Sammyantha: I have an interview coming up soon and I have just been looking on the internet for Ofsted reports and so on. Ihave learn that the school has just been taken off special measures. Should I go for this post? Actually, I have already said I will go to interview. What should I do?.

PuRe Personally, I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole. If you do go, you should make a point of asking them about their induction package. You should also check on why they were in special measures in the first place. Ask if the department you might be joining was part of the cause of the special measures.

And remember that you don’t have to take the job - you can just attend the interview if you don’t want to seem rude.

Marble So just because the school was in special measures you’re going to pass up a job? That’s a bit silly, isn’t it? I took a post on even though the school was in special measures, and I even had obervations from HMI. But it wasn’t a big deal - we got bags of support from the local authority and our school adviser. We’re out of special measures now and have just had a very good Ofsted report. I was thrown in the deep end, but I actually feel a better teacher for it.

Francie You should go to the interview and see what the school is like. Perhaps the school has a dynamic new head. Are there some new team leaders who have worked hard to get the school out of special measures? If so, it could be a great school to be in - you could contribute to its climbing up in the locality. Go and see. In any case, interview experience is always useful so you should try to keep an open mind.

Teacha I’m an NQT in a special measures school, and actually it’s fab. We’re all working really hard to get out of special measures and I get loads of support because HMI check on what help I’m getting. Being in a school that’s turning itself around is exciting. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

For more exchanges of advice between old hands and new, visit the NQT forum at www.tes.co.uk