Primary school admin job - School council interview and assessment tasks

[Bambamb]

Hi,

I'm chuffed to bits to have managed to get myself an interview at my sons primary school. It's a part time time admin role, sounds extremely busy and varied and right up my street - not to mention the obvious bonus of term time working as far as child care is concerned.

For the first part of the process I will be given 'assessment tasks' to complete, followed by an interview with the school council.

The school council is a group of children from each class (I think?!) so can't imagine what it will be like to be questioned by such young children to be honest!! Do you think it's more a test of how you relate to youngsters and communicate with them?

The assessment part worries me more, despite having plenty of admin experience, I'm worried that it will entail the one function on word/excel whatever that I don't use.....!

Has anyone been through something similar? And if so how did it go and what tasks were you given?

Thanks!

[Virginiaplain1]

Hi, I'm a school office manager and I find this idea really bizarre! The only time our school council get involved in the interview process is when we interview for a new headteacher. It's an observed session to see how the candidates relate to the children and would sit alongside a lesson observation and other tasks. I think it's rather inappropriate for an admin post. Ok, you would have contact with the children and it's important that you know how to deal with them, but I think it's more important that you are able to be able to relate to and deal diplomatically with their parents!
As far as the assessed tasks are concerned, when I've interviewed for office staff I've asked them to draft a letter to parents about a trip or similar - something they would do as part of their job.
I've also been interviewed myself and have had to proof read a document, marking up spelling mistakes and have also had to format a simple spreadsheet (for a job working in the maths department of a secondary school).
When I've interviewed in the past I've been looking for someone who I will get on with, who will remain calm under pressure. Most importantly, and especially if they are parents of children in the school, I want to be certain that they will maintain the confidentiality of other parents and their children.
Good luck with your interview!

[Bambamb]

Thanks so much for replying and apologies for my late response but we've been away.
Really appreciate your perspective thanks.