Education & Teaching Interview Questions & Answers

The interview was to determine if I had the personality that would suit moving to China and teaching English. The interview consisted of questions concerning my motivation behind wanting to do this job, I was also asked how I would handle difficult situations that might occur in a classroom. I was also given a lot of information about the job role and what to expect when moving to China.

How would you handle two or more students that are running around the classroom?

I initially applied online through an application form which asked about my experience in relation to areas of the job- different questions on sales and marketing, leading a team and working with children for example. This took around 2-3 hours so be prepared to give full detailed responses and to sell yourself well. After a few days, I was invited to a centre interview which was with two managers of that particular branch. This interview lasted two hours and was split into a tour of the centre, a competency and cv interview, a sales roleplay exercise and a child observation.

The next stage was an assessment centre in Guildford which lasted the whole day. It was split into an individual interview, a marketing presentation, lunch and a written task.

"A parent comes to the gate whilst you're in the middle of sorting out some figures for the head of Finance. He needs them urgently for a conference later that day. The parent looks very interested in our service and how we can benefit her children. What do you do?"

Research the company well and make sure you understand their vision and values and the job spec. A lot of the job is about performance, sales and marketing so be prepared to talk about relevant experience in that field and how you would make a difference to your centre's performance. Ensure you understand the hours as this makes a huge impact on the longevity of the job- they are long and unsociable so be prepared for that!
The most important thing is just to be yourself and let your personality and passion for children shine through as this is what they mainly recruit on- lots of energy, positivism and smiles!

We had to prepare a marketing presentation in advance which we then presented to the assessor. We could use notes and powerpoint if we liked. We then had to do a school roleplay and sell the benefits of the workshops to the teacher.

In addition, there was an individual interview, focussing on cv, competency and scenario questions. Prepare for these in advance as best you can.

There was a written task asking how you would tutor certain fraction and subtraction problems.

We were taken to zizzi for lunch as well- just be yourselves!

Finally, there was a group activity where you had to choose the five most important items that would help save you from drowning in the ocean when your ship crashes. Don't be alarmed if the assessors are mean to you- they do that on purpose!

The overall format was a general assessment centre, a competency based interview, group exercise and a presentation in the format of a teaching lesson. The assessment centre consisted of 3 tasks, a one to one competency based interview which lasted approximately 45 minutes, a group exercise where we were split into groups of 8, given 15 minutes to read the task and decide collectively on the outcome, and finally a 5 minute sample teaching lesson where we were given 1 minute to prepare once stepping into the class.

Describe a time where you failed something and how you overcame this?

Teach First is a very friendly organisation, they want you to do well so be calm and perform in your interview, and let your personality shine through. Make sure you know their competencies very well and the rest should be fine!

The assessment centre consisted of 3 tasks, a one to one competency based interview which lasted approximately 45 minutes, a group exercise where we were split into groups of 8, given 15 minutes to read the task and decide collectively on the outcome, and finally a 5 minute sample teaching lesson where we were given 1 minute to prepare once stepping into the class.

First off there was a phone interview, which was basically just a brief chat about expectations of the role and past work experience. Once I made it through this stage, I was invited to an interview at one of the Explore Learning centres near my home.

This interview was two hours long, and was divided into two halves. The first half was comprised of a more detailed discussion about the role of an Assistant Director, a role play exercise and more questions about my past work experience and how I may handle difficult situations at work. An awareness of marketing strategies is also helpful during this part of the interview. The second part of the interview was an hour working with the children while they were being tutored, which was fun!

After this, I was put through to an Assessment Centre day at Guildford, which lasted from 9 till 4.30. The day involved a short presentation, a one on one interview, two written assessments and a group task. We were also given a presentation about the company, and taken out to lunch half way through the day.

The most difficult questions were those that involved unfamiliar scenarios to myself, such as having to chose one task to prioritise over another, or being asked how I would deal with doubts from parents about my age (21) or relative lack of experience.

Prepare! Make sure you familiarise yourself with the website and what will be expected of you as an Assistant Director. An awareness of marketing strategies is also helpful, as is previous job experience of any kind that demonstrates you can work in a team and take responsibility for your actions.

It is also important to not be too formal, something that was picked up on in my first face to face interview - they like your personality to come through as it is a very friendly company.

The first task was a presentation about a marketing strategy I would adopt with the goal of signing up potential members to free trials. It lasted 5 minutes and was followed by a few questions.

The second was a one to one interview with two senior management staff, which was more informal and involved scenario questions and probes into why I applied for the role.

The written tasks were to test literary and maths competence

For the final group task we were split into two teams, and had to work together to select items off a list that we would want with us if we found ourselves lost at sea. We had to decide together which ones we would prioritise and then present the final list to all of the interviewers.

I was asked questions about how I would react in different situations within the classroom. I was also asked how I would contribute to the school I would be placed in and what I understood about protecting the children. I had to give an example of a lesson and how I would organise myself and plan for a lesson, ensuring that I included each child of each ability. I also had to deliver a 10 min presentation to a group of children on any topic of my chosen subject (music). Additionally I had to complete some internal numeracy and literacy tests.

How I would ensure that the children had learnt and understood the content of my lesson.

Have confidence and make sure that you are well prepared before hand! Make sure you have gone through your presentation (even just to soft toys) before you have to deliver it to a group of high school children!!

I did not attend an assessment centre.

Friendly, welcoming staff made the interview process pleasant and intimidating. There was multiple opportunities to gain feedback throughout the process which meant you could adapt and respond immediately. Both days enabled me to gain an insight into the company and it's ethos, enabling me to be sure it was the right choice for me as well as the right choice for them.

The gym membership role play was tough to prep for as I was initially unsure what they were looking for.

Be confident and assertive. They are looking for people for have initiative and drive but also great interpersonal skills. Practical business awareness and common sense is key too. For the role play, be sure to ask questions rather than just doing a sales pitch, as they are looking for the ability to build rapport with a new customer.

Head office, head office staff conducting interviews.

The interview process was in three stages - phone interview, centre interview and assessment day. The phone interview included many of the generic questions - why Explore Learning, why this role, what can you bring to Explore etc. They asked situational questions in all face-to-face interviews so for that just remember the customer always comes first.

The centre interview consisted of a face to face interview, a sales role play and around ten minutes interacting with the children. The face to face interview asked similar questions to the telephone interview. The sales role pay you should prepare for in advance, and they are really looking for you to engage with the customer, so ask loads of questions. For example my role play was for a gym free trail, so ask questions around their fitness, what they are looking for in a gym etc, and then cater the information to their needs. As for the children exercise, they just want to see how you interact, so just be friendly.

All interviews were very relaxed and friendly, as they wanted to see your personality and passion shine through. So prepare for it as you would for any other interview, by researching the company values and illustrating with examples how you are like that yourself. I'd say the key thing for success with Explore Learning is to show enthusiasm and passion for education and children - helping children reach their potential. Also, they are looking for team players and people willing to learn, so demonstrate this in group exercises.

The main tip for succeeding with Explore is you personality and enthusiasm. They want team players and so are watching you even during the break sessions, to see how you interact with others. Despite feeling that I did not do my best, I got the job with Explore, as they said my friendly team player attitude, enthusiasm and willingness to learn all shown through .

The assessment centre was very relaxed, and the staff were very friendly and welcoming. We had a face to face interview, a personal compass presentation (on who we are and where we plan to go), a sales role play and a group exercise. You have to prepare the presentation and sales role play before hand. With the sales role play you are trying to book a free day trail for Explore Learning with a parent - main tip here would be to ask questions to get to know the customer. For example, ask their names, do they have any children, childrens ages, how are they doing in school etc. I struggled with this task as I found these questions were to probing and personal to ask someone straight away.

In the group task we had to represent a charity, and debate why each of our charities deserved funding. This task was pushed for time, but the team demonstrated diplomatic behavior, as we all listened to one another and bounced off eachother when presenting back to the interviewers.

The first stage of the AD position was the application form online, consisting of about 8 questions. Provide as much detail as possible and give good examples of your experiences.
The second stage of the process, was an interview held at one of the centres. I was interviewed by the Centre Director, and there was an Assistant Director on hand as well who took notes throughout. The whole session lasted about 2 hours. I was shown around the centre, and given the logistics about how it worked. I would advise to do plenty of research before you arrive so that you have plenty of questions to ask about the centre - show your enthusiasm for the centre and let your personality shine.
I was then sat down and asked about my experiences and skills. I was given a few scenarios to deal with for example, if the CD was away and there was an urgent issue, what I do?
The final stage was a role play exercise. I had to pretend to stop someone in the street and promote a gym membership. The goal was to sign the person up for a free trial. Just make sure you use your communication skills effectively and ask questions to engage the client. There is also a chance to repeat the role play too.

The scenario questions were perhaps the most difficult part of the day, but just use your common sense. If they question your answer, explain the problems that you would have and maintain a positive attitude throughout. This will show your confidence in problematic situations. And keep smiling! We are not all perfect, and they are just looking for someone who is willing to learn and take on the challenges that will be involved in the job.

Explore are really looking for passionate and enthusiastic people who are confident to take on the challenges that the role can bring. Really demonstrate how your experiences will aid you in the role and be positive throughout the day. Ask questions, be engaged, and enjoy it. If you get things wrong, don't worry. Recognise your mistakes and turn it into a positive - show that you can learn quickly. It is a fantastic company to work for and if you show that you want to work for them, your chances of being given the role are a lot higher.

The day started with a welcome presentation. A schedule had been created for each person of when they would do their verbal/numerical reasoning test (which wasn't difficult), marketing presentation, and another for the one-on-one interview. There is a fair bit of waiting around at this part of the day, but everyone was so lovely and it wasn't one of those uncomfortable assessment days where you feel you are in competition with everyone. Yes there is an element of competition, but the other candidates were all lovely and we all chatted about our experiences.
The marketing presentation (task given before assessment day itself): my task was to create a sales event or marketing initiative and present it to one of the interviewers. Be clear, concise and confident. I typed up my presentation, but maintain eye contact and be positive about your idea.
The one-on-one interview: this was more about your experiences and skills and gives you the opportunity to really sell yourself. Be confident throughout and ask questions; show your interest and passion to work for Explore. There were a few more scenario questions at this point too.
We were then taken to Zizzi's for lunch; the most stressful part of the day was over so it was nice to just relax and chat with the other candidates and managerial staff.
The afternoon consisted of a group activity. We started by going around the room and picking words out of a hat. We then had to talk about that word for 1 minute. Be imaginative and funny if you can! We were then split into 2 groups and given a survival scenario; rating objects in order of importance.
The day then ended, and we were told we would find out within 3 working days if we were successful.

The interview had several stages first a one to one interview at a centre. This was competency based but also about the company and scanario based situations for example how would you deal with one of the staff if they were racist. Following, this you had to teach the children for 15 minutes.

Why do do you prefer law above teaching?
Do you think Explore learning is expensive?

Slow down responses and think before speak. Also brush up on commercial awarness

The assessment centre was attended by 12 people. It was made up of a competency interview which lasted 15 minutes. This was followed by a pre-prepared presentation about your idea for a community event. Next there was a role play to tell a teacher about the services Explore Learning offers. In addition, there there a numerical test including fractions with questions asking how you would explain the answer to children. Then there was a literacy test which assessed your ability to find grammatical errors. Next, they took us out for lunch at Zizzi. After a lunch we had to write random words on pieces of paper. Then draw out the words and talk about the word for 2 minutes in front of the group. Finally, we had to group task about increasing membership at a gym which we then had to present to a panel who asked questions.

After applying online you have a phone interview followed by a a centre interview if you reach the next stage. The final stage is an Assessment Day at their HQ in Guilford. Cardiff and attended the Assessment Day in Guildford. I applied in November and attended the Assessment Day in January but it would have been a shorter time period if I did not have to reschedule around my University schedule. The phone interview was pleasant and quite quick. As long as you have done thorough preparation beforehand, it should not be difficult. Explore Learning's website has everything necessary to learn about the company and see if your values coincide with theirs. By the end of the phone interview, I was told that I had been successful and I was able to choose a centre to have my second face-to-face interview.

I chose a centre close to where I go to university, so don't worry if you are living between cities at the time of application. I received a tour of the centre before the interview which was nice. The interview itself was slightly more intense, I was interviewed by two centre directors. They asked me a few questions then proceeded into the role play. You have two chances at the roleplay after receiving feedback on your first turn. I loved this aspect, it is so important to know where and how you can improve and then make real-time changes.

The day after this centre interview, I received an email saying I have been accepted for the Assessment Day in Guilford (very quick process).

Should you greet and attempt to secure a trial session with a client that has just walked into the centre when you have just been given an important task to complete by the end of your work day?

Be yourself! It is very obvious if you are pretending to be invested in the company when you are not. By the time you have reached the Assessment Day you should feel confident in yourself and how suited you are to the role. The Assessment Centre, its atmosphere, the staff and the activities do give a real insight to life at Explore Learning and I believe that you will be perfect for the job if you enjoy the entire process.

The Assessment Day was an enjoyable experience and I felt as though I was surrounded by people who were all enthusiastic and passionate about the company. It definitely made me want to work here more. It started with an introduction to the company and staff, followed by individual interviews, presentations, role play, group exercise and a Maths and English test. The group exercise is the last thing to take place but the other activities are done in a randomised order.

The individual interviews were similar to ones we've done previously so it was a nice beginning to the day. I did the presentation and role play next. I had the choice of which one to do first, I picked the personal compass presentation first. I did well in my presentation, I was clear, energetic and passionate about who I am, my goals, and what made me suitable for Explore Learning. The role play was more challenging but the feedback I received was very helpful. The English and Maths tests were quick and not too difficult. The group exercise was good but also a bit difficult, only because you want to appear as a team and let everyone have their opportunity to shine, however, you have to put your own best foot forward too. My tip would be to listen well to each other and encourage others to speak as well as speaking yourself.

The atmosphere was incredible, I did not feel as though I was in competition with my peers, rather, we all had similar goals and were looking forward to displaying our capabilities. All the staff were welcoming and in fact, inspirational. The Assessment centre made me want to grow with this ever-growing company.