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Teacher Job Interviews: What Principals Actually Ask (and How to Answer)

The 15 questions you will almost certainly face, how to answer them well, how panels differ across sectors, and how to prepare a teaching demonstration lesson.

12 minute read Last reviewed May 2026
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Teacher interviews in Australia follow predictable patterns. Once you understand the format, the question types, and what assessors are actually looking for, they become much less intimidating. This guide covers how panels are structured, the questions you will almost certainly face, how to answer them well, and what separates candidates who get called back from those who don't.

1. How teacher interviews work in Australia

Government school panel interviews

Government school interviews follow a structured, merit-based process. You will typically face a panel of three to five people: the principal or their delegate, an elected teacher representative, and a parent (P&C) representative. Where relevant, an Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) or community representative will also participate. [Source: NSW DoE Merit Selection Procedure, 2025]

The panel works from published selection criteria — the dot points in the job advertisement. Every question is designed to assess how you meet those criteria. The interview is not the only consideration; your written application and referees are equally weighted alongside what you say in the room.

Most school-level panel interviews run 30–60 minutes. [Source: NSW DoE; VIC Recruitment in Schools Policy, 2025]

Questions panels cannot legally ask you (NSW): marital status, children or dependants, age, home ownership, credit status, sexuality, pregnancy, race, ethnic background, political affiliation, and trade union membership. You are entitled to decline to answer these. [Source: NSW DoE Merit Selection Procedure, 2025]

State-specific variations

State Sector Format What to know
NSW Government Panel: principal, teacher rep, P&C rep; 30–60 min Max half A4 per criterion; PDF via IworkforNSW (TALEO). Online suitability interview (~1 hr) for some roles. [Source: NSW DoE, 2025]
QLD Government Pre-recorded video → school panel if shortlisted 3 questions; 2-min preview + 2-min response each. Verify current format at teach.qld.gov.au. [Source: teach.qld.gov.au, 2025]
VIC Government Panel ≥3 members; criteria-based; ~45–60 min Criteria align with Ministerial Order 1388. Mentioning VTLM 2.0 demonstrates currency. [Source: VIC DoE PAL, 2025]
All states Catholic Principal + deputy; sometimes Diocese rep Includes charism and values questions — see Section 4.
All states Independent Principal-led; often includes head of department No standardised procedure; culture fit and co-curricular contribution weighed heavily.

2. The STAR method — your interview framework

Most Australian government school interviews use behavioural questions — questions that begin "Tell me about a time when..." or "Describe a situation where...". The underlying assumption is that past behaviour predicts future performance. [Source: QLD DoE Recruitment and Selection Procedure, 2025]

The standard way to structure behavioural answers is STAR:

S

Situation

Briefly set the scene — one or two sentences.

T

Task

What was required of you in that situation.

A

Action

What you specifically did. This is the core of your answer — give it the most time (~60% of your response).

R

Result

What happened as a result, ideally with something measurable.

Worked example: "Tell me about a time you adapted a lesson for a struggling student."

STAR answer example

Situation Mid-term in Year 7 English, I noticed one student producing significantly shorter written responses than classmates and disengaging during drafting tasks.
Task I needed to understand whether this was a comprehension gap, a writing skills gap, or something else — and adjust my approach accordingly.
Action I had a brief one-on-one check-in during a group task. I found out she was a recent EAL/D student who was anxious about spelling errors. I gave her a graphic organiser with the paragraph structure mapped out and we agreed she'd use a word bank for the next two weeks. I also adjusted my feedback to focus on ideas first rather than conventions.
Result Her written output increased from two to five sentences per drafting session within three weeks, and she asked to present her work to the class by the end of term.

Keep STAR answers to 1–2 minutes. [Source: SEEK AU, 2024] Use examples from the past one to two years where possible — prac experience is entirely valid for graduates.

Prepare 8–10 versatile examples before your interview — covering behaviour management, differentiation, collaboration with colleagues, parent communication, assessment and data use, and professional learning. Most questions will be answerable with an example from this bank.

3. The question bank — what you will actually be asked

These questions appear consistently across Australian sources and are safe to prepare for every interview. Questions are grouped by type — you are unlikely to face all of them in one session, but knowing the full range ensures you are not surprised.

Opener questions

"Why do you want to work at this school specifically?"

This is the most important question in any teacher interview — and the one most candidates answer poorly. Generic answers ("I've heard great things about the school") do not cut through.

Before the interview, spend 30 minutes on the school's website, Facebook page, annual report, school plan, and NAPLAN data. Find one specific thing — a programme, an initiative, a community value — that connects to something in your teaching. Reference it by name.

Strong answer (government school): "I've been following your whole-school Visible Learning implementation since last year's professional learning day you shared on Facebook. I want to be part of a team that is systematic about it, not just individual teachers working in isolation."

"Describe your teaching philosophy."

Keep this to 60–90 seconds. Anchor it to student learning outcomes, not personal values. Reference at least one of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) by domain — e.g. "I design from learning intentions and success criteria before I plan activities" maps to Standard 3.

Professional practice questions

How do you differentiate instruction?

Maps to APST Standard 1. Name specific strategies: tiered tasks, flexible grouping, graphic organisers, adjusted success criteria, reduced cognitive load. Ground it in a real example.

How do you assess and use data?

Maps to APST Standard 5. Show assessment is ongoing (exit tickets, conferencing, mini-whiteboards) not just summative. Explain how you act on findings and communicate with families.

What does a great lesson look like?

Describe a structure, not a topic. The I do / We do / You do model is well-regarded in government systems. Show how you check for understanding mid-lesson.

Describe a lesson that didn't go to plan.

Interviewers want to see self-awareness. Choose a real example, name what went wrong, and explain specifically what you did differently next time.

Behaviour management questions

How do you manage classroom behaviour?

Use a STAR answer. Show your approach is proactive (routines and expectations from day one), relational (you build trust with students), and consistent. Reference Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) if familiar.

Tell me about a time you managed a challenging student.

Do not frame the student negatively. Focus on understanding the underlying cause and on the specific strategies you used. Show you looped in colleagues, welfare staff, or parents where appropriate.

Collaboration and professional engagement

Tell me about a time you collaborated with colleagues.

Maps to APST Standard 7. Show collaboration was purposeful and led to a change in practice — not just attending a meeting. Collaborative marking, co-designing a unit, or contributing to a data team all work well.

What professional development have you done recently?

Be specific. Name the PD, what you took from it, and one concrete change you made to your teaching. Avoid vague answers like 'it really refreshed my thinking.'

Equity and inclusion questions

How do you support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students?

Demonstrate cultural awareness and practical strategies: building relationships with community, embedding Indigenous perspectives in curriculum, working with the school's AEO (Aboriginal Education Officer). [Source: AITSL APST Standard 1.4]

How do you cater for EAL/D students?

Show familiarity with the EAL/D continuum and scaffolding strategies (visual supports, simplified instructions, sentence frames). Mention collaboration with EAL/D support staff where available.

Closing question

"Do you have any questions for us?" — always prepare two or three. Good options: "What does professional learning look like for new teachers here?", "What are the priorities in the school's current improvement plan?", or "What does the onboarding process look like for someone starting mid-year?"

Avoid asking about salary, leave entitlements, or supervision requirements in a first interview.

4. Catholic and independent school interviews

Catholic schools — the charism question

Every Catholic school belongs to a tradition founded by a religious order or congregation. That tradition — the school's charism — shapes its values, culture, and the way it expects staff to show up. Panels will assess whether you understand and can contribute to that charism, even if you are not Catholic yourself.

Before your interview, spend time on the school's website looking for: the founding order or congregation (e.g., Sisters of Mercy, Marist Brothers, De La Salle Brothers), the school's stated mission or values, and how those values appear in practice (student leadership structures, pastoral care programmes, social justice initiatives).

Questions to prepare for Catholic school interviews

What does teaching in a Catholic school mean to you?
How would you contribute to our school's charism and Catholic identity?
How do you integrate the school's values into your classroom?
How would you approach leading prayer or a classroom liturgy?
What is your understanding of Catholic Social Teaching?

If you are not Catholic: you are not expected to profess belief, but you are expected to respect and actively support the school's mission. An honest answer like "I'm not Catholic, but I'm drawn to this school because of your commitment to [specific value]" is stronger than a vague affirmation. Catholic Social Teaching pillars worth knowing: human dignity, solidarity, care for creation, preferential option for the poor, subsidiarity.

Independent schools — culture and contribution

Independent school interviews tend to be less structured than government school panels. There is typically more emphasis on:

  • Why this school specifically — generic answers are immediately obvious and damaging
  • Co-curricular contribution — sport, music, drama, debating, outdoor ed; most independents expect staff to be involved beyond the classroom
  • Extension and enrichment — how you stretch high-achieving students
  • Mission and values fit — research the school's strategic plan, not just the homepage

5. Teaching demonstration lessons

Many schools — particularly Catholic and independent — will ask you to teach a demonstration lesson, usually 10–20 minutes with real students or a simulated panel "class."

Structure that works

1

Hook (2–3 min)

An engaging opener that activates prior knowledge or sparks curiosity. A question, an image, a short provocation.

2

Explicit instruction (5–7 min)

I do: model the skill or concept clearly and slowly.

3

Guided practice (4–5 min)

We do: students attempt with your support. Check for understanding mid-activity.

4

Closure (1–2 min)

You do (briefly) or a formative check: exit slip, question to the class, verbal summary.

What assessors are watching for

Voice and presence

Do students at the back hear you? Do you circulate rather than stand at the front the whole time?

Responding in the moment

How you handle an unexpected student answer — this tests your thinking on your feet.

Learning intention

Whether your learning intention and success criteria are visible or stated at the start.

Student engagement

Whether you involve every student, not just those who volunteer.

Practical advice: choose a topic you have taught before, not a new one. Bring any materials you need rather than relying on school resources you have not tested. Time yourself — running over is a visible flag to assessors.

6. Before the interview — preparation checklist

Research (day before)

  • School website: mission, values, key programmes, principal's name
  • School Facebook or newsletter: recent events, community tone
  • NAPLAN data (myschool.edu.au): any known areas of focus
  • School plan or Annual Implementation Plan (often on website)
  • For Catholic schools: founding order's charism; school's specific values statement
  • For VIC government schools: note the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0)

What to bring

  • Printed copies of your written application and selection criteria responses (one for you, one for the panel)
  • A teaching portfolio: lesson plans with student work samples, assessment data, feedback you've received and acted on, professional development certificates
  • Working with Children Check / Blue Card (QLD) / equivalent
  • State teacher registration certificate or AITSL letter
  • A notepad and pen to take notes during the panel's questions

During and after the interview

Make eye contact with everyone

Speak to each panel member when answering — not just the principal.

It's fine to pause

Say 'Can I take a moment to think about that?' Pause rather than ramble.

If you don't know, say so

Explain how you would find out: 'I haven't encountered that specifically, but I would approach it by...'

Ask for feedback

Government schools are often willing to provide feedback whether you are successful or not. This is the fastest way to improve.

? Frequently asked questions

What do government school panel interviews actually look like?

A government school panel typically has three to five people: the principal or delegate, an elected teacher representative, and a P&C parent representative. All panellists ask questions based on the published selection criteria. The interview usually runs 30–60 minutes and is one part of the selection process alongside your written application and referee reports.

What's the difference between a government school interview and a Catholic or independent school interview?

Government school interviews follow a structured merit-selection process with a fixed panel and criteria-based questions. Catholic school interviews are less formalised and include questions about the school's charism and how you would support its Catholic identity. Independent school interviews vary by school and often include stronger emphasis on co-curricular contribution and school culture fit.

How do I answer 'Tell me about a time you handled a difficult student'?

Use the STAR method: briefly describe the situation, explain what was required of you, describe specifically what you did (the bulk of your answer), and state the outcome. Focus on your reasoning and strategies rather than the student's behaviour — panels want to see your thinking, not a story about a difficult kid.

What questions will Catholic schools ask about faith — and what if I'm not Catholic?

Catholic schools routinely ask about the school's charism, how you would integrate values into your teaching, and how you would support students' spiritual development. Non-Catholic teachers are not expected to profess personal faith — but you are expected to understand, respect, and actively support the school's mission. Research the founding order's tradition and connect it to something specific in your practice.

Do I need to do a teaching demonstration and how should I prepare?

Not all schools require one, but many Catholic and independent schools do. Plan a 10–20 minute lesson with a clear structure: hook, explicit instruction (I do / We do), guided practice, and closure. Choose a topic you know well, bring your own materials, and time yourself. Panels want to see presence, pacing, and how you respond to students in real time.

How does the QLD government school pre-recorded video interview work?

QLD state school applicants complete a pre-recorded video interview as part of the initial application process — before being matched to a school. You receive three questions with a two-minute preview window and up to two minutes to record your response to each. The whole process takes 15–30 minutes. Use Chrome on PC/Android or Safari on Mac/iOS. Check the current format at teach.qld.gov.au before you sit it. [Source: teach.qld.gov.au, 2025]

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