When is your interview date as if its tomorrow there is little time to help

If I was interviewing I would be asking about your attitude to bonkers conkers, banning snowball fights and after-school fencing classes. Also how you would deal with lack of funds for essential maintenance. Good luck Sonia. Be truthful, don't try to bluff and remember to answer the questions that are asked. Chances are that you will be scored on your responses against a checklist of answers they expect so giving a wonderful explanation of lab safety is little use if they asked about food safety!

Miracles usually take a day but here goes noting that schools are mini and complex businesses so have many aspects that few really realise that they do; everything from work at height to COSHH to PUWER to PPE to DSE to stress, violence etc at work, special needs including diet and none English speaking people, crime etc. School related areas include;- *Offsted: Plays a VIP role and sometimes there is a clash with H&S *Board of governors: Play important roles; usually carried out by well meaning amateur's with their own ideas *CLEAPS = Covers science in schools - Outside organisation but VIP & very good *EHO's = Main enforcers as against the HSE who have a role but are rarely there *Traffic control VIP = Parents will park anywhere to get their own child into their cars *Caretakers = The do all the odd jobs especially work at height *Construction = In many if not most/all areas schools have little real knowledge of CDM *Head teachers etc. Are used to getting their own way so U need to know how to handle them *Budgets are usually devolved down to the schools these days so the have the £ so you need to know how to deal with that area *RIDDOR & those not at work *If a head etc does not like you it will be hard work so you need to work on being friendly whilst still getting your point across *Social security aspects *Security issues *CRB areas *Breakfast clubs *The list goes on Hope that this helps; Its very rewarding working with schools as well as complex and frustrating and I hope that you do well

Sonia - you have a PM Rich

Thanks to everyone who has replied both on form and pm. I really appreciate you all taking time to help at such short notice. I'll let you know how I get on kind regards Sonia

Sonia Hope the interview went okay for you this afternoon and that you get the job if it's right for you. As for nerves, some nerves but not too many are useful for boosting your adrenalin and keeping you alert and appearing alert during interviews. Actors and actresses say the same about pre-performance nerves before going on stage. If you don't get the job, do keep trying. The earlier responses contained various bits of useful information if you are keen on working with schools. Also, if you haven't already done so, it's worth asking and finding out about meetings of IOSH members who work with schools, e.g. local/regional entities of members who belong to IOSH's (national) Education Group via the IOSH website. If you don't work with schools at present but would like to do so, as an IOSH member you ought to be able to attend such meetings to get a better idea of current hot topics and sources of information, etc. Also, if you're not successful this time and start going to meetings related to education and schools, do mention such meetings and examples of topics covered at future interviews. This should indicate to the interviewers that you are keen about working with schools and are also taking action to improve your knowledge for such a role. Furthermore, if you have construction experience (as the info beneath your name on this forum suggests), I guess you already mention that this would be of use regarding construction projects at schools, i.e. new builds and extensions and significant modifications of existing buildings. Graham

The interview was very informal and went well I think but no decision until the New Year so will wait and see. Thanks again everyone for your help its very encouraging to know there is support when it is needed. Merry Christmas Sonia