What's Inside This Template
Hiring the right instructors is the most impactful decision you'll make as an activity business owner. The wrong hire costs you time, money, reputation, and potentially students. This scorecard provides a structured evaluation framework that goes beyond "do I like this person?" to assess the specific competencies that predict success in children's activity instruction.
Template Sections
- Pre-Interview Screening Checklist — Qualification verification, DBS status, right to work, reference request tracking, and governing body registration check. Ensures you've covered the compliance basics before investing time in an interview.
- Interview Scoring Grid (10 competencies) — Each competency is scored 1-5 with behavioural descriptors for each level, so assessors score consistently. The ten competencies are: (1) Teaching and coaching ability, (2) Child engagement and rapport, (3) Safeguarding awareness, (4) Communication with parents, (5) Behaviour management approach, (6) Adaptability and differentiation, (7) Reliability and professionalism, (8) Teamwork and collaboration, (9) Activity-specific technical knowledge, (10) Enthusiasm and energy.
- Scenario-Based Questions — Ten pre-written interview questions with model answer guidance, covering situations instructors genuinely face: a child who doesn't want to participate, a parent who disagrees with their child's level placement, a safeguarding concern, an equipment failure mid-session, and a disruptive child. These reveal how candidates think and act under pressure, not just what they claim on a CV.
- Practical Assessment Sheet — A structured observation form for a 15-20 minute practical teaching assessment. Evaluates: session structure, instruction clarity, demonstration quality, feedback to students, safety awareness, time management, and class control. Includes space for detailed notes and an overall recommendation.
- Reference Check Template — Structured questions for professional references, specifically tailored to children's activity instruction: reliability, teaching quality, safeguarding conduct, relationship with parents, and reason for leaving. Includes questions that give referees permission to share concerns.
- Decision Matrix — A summary sheet that combines interview scores, practical assessment scores, and reference outcomes into a single weighted score, with clear hire/no-hire thresholds to support objective decision-making.
Who This Template Is For
This scorecard is for any activity provider who hires instructors, coaches, or teaching assistants. It's designed to be used by owner-operators conducting interviews themselves, as well as larger organisations where multiple managers need to hire to the same standard. It's also valuable for franchise operations establishing consistent recruitment practices across locations.
How to Use It
Print the scorecard before each interview. Complete the pre-screening checklist first — don't interview anyone who hasn't passed the compliance checks. During the interview, score each competency in real-time (don't rely on memory afterwards). Conduct the practical assessment as a separate stage, ideally with a real or mock class. Use the decision matrix to compare candidates objectively. Keep completed scorecards on file as evidence of your safer recruitment process.
