PGCE Primary Interview

The interview is an essential part of the application process where we assess your suitability for the course and your understanding of the role of the teacher. 

We know that you will be nervous but you will be fully supported throughout your interview - we want you to do your best! We are looking for people with a passion for education who want to make a difference to the lives of children by providing a high-quality education for them. We are also looking for people who can hold the attention of an audience and inspire them. Your interview is your chance to do this! 

This information outlines the things you’ll need to do in order to be fully prepared

Format of the interview

Your interview will be conducted on our video interviewing platform, Shortlister.  You will receive an email from us if you have been selected for interview and then you will hear from Shortlister with your log in information.  In order for you to do your best, we want you to feel comfortable and prepared for all of the parts of the interview. Once logged in, you will find a lobby area with a few tips on how to navigate around the platform, a practise area where you can try out answering a few questions. 

Please note that the first question will always ask for a form of ID to be shown to the camera. This must be photo ID (a passport, driving license – full or provisional, or a college ID card).

Interview 

Before you commence your interview, Please watch the following NCETM maths video: https://www.ncetm.org.uk/classroom-resources/lv-a-year-1-lesson-on-difference-as-a-form-of-subtraction/.  You only need to watch the section on subtraction as difference (about ten minutes long) and then be prepared to talk about the strengths of the lesson and any improvements that you might make.

To ensure every candidate has the same opportunity to highlight their key achievements, skills, and experiences we publish our interview questions.  The questions are: 

  1. Please show a form of ID (please note this must be photo ID) 

  1. What experience do you have of interacting with or supporting young children? 

  1. One of the main differences between college and university is the need for self-directed learning. What makes you excited as a learner?  Give an example of when you’ve set out to find the answer to something and how you did that. 

  1. What does a teacher do? 

  1. How do schools look after and keep children safe? 

  1. How do you prioritise and manage your time when you have multiple tasks or competing deadlines? Can you share a specific example? 

  1. Following watching the NCETM maths video, tell us what the strengths in the lesson were and any recommendations for improvements you have. 

  1. As part of the enrolment process, you will complete a series of safeguarding checks, for example DBS and a social media screening. Is there anything that you would like to declare or tell us about now? 

At the end of the interivew you will be asked a series of questions relating to your fitness to study and practice.  You should answer these honestly and provide detail where necessary.  Failure to disclose relevant information may affect eligibility for this course. 

GCSE Certificates

If you have them, please upload the original copies of your GCSE certificates on to your applicaiton.  You can do this via Beacon and will have received log in details shortly after you sent your application to us. 

We would encourage you to: 

  1. Dress professionally; even though this is a video interview, it is still your formal interview for the course and we would recommend that you present yourself in a smart manner including how you dress. 
  2. Prepare! Please plan for the activities detailed above. Remember to draw on your experiences whether from your own education or from voluntary work, paid work or placements.

Don’t forget - we are looking for your potential to be a great teacher so please relax, smile and be yourself! 

 

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.
  • 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. 
  • You will need to present a Photo ID as part of your video interview (a passport or driving licence)
  • Please upload your GCSE's certificates and your degree certificate to your application via Applicant Beacon

What happens next?

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 the 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 Applicant Engagement 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.

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