Applying for Early Years and Primary positions

We run a pool recruitment process for newly qualified Early Years and Primary teachers.

We assess all applications against the criteria in the person specification.

Dates for newly qualified teacher recruitment

The majority (around 90 per cent) of Lambeth Newly Qualifed Teacher (NQT) recruitment is for positions beginning in September of each academic year; Pool interviews are held between February and April.

September start

We process NQT applications for positions beginning in September from the first working day of that year until our deadline for applications.

For September 2012 positions, applications will be accepted between 3 January 2012 and 31 March 2012.

Any applications received before this date will be held and processed, in order of receipt, from 3 January.

January and Easter starts

We recognise that not all NQTs qualify in June or July, looking for positions starting in September.

We accept applications for January positions from the last week in October of the preceding year, and for Easter positions from the first working day of that year.

For January 2012 positions, applications will be accepted from 31 October 2011.
For Easter 2012 positions, applications will be accepted from 3 January 2012.

Again, any applications received before these dates will be held and processed in order of receipt. 

We do not operate the pool in the same way for January positions - we pass relevant applications directly to schools looking for NQTs, as they come to us, and they will carry out full interviews.

When making your application, please state clearly in your e-mail which start date you are applying for.

Interviews and the pool process

If your application meets our person specification, you will be offered an interview by a panel - these panels will be made up of education advisers, teaching and learning consultants, headteachers, deputy and assistant headteachers and schools HR officers.

The interview will take place in Lambeth, and will last for about 40 minutes. We aim to make the interviewing process as friendly and welcoming as possible.

If you are successful at interview, you will be added to Lambeth's NQT pool, and will be notified of this within five working days of their interview.

We will send the applications of the most appropriate pool members to the schools as they approach us with a vacancy which is suitable for an NQT. We will do our utmost to recommend you to schools where your individual qualities, qualifications and skills can be best used and developed.

The headteacher of the school will contact you to arrange a school visit and an interview (usually more informal than the pool interview).

Any offer of employment will be made by the school, not the LEA. A verbal acceptance is regarded as ethically binding on all concerned.

If the process is not successful, we will continue to consider you for positions as they arise.

If you are accepted into the primary pool, please remember to tell us if you secure a position in Lambeth or elsewhere.

Applying for jobs after pool interviews have been allocated

If you submit an application that meets our person specification, once all available interviews have been offered to candidates, we will add your application to our reserve list.

We will use this list to offer interviews (should any become available due to withdrawal of applicants) on an order of application receipt basis. We will also look at this list whenever an NQT position cannot be filled from those applicants accepted into the primary pool.

Schools will carry out full interviews if such an position arises.

Other ways to find your first post in Lambeth

There are likely to be around 120 vacancies suitable for NQTs in Lambeth schools at any one time, but we cannot guarantee that number, nor can we guarantee that candidates applying through Lambeth's recruitment process will find a suitable placement.

As well as using the primary pool, some schools also advertise vacant posts which are suitable for newly-qualified teachers.

Advertisements usually appear in the Times Educational Supplement and on the TES website. If you are interested in an advertised vacancy, you should apply directly to the school concerned.

Lambeth Schools Supply Service

In addition to applying to Lambeth directly for, particularly, January and Easter positions, you may want to consider registering with the Lambeth Schools Supply Service.

You will be able to access both short-term and long-term postions (positions lasting for two terms or more are suitable for NQT induction), and there is always the possibility that positions may become permanent.

By registering with the Supply Service, you will also have the opportunity to work in schools in Bexley, Southwark and Wandsworth.