your experience handling a safeguarding issue at school.
• How would you respond if a child confided a personal concern to you?
• How do you ensure you are up to date with the latest safeguarding guidelines?
• What is the role of a form tutor and what relevant experience have you had?
• How would you get to know your tutor group/class?

Teaching Interview Questions – Career Development

Career development questions for teachers are designed to explore your aspirations, professional growth objectives, and commitment to continuous learning and improvement in the field of education. By asking career development questions, interviewers can gain insights into your dedication to enhancing skills, staying current with educational trends, and advancing your career within the teaching profession.

• What has been your greatest success as a teacher?
• In your view, what are the biggest challenges facing the modern education system?
• What are you goals for the future?
• What are you short-term and long-term career goals?
• What kind of job responsibilities can help you reach your goals?
• What do you want a typical day to look like in your future?
• What new knowledge and skills do you want to gain at work?

Teaching Interview - Do You Have Any Questions For Us?

Whilst this may seem like a straightforward question, its crucial to seize this opportunity to display your enthusiasm for the role and leave a lasting positive impact. Before your interview, prepare a list of inquiries and keep them handy. Additionally, stay alert during the interview to note down any additional questions that may arise organically.
Some questions you could ask are:

• What qualities are you seeking in an ideal candidate for this role?
• Could you share some notable achievements of the school?
• What extracurricular activities are available for students at the school?
• What key developments are planned for the school?
• How is PSHE delivered in the school?
• What is your vision for the school?
• Are there professional development opportunities within the school?
• If I was successful, what would my induction look like?

One essential interview tip for teachers is to prepare for hypothetical scenarios that may occur in a classroom environment. Employers are keen on understanding how you would handle situations involving student behaviour management, crisis intervention, and academic support.

Drawing on your expertise in child development, classroom management strategies, and fostering a positive learning atmosphere can greatly enhance your responses during the interview.

Familiarising yourself with typical interview questions along with implementing these strategies, will help you confidently navigate your interview. Highlight your enthusiasm for education and dedication to student success to showcase your suitability for your desired role in the education sector. Preparing for teaching interview questions is just one of the steps you can take once you’ve resigned from your teaching post, be sure to address everything you can so that you can be in the strongest position for securing your next teaching job.

TLTP Education is London’s leading teacher recruitment agency who have been assisting educators in securing positions across Primary, Secondary, and SEN levels since 2006. Our expert consultants collaborate closely with schools to ensure personalised job matches. By registering with us, we can efficiently market you to multiple schools simultaneously, whilst providing you with valuable insights and guidance throughout the process, ensuring you are always one step ahead.

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