The Application Process

Step 1 – Online Application Form

Your teacher training journey begins by completing our simple online application form. The application covers the following: 

·         Personal details 
·         Preferred location 
·         Subject preferences 
·         Two experiences, in or out of the workplace, that you believe best prepare you for being a trainee teacher. 
·         Academic qualifications 

Before starting the online application, we recommend gathering up these key details, double checking the eligibility criteria, and having an up-to-date CV to hand. 
 
If you have already registered your interest, you may be sent an eligibility form to your email address to complete this first stage of the application process. Be sure to add teachertraining@arkonline.org to your list of contacts and keep an eye on your inbox (and spam so you don’t miss out!) for this eligibility form and other important correspondence from us throughout the application process.

Situational Judgment Assessment 

On submission of your online application form, you will be sent an email requesting that you complete a Situational Judgment Assessment. 

Step 2 – Getting to Know You

If your online application has been successful, the second stage of the application process is all about getting to know you, your drivers for wanting to teach and your potential as a teacher trainee. Ark Schools are committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce, with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.  
 
We understand that academic credentials aren't the be all and end all of what makes a great teacher. To reflect this, we've adjusted our recruitment practices to place a greater emphasis on your core skills. This means that the second step of the application process can look a little different for every candidate. 
 
If we feel we need more information at this stage, you may be requested to complete a pre-recorded video. As part of this video, you’ll be asked 5 questions that will help us get to know you better and allow you to articulate your skills and experiences that are transferable to teaching. 
 
While it may seem daunting and feel a little strange giving your answers to a camera, this step has been introduced to give all candidates the very best chance of qualifying for our programme. It really helps us to get to know you far better than we ever could from an application form alone! 

Step 3 – Interview at Our Assessment Centre

Book Your Slot 

The next stage of the application process marks the beginning of the formal interviews for the programme. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted to book an interview date at one of our assessment centres.

Subject Knowledge Test 

This email will also contain a link to a Subject Knowledge Assessment. This is a set of 15 questions that relate to your chosen teaching subject or phase. They are multiple choice, pitched no higher than GCSE level, and are based on the National Curriculum. 
 
Please don’t be daunted by this! This test is used to provide us with an understanding of your subject knowledge level and where you’ll require training and support, should you progress to the final assessment stage. Consider it more of an audit than a test.

The Interview 

This includes a 50-minute competency-based interview with one member of the recruitment team and a 5-minute presentation to help us learn about your aptitude for teaching. 

Step 4 – Final School-Led Assessment 

The final school-led assessment is a virtual interview that gives you a chance to learn more about the school you’ll be training in. It also serves as a final opportunity for the recruitment team to fully gauge your subject knowledge level and get a better understanding of what you might be like in a classroom environment. 
 
As part of this interview, you will be asked to prepare a 5-minute lesson on a topic specific to the subject or phase you want to teach. This topic will be sent to you beforehand to give you time to prepare. After giving the lesson on the day, you’ll then receive feedback from our recruitment team and be given time to make changes and redeliver the lesson. 
 
Please note: We know how important it is for you to get a feel for what working in one of our schools will be like; as such, we’ve incorporated more panellists and a feedback task into this final stage so you can meet some of the key staff involved in a trainee's year and ask any school-specific questions! 
 
If you’re successful at the school-based assessment, congratulations! You’re an exceptional candidate and will be offered a place to start the programme in September!