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How to Apply: Guidance for Applicants

The notes below set out instructions on how to submit your application:

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

Send or email us the following:

• A covering letter explaining why you are applying (up to 2 sides of A4). This should contain the reason you have chosen to apply for this post.



• Your CV (please see the guidance notes below) OR the application form. If you do not have a current CV and would prefer to use an application form there is one available to download. If using this please still submit a covering letter explaining why you are applying. you can present an application form and CV if you wish along with your covering letter.



• One referee (preferably your current employer or failing that a previous employer) who can be approached during the selection process. Please include telephone numbers. We will always contact you first, unless you indicate that you are willing for us to contact referees directly.



• The equal opportunities form found here

Sending us both the application form and your CV is permitted if you prefer to do this although a covering letter, CV and Equal Opportunities Form is sufficient.

To go to the "where/how to send it" page click here

THE NOTES BELOW ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU IN DRAWING UP YOUR APPLICATION

Covering letter:

Please submit a short covering letter of about up to 2 sides of A4, using business letter writing conventions such as bullet points, to ensure you get maximum information across in the minimum of space. You should consider including some information about:

• The reason you are applying - this is very important



• Your current salary and benefits (unless this is included in your CV)



• One or two points (literally) that reinforce how closely your experience meets the selection criteria: the nature and seniority of the posts held and how successful you have been and your key achievements



• Any other information you believe the selectors need to consider your application fairly



• Whether you have a disability and, if so, how we might be able to help you in the process.

Curriculum Vitae:

It is recommended that you use bullet points and clear sections when setting out your career history. Make sure your contact details are at the top of the front page and you give at least one email address. Your CV must contain the following:

• Full employment history in reverse order with details of each post you have held, e.g. summary job purpose and achievements. It helps if you can put a single line describing each of the schools/colleges/organisations you have worked for (e.g. budget, sites, students, character).



• All your qualifications especially post 16.



• Your current salary and benefits (unless this is asked for in the application form if it is used)

The decision to invite you for an interview will rely heavily on the positions you have held in the past and the seniority of those posts. Please ensure that you give sufficient prominence to job titles, tenure, and responsibilities in the CV you submit, and particularly those jobs you have held over the last 5 - 10 years.

N.B. It is important to keep your CV to about 3 sides of A4 maximum because selectors are nearly always turned off by long CVs that include details like training courses attended, multiple publications that do not bear directly on your qualifications for the post and what you had for lunch the other week! To address the CPD requirements in many person specifications it is enough to say that you regularly update your skills through attending relevant courses, and add a recent example that is relevant to the post you are applying for.

Further information about CVs can be found by clicking this link (which opens in a new window)

HINTS FOR APPLICANTS ON HOW TO PRESENT PAPERS:

Some do and don'ts:

Do:

• remember that your CV is a professional working document, so use a standard font like Arial 10 or 11 point and avoid fancy fonts, especially informal fonts, which reduce the impact.



• stick to the space suggestions and requirements.



• follow the requirements for letters and CVs as these vary from post to post.



• keep the formatting of any document you have downloaded and that you subsequently complete to email as close to the original as possible and stay within the space allowed by the author.



• when sending paper (i.e. by mail) print single sided papers as they are always photocopied at some stage and this helps the person photocopying!



• keep margins well in from the sides of the paper (about 25-30mm) - set too wide will mean that some printers will not capture the whole text.

Don't:

• use colour as papers are always photocopied and always in black and white.



• put your CV in a folder - the folder is always ripped off and discarded so that your papers can be bundled and photocopied.



• use small font sizes (like Arial 9pt) to beat the space requirements!