Teaching interview tips for NZ schools

Research the school

Panels notice quickly whether you have read about their school. Spend an hour on this before you write your answers.

• ERO report. Find the school's most recent report on the Education Review Office site. Note what the school is working on and what ERO says is going well. Reports are written with the school, so priorities in them are usually real.
• Strategic plan. Most schools publish a strategic plan and an annual plan (older documents may call this the charter). Find two or three priorities you can link to your experience.
• Values. Learn the school's values and what they look like in practice. If the values have te reo names, learn to say them correctly.
• Website and newsletters. Look for recent events, programmes, the school's approach to learning and what the community celebrates.
• The job pack. Read the job description and person specification closely. Each listed requirement is a likely question.
• The community. Learn about the local area, iwi and hapū, and who the students are.

Know the panel format

Panels vary, but usually include the principal or a senior leader and often a board member. For some roles you may also meet a team leader, head of department, a student representative or a whānau or iwi representative. Interviews often run 30–60 minutes. Some schools ask you to teach a short lesson or tour the school first.

• Ask the school who will be on the panel and whether there is a teaching task, so you can prepare.
• Speak to everyone on the panel, not just the principal.
• Expect questions on classroom management, assessment, Te Tiriti o Waitangi in your practice, inclusion, working with colleagues and whānau, and why you want this school.

Practise with the free teaching interview questions tool. It covers the themes NZ panels ask about and gives you feedback on practice answers.

Opening with a mihi or introduction

Some candidates open with a short mihi. It is optional. If you choose to, keep it short, pronounce it correctly and make sure it is genuine for you. If you are unsure, a simple introduction in English that says who you are and where you are from is completely appropriate. The panel may open with karakia or a welcome; follow their lead.

Answer with real examples

Panels want evidence that you have done what you describe. Structure answers as situation, what you did, and what happened for students, then link to how you would do it at their school.

• Prepare six to eight stories from placements or work: a lesson that went well, one that didn't, a behaviour challenge, adapting for a student, working with whānau, using assessment to change teaching.
• Name the year level and context briefly, then spend most of the answer on your actions and the result.
• If you don't know, say so, then explain how you would find out (your mentor, the school's policy, the student).
• Keep answers to about two minutes. Watch for signs the panel wants to move on.

Bring evidence

Bring a slim folder or a link: an annotated plan, student work showing progress (anonymised), and feedback from an associate teacher. Offer it when a question fits. Our guide to building a teaching portfolio explains what to put in.

Questions to ask the panel

Prepare three or four and ask one or two. Good questions show you are thinking about doing the job well:

• How is induction and mentoring structured for beginning teachers here?
• Who would I plan with, and how does the team share planning?
• What does the school's approach to behaviour look like day to day?
• What are the priorities for this class, syndicate or department this year?
• How does the school work with local iwi and with whānau?
• What would success look like in this role at the end of the first year?

Leave pay and leave questions until you are offered the role, unless the panel raises them.

On the day

• Arrive 10 minutes early and be friendly to everyone, including office staff and students.
• Dress as you would on a professional development day at that school, leaning slightly smarter.
• Bring a notepad with your examples and questions. Glancing at notes is fine.
• Have your registration number and referees' contact details ready.

Follow up

• Send a short thank-you email within a day. Mention one thing from the conversation.
• Tell your referees they may be contacted, and what the role involves.
• If you are unsuccessful, ask for feedback. Many principals will give it, and it helps with the next application.

Applying soon? Read writing a cover letter and CV for NZ teaching jobs.