Impressing Senior Leadership: The Top 5 Qualities Every Teacher Needs

When it comes to impressing senior leadership teams during a teacher interview, there are certain teacher qualities that are essential for success. These are the qualities that senior leaders look for when hiring new teachers, and they are the qualities that will help you stand out from other candidates. In this blog post, we will be discussing the top 5 qualities that teachers must have to impress senior leadership teams in the UK. Here are five qualities that make the best education professionals.

What Makes a Great Teacher?

1. Strong communication skills

Senior leaders want to know that you have the ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, and colleagues. This includes being able to explain complex concepts in simple terms, being able to listen actively and respond to feedback, and being able to build positive relationships with students and parents. Be prepared to discuss how you communicate with students, parents, and colleagues and be ready to share examples of how you have used communication to resolve conflicts or challenges in the past.

2. Excellent classroom management skills

Senior leaders want to know that you have the ability to manage a classroom effectively. This includes being able to create a safe and orderly learning environment, setting clear expectations for student behavior, and using positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior. Be prepared to discuss specific strategies you use for classroom management and be ready to share examples of how you have dealt with challenging students in the past.

3. Adaptability

A positive mental attitude to proactive learning and developing your own skill set is the cornerstone of adaptability. Whilst support from Heads and Principals is crucial, the most successful professionals are those who can continue to improve without continuous direct feedback from superiors. Resilience during a period of insufficient support, and positivity in the face of a lacklustre response to a creative lesson plan, ensure educators learn from their own experiences and take prompt action. Adaptable professionals welcome change in the classroom, and use every new experience as a chance to develop their tools and ideas. Successful educators take time to reflect on their methods and the impact on their classes, to uncover and confront weaknesses that can be improved. Adapting extends to tailoring attainments standards for each child: setting high expectations for those who are able, still encouraging those who struggle and ensuring no student is left unchallenged. Positive responses to unplanned for and difficult situations are the mark of a flexible and competent educator: the ability to quickly change a schedule, provide urgent support and calm a sudden crisis will best help children and young people when they need it most. Adaptable adults are strong role models for children across demographics, but particularly looked-after children and those who belong to minority groups. Your students will see how you respond to setbacks and will use this to inform their own responses to setbacks in their education and lives. Transparency around failure sets a precedent for positive responses to challenges, and strengthens communication between teachers and pupils.

4. Organisation

An organised approach to lesson planning can improve time management, education quality and pupil attainment. Written SMART objectives inform clear goals and measurements for teachers and classes. Students will understand not only what they need to learn, the structure of each lesson and how they will be graded, but exactly why they need to learn it. Pupils who are more aware of the value their learning delivers will be more invested in each class and more likely to build and develop new skills. Physical classroom environments can also be considered and adapted to minimise distractions and provide the most engaging atmosphere for learning. Organised lesson plans help professionals to prepare effectively for each day, improving teaching quality and reducing stress levels which in turn facilitate the necessary calm and patient attitude. Ownership of the Academic year and a professional’s own career path can drive motivation and success in teachers and students.

5. Passion & Enthusiasm for Teaching

Whilst subject knowledge is vital to any education position, a true passion for the subject you are teaching is one of the most important characteristics in a great teacher. Genuine enthusiasm can’t help but shine through, helping to inspire intrigue and excitement in students for English, Maths, Science and across all school subjects. Education professionals who keep up to date with trends and new knowledge developments will have the ability to be much more creative when lesson planning. An excellent knowledge bank will satisfy the curiosity of even the most advanced students, who can not only receive answers to their questions and problems, but can also be challenged to further question and learn beyond the curriculum. Behaviour management, safeguarding and more – discover our free CPD-accredited courses.

Apply for our Latest Teaching Jobs

If you’re looking to find your dream new position this term, we have a wide range of opportunities for educators in the 1000s of schools we support. Currently, Prospero Teaching are actively recruiting for a wide range of teacher, tutor and TA positions:

• 1:1 and small group Tutors from KS1 – 5

• Primary Teachers and Teaching Assistants.

• Secondary Teachers and Teaching Assistants.

• HLTAs, Learning Support Assistants, Behaviour Mentors.

• SEND Teachers, EAL & SEND TAs, SEBD Support Assistants.

Do you have these 5 teacher qualities? We have opportunities for both long-term positions and short-term supply starts across the UK. Reach out to your local branch today.