At Teach London, we are always looking for ways to improve the recruitment process for both our overseas teachers and the schools they will be joining. One of the most valuable tools we’ve incorporated into our recruitment strategy is the Spark Hire pre-recorded video interview. This tool has become an integral part of our overseas recruitment process, allowing us to assess candidates more effectively and streamline the way we match teachers with schools across London.
A powerful shortlisting tool
Spark Hire allows us to conduct one-way video interviews that involve candidates videotaping and submitting responses to a series of preset questions. This is a great way to shortlist potential candidates before moving onto booking two-way interviews, and it gives us the initial opportunity to assess a teacher’s suitability for a role from anywhere in the world.
Designed with UK headteachers in mind
Our video interview questions have been developed in consultation with UK headteachers, ensuring that they are directly aligned with the specific needs and expectations of schools in the UK. By focusing on the key qualities that headteachers are looking for, we are able to better gauge the potential of each candidate.
In the video interviews, we focus on 10 key questions that align directly with the Teacher Standards in the UK. These questions are designed to provide insights into the teacher’s experience, their understanding of pedagogy, their classroom management skills and their ability to integrate into a school’s community. By asking these questions, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of a candidate’s strengths, their approach to teaching and how they perform in the real-world classroom setting.
Getting to know the teacher beyond the CV
While a CV can provide important details about a candidate’s qualifications and experience, a video interview gives us a chance to see more. It allows us to get a feel for a teacher’s personality and their communication style. This is incredibly valuable because, as any teacher knows, personality plays a big part in how they connect with students, colleagues, and the wider school community.
Convenience and flexibility for schools
One of the best things about Spark Hire is the flexibility it offers both to us and to the schools we work with. The pre-recorded video interviews can be viewed at any time that is convenient, and once viewed, they can easily be shared with Senior Leadership Teams for further evaluation. This allows the decision-makers to make a more informed choice when deciding whether to progress a candidate to an online two-way interview.
What our schools have said
Our schools have consistently told us how useful Spark Hire has been in the recruitment process. It’s a tool that not only saves time but also helps schools feel more confident in their decisions. By providing a more comprehensive, clear picture of an educator before the interview stage, we ensure that the process is as efficient and effective as possible.
Get in touch with us
At Teach London, we are always striving to provide our schools with the best possible teachers, and Spark Hire is a key part of this. It allows us to screen candidates more thoroughly, gain deeper insights into their skills and personality, and ultimately ensure that we are placing the right educators in the right schools.
Contact us today to see how we can support your school with overseas talent. Call Katharine Hearn, Head of Overseas – UK, on 07917609420 or email info@teachlondon.com.
Sponsoring overseas teachers for permanent and long-term staffing solutions As schools across the UK continue to face growing challenges in securing high-quality teaching staff, more
How overseas teachers gain the right to work in the UK At Teach London, we work closely with overseas teachers who are passionate about bringing
Focusing on high-quality overseas teachers At Teach London, we understand the value that high-quality educators bring to schools, not just as teachers, but as active
The global teacher recruitment crisis: why experience matters in nurturing top talent for London schools The teacher recruitment crisis is a challenge that is not