PGCE Secondary Interview - University of Staffordshire

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PGCE interview tasks

An essential part of our selection process for this course is an interview, where we will assess your suitability. It is also your opportunity to learn more about us, meet the teaching staff, see our facilities and ask questions that help inform your decision.

What to expect

The interview process will last approximately 2-3 hours, and we would encourage applicants to adopt a dress code for a formal interview.

The interview will consist of a variety of interview tasks including: a subject knowledge task, an ethics task, a pupil data analysis task and a video reflection discussion.

You will also be required to lead a 5 minute teaching task and you will also be involved in an interview, which will last for approximately 10 minutes. This is not a presentation of what you would teach but a 5 minute taught session with the panel acting as students.

Please watch the introduction to the Secondary PGCE and write down any further questions you have about the course. You will get chance during the interview to ask any of these questions.

Introduction to Secondary PGCE

Video

An introduction to the Secondary PGCE at Staffordshire University.

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Art and Design applicants only

You will be required to create one Microsoft power point presentation slide which should contain the following information and images:

One photograph of an example of your own artwork from your undergraduate degree- labelled as ‘University degree work’ including which media has been used and degree studied.
One photograph of an example of your own observational drawing skill using pencil or pen labelled as ‘Drawing example’.
One photograph of an example of your own current artwork labelled as ‘Own artwork’ including which media has been used.

You should upload your presentation slides to your application via Applicant Beacon prior to your interview.

Video Tasks

Please watch the video below

We would recommend that you make notes regarding what you see in the video. You will be able to use these notes during the interview. Think about the following questions:

What are the strengths of the lesson?
What would you do differently or improve?

Please watch the video and identify strengths and areas for development, in terms of the teaching and learning that has taken place. Be prepared to talk about this video and your reflections in the interview (you are able to bring notes with you to support this discussion).

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Teaching Tasks

Secondary Art and Design

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 aged students (11-12 years old).

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by ONE of the following the formal elements found within Art, Craft and Design:

- Line
- Shape
- Form
- Tone
- Texture
- Pattern
- Colour
- Composition

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen formal element topic.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however there is no facility to wash brushes or get water as part of the interview, so try to limit your resources to paper, pencil and pens if you wish to use materials and remember you only have 5 minutes to complete your presentation. You will not have access to a computer or projector for this task.

Secondary Biology

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 11 students (15-16 years old).

The activity should focus on how you would introduce the topic - Homeostasis. Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic.

Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about Homeostasis. You may bring materials with you for either yourself, or the interview panel to use, however there will be no computer or projector available. Remember that you only have 5 minutes.

Secondary Chemistry

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 9 students (13-14 years old).

The activity should focus on how you would introduce the topic – Atomic structure. Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic.

Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about Atomic structure. You may bring materials with you for either yourself, or the interview panel to use, however there will be no computer or projector available. Remember that you only have 5 minutes.

Secondary Computer Science

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7, Year 8 or Year 9 aged students.

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by any aspect of computer science at KS3.

Please base your topic on a relevant area of the KS3 National Curriculum for Computing Programmes of study.

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen aspect of computing.

NOTE: Not everyone on the panel will be a computing specialist so it should be easier to pick an exciting topic where they learn something new.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however there is no interactive board, whiteboard, projector or computer. You may want to bring in printed resources, pencils, rulers etc… or anything that they may need to use during your session.

Secondary English

Prepare a 5-minute introductory activity aimed at year 7 students.

This activity should focus on how you would introduce students to ONE of the following aspects of poetry:

Rhyme
Rhythm
Form
Repetition
Tone
A specific Literary Technique (For example: simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia)
The use of language for effect
Themes, Ideas, Attitudes
Context

You may use any poem of your choice for this activity but remember to consider its suitability for the age and year group of the students. Try to be creative when introducing your topic; the interview panel should be engaged and learn something new following your interactive activity.

You may bring resources for the panel to use, but you will not be given access to a computer or projector. As you only have five minutes to complete this task, you should try to limit resources to pen, paper and handouts.

If you are applying for PGCE English with Drama, your task is slightly different. Please see the ‘Secondary English with Drama’ section below

Secondary Geography

Prepare a 5-minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 aged students (11-12 years old).

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by the topic of ‘weather and climate’.

This topic is included in the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum for Geography.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however there is no interactive board or whiteboard. You may want to bring in printed resources, pencils, rulers etc. or anything that they may need to use during your session.

Remember that you only have 5 minutes to ‘teach’ your activity to the panel so try to create a ‘hook’ which is engaging and introduces the start of a new learning journey.

Secondary Mathematics

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 aged students (11-12 years old).

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by any aspect of mathematics at KS3.

To help you identify the content covered at KS3, check out the following resources.

DfE guidance on teaching maths at KS3
NCETM KS3 subject knowledge audit

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen aspect of mathematics.

NOTE: Not everyone on the panel will be a maths specialist so it should be easier to pick an exciting topic where they learn something new.

Secondary Physical Education

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 10 aged students in a GCSE PE class.

This activity should focus on intrinsic and/or extrinsic motivation and link to sporting examples.

Please specifically refer to the current AQA GCSE Physical Education specification.

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen formal element topic.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however you will not have access to a computer or projector for this task.

Secondary Physics

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 students (11-12 years old).

The activity should focus on how you would introduce the topic – Forces. Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic.

Following your 5-minute activity, the interview panel should have learned something new about Forces. You may bring materials with you for either yourself, or the interview panel to use, however there will be no computer or projector available. Remember that you only have 5 minutes.

Secondary English and Drama

Task 1

Prepare a 4-minute introductory activity aimed at year 7 students.

This activity should focus on how you would introduce students to ONE of the following aspects of poetry:

Rhyme
Rhythm
Form
Repetition
Tone
A specific Literary Technique (For example: simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia)
The use of language for effect
Themes, Ideas, Attitudes
Context

Task 2

In one minute, explain how you would introduce a year 7 class to the subject of Drama, giving at least one example of a practical activity you would use and explaining why this would be a good introductory activity. This might be (but is not limited to):

A whole class warm-up
A paired/individual warm-up
An introduction to a specific play of your choice
Improvisation
A specific skill such as still pictures, mime, use of voice etc

Secondary Design and Technology

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 aged students (11-12 years old).

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by ONE of the following the formal elements found within Design and Technology:

Single point perspective drawing skills
Food safety
Textiles suitable for clothing

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen formal element topic.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however there is no facility to wash brushes or get water as part of the interview, so try to limit your resources to paper, pencil and pens (if you wish to use materials) and remember you only have 5 minutes to complete your presentation. You will not have access to a computer or projector for this task.

Interview tips

We want to get to know you during the interview and see if you meet our entry criteria. We would encourage you to:

Prepare! Please plan for the activities listed and potential follow up questions by the interview panel.
Draw on your experiences whether from your own education or from voluntary/paid work.
Try to make eye contact with your interviewers to show how brilliant, friendly and confident you can be. A smile makes a great first impression.
We are looking for your potential to be a great teacher, so please be yourself. We have provided a Trainee Teacher Person Specification to help you decide if teaching is right for you.
Dont forget to bring a pen. If you are applying for a Maths or Science subject please bring a calculator if you have one.
You will need to bring Photo ID (a passport or driving licence), your GCSE's certificates and your degree certificate.

Getting here

Your interview will be held in the Catalyst Building, on our Leek Road campus in Stoke-on-Trent. Information on how to get to the Stoke-on-Trent campus, and a campus map, is available on our how to find us pages. Please be ready to meet with your interview team inside the main entrance to the Catalyst Building. Interview days tend to be busy, so please try to arrive in good time.

catalyst

We have great train and bus links, with our Stoke Campus being only a 5 minute walk from Stoke on Trent station which is well served by a network of national rail operators.

If you do intend to travel by car please be aware that we have limited parking available at both our College Road and Leek Road sites. Further details about parking and parking charges can be found on our parking website.

Alternatively there are a number of pay and display car parks close by including Stoke on Trent train station car park and the North Stafford Hotel (opposite the train station).

What happens next?

You will receive feedback on the day from the interview panel and will then receive a formal update from our Admissions Team. 

If you are successful, you will receive a formal offer and you will need to meet the conditions of your offer prior to the course start.  Further information will be provided in an offer email. You will be asked to complete an occupational health check and a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check as part of the entry criteria.

If you have any questions or require any further information, please contact our enquiries team via telephone on 01782 294400 or via email at enquiries@staffs.ac.uk . Please quote your applicant I.D. in any contact with the University. We also have live chat options available on our website.

Why study a PGCE at Staffordshire University?

Video

Find out more about the benefits of studying a PGCE at Staffordshire University.

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