A teaching interview is usually a whole day of separate tasks rather than one conversation: a lesson observed by senior staff, often a pupil panel, sometimes an in-tray or data task, and a formal panel interview. Formats vary a lot between schools, so the first step is always to check your school’s invitation. The plan below starts five days out.
If your teaching interview is this week, give each day one job. Five days before, check your school’s invitation, list every task (observed lesson, pupil panel, in-tray, panel interview) and email for class details. Four days before, plan the observed lesson for the exact time slot, with one objective, visible assessment for learning and a plenary that shows progress. Three days before, write specific examples for common questions and prepare the safeguarding answer: know who the DSL is, listen to a disclosure without promising secrecy, report it to the DSL the same day and record it factually. Two days before, teach the lesson out loud with a timer and record your explanation. The day before, print resources and plan the journey. On the day, treat everyone as part of the interview, and between tasks, let the last one go.
Five days before
Know exactly what the day involves
- 1.Check your school's invitation line by line and list every task: the observed or sample lesson (length, year group, subject, class size, topic, whether you choose the topic), any pupil panel or student council, in-tray or written task, data task, presentation, and the formal panel interview. Note the timings and what you must bring.
- 2.If anything is missing, email the school now. It is normal to ask for the class's prior learning, any pupils with SEND or EAL needs, the number of pupils, the room and the technology available. Schools expect these questions.
- 3.Read the school's website, its latest inspection report (Ofsted in England, or the equivalent in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland), and its behaviour and safeguarding policies. Note two specific things you like and could talk about.
Four days before
Plan the observed lesson
- 1.Plan for the time you are given, not a normal lesson cut short. A clear shape for a 20-30 minute slot: a quick starter or recap, one clear learning objective, short teacher explanation with modelling, pupil activity, and a check of learning at the end that shows progress.
- 2.Build in assessment for learning the observers can see: questioning that targets named pupils, mini-whiteboards or a quick hinge question, and a plenary that shows what pupils now know.
- 3.Plan adaptation for the needs you were told about, and have a stretch task and a support version ready. Make a short lesson plan to hand to observers, with spare printed copies.
- 4.Keep the technology simple. Bring the slides on a USB stick and have printed resources, so the lesson still works if the screen does not.
Three days before
Prepare your interview answers
- 1.Write short, specific examples from your own teaching or placements for the questions most panels ask: why this school, a lesson that went well and why, a lesson that did not and what you changed, how you manage behaviour, how you adapt for SEND and EAL, how you use assessment, and how you work with parents and colleagues.
- 2.Prepare the safeguarding answer, which almost every UK panel asks. Know that you would find out who the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is on your first day. If a pupil discloses something: stay calm and listen, do not promise to keep it secret, do not ask leading questions, report it to the DSL straight away and the same day, and write a factual record using the pupil's own words. Say that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and that you would follow the school's policy.
- 3.Write a 60-90 second answer to 'tell us about yourself' or 'why do you want to work here?' that ends on this school, not on your career history.
Two days before
Rehearse out loud
- 1.Teach the lesson out loud from start to finish, with a timer, to an empty room, a friend or a camera. Most interview lessons overrun on the first try; cut the main activity, not the plenary.
- 2.Record your explanation section and watch it back. Check that your instructions are short enough to follow first time, that you pause after questions, and that your pace is steady.
- 3.Say your interview answers out loud, including safeguarding, and record one. Fix one habit, such as answering in general terms without an example.
- 4.Prepare for the pupil panel: pupils often ask why you want to teach, what your lessons are like, how you would help someone who is struggling and what you do outside school. Answer them in plain, warm, honest language.
The day before
Resources, logistics, sleep
- 1.Print the lesson plan copies, resources and a spare set. Pack the USB stick, any equipment, ID and the documents the invitation asked for, such as qualification certificates.
- 2.Plan the journey to arrive 15-20 minutes early, and save the school's phone number.
- 3.Run through the lesson opening and your safeguarding answer once, then stop and sleep.
The day of
Treat everyone as part of the interview
- 1.Be polite and interested with everyone, from reception staff to pupils on the tour. Many schools ask for their impressions.
- 2.In the lesson, learn and use a few pupil names (ask for name labels or a seating plan if offered), give clear instructions, and check understanding before moving on. If something goes wrong, adapt calmly; observers are watching how you respond as much as the plan.
- 3.For an in-tray task, read every item first, then prioritise: anything about a pupil's safety goes first and to the DSL, then urgent items with deadlines, then the rest. Write a short line explaining each decision, because the reasoning is usually what is marked.
- 4.Be ready to reflect on your lesson in the interview: one thing that worked, one thing you would change, and what you would teach next lesson.
Between tasks
Reset every time
- 1.Take one slow breath and let the last task go. A lesson that felt rough often looks fine from the back of the room.
- 2.Drink water, and say a few sentences out loud before the panel so your voice is warmed up.
- 3.Some schools shortlist part way through the day. If you are not taken forward, thank them and ask for feedback, which schools usually give.
What each part of the day is testing
| Task | What they are looking for | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Observed lesson | Clear explanation, relationships with pupils, visible progress | Planning too much content for the time |
| Pupil panel | Warmth and how you talk to young people | Giving adult interview answers to children |
| In-tray task | Prioritising, with safeguarding first | Doing tasks in order without explaining choices |
| Safeguarding question | Knowing the procedure and the DSL’s role | Promising a pupil confidentiality |
| Panel interview | Reflection and specific examples | Talking in general terms with no classroom example |
| Lesson reflection | Honest self-evaluation | Saying everything went perfectly |
A note on US demo lessons
In the US, many districts ask for a demo lesson instead of a UK-style observed lesson. It is often shorter, and is sometimes taught to the hiring panel acting as students rather than to a real class. Check the invitation for length, grade level, standards to cover and who the audience will be. The same principles apply: one clear objective, short instructions, a way for every student to respond, and a check of learning at the end. Safeguarding questions are framed differently in the US, often around mandated reporting, so follow the guidance for your state and district.
If the interview is in two days
Spend the first day checking the invitation, planning the lesson for the exact time slot and preparing your safeguarding answer. On the second, teach the lesson out loud once with a timer, record your explanation, say your main interview answers aloud, then print everything and stop. The steps never worth dropping are knowing the format, timing the lesson out loud and the safeguarding answer.
Where recorded practice fits
Interview lessons are often lost in the first five minutes, through instructions that run too long or a rushed explanation. You cannot hear either from the front of the room, but a short recording shows both. Record your lesson opening and two interview answers, watch them back, and fix one habit in each. The method is the same as in how to practise interview answers out loud, and the STAR method helps structure classroom examples. EchoPitch gives feedback on pace, filler words, pauses, vocal variety and clarity; it does not diagnose nerves.
Frequently asked questions
My teaching interview is this week. How should I prepare?
Give each day one job. Five days before, list every task in the invitation and email the school for class details. Four days before, plan the observed lesson for the exact time slot. Three days before, write specific examples for common questions and prepare your safeguarding answer. Two days before, teach the lesson out loud with a timer and record yourself. The day before, print resources and sort logistics. On the day, treat everyone as part of the interview.
How should I answer the safeguarding question in a teacher interview?
Say that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and that you would know who the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is. If a pupil disclosed something, you would listen calmly, not promise to keep it secret, not ask leading questions, report it to the DSL straight away and the same day, and write a factual record using the pupil's own words. Add that you would follow the school's safeguarding policy.
How long is an observed lesson in a teaching interview?
It varies by school, so check your invitation. UK interview lessons are often shorter than a normal lesson, commonly somewhere between 20 and 40 minutes, and may be a full class or a small group. Plan for the exact time you are given, with a clear objective, visible assessment for learning and a plenary that shows progress, rather than cutting down a full-length lesson.
What is the difference between a UK observed lesson and a US demo lesson?
In the UK, the observed or interview lesson is usually taught to real pupils at the school while senior staff observe. In the US, a demo lesson is often shorter and is sometimes taught to the interview panel acting as students, though some districts use real classes. In both cases, check the invitation and plan for clear instructions, student engagement and a check of learning.
Key takeaways
- Check your school’s invitation and list every task; email for class details.
- Plan the observed lesson for the exact time slot, with visible assessment and a plenary.
- Safeguarding: know the DSL, never promise secrecy, report the same day, record factually.
- Teach the lesson out loud with a timer two days before and record your explanation.
- In an in-tray task, safeguarding items come first and every decision gets a reason.
- Treat everyone you meet as part of the interview, and let each task go before the next.
Hear your lesson opening before the observers do
Score a 60-second answer free with no signup, or rehearse your lesson explanation and interview answers with feedback on pace, filler words, pauses and clarity.