Primary PGCE: Preparation for Interview
If you are selected for interview, we hope that the above information will help you to prepare thoroughly. The following advice may also help you.
Time in School
If you are able to spend more time in school before your interview, you should use it to gather relevant experiences and information. If all your experience has been in one school or class, try to broaden your experience by spending time elsewhere.
General Reading
You may also need to do some general preparatory reading and research, to develop your understanding of educational issues and current developments. The following text is currently used on the PGCE courses and is also a useful introductory reader.
- Cockburn A (ed) (2007) Teaching Children 3 to 11: A Student's Guide, Paul Chapman 9781412920285
A read through recent issues of the Times Educational Supplement, or the educational supplements of broadsheet daily newspapers may be helpful. You might prefer to use one of the following websites useful. Don’t feel that you have to build up detailed knowledge of facts and figures, however - we only expect a general knowledge and awareness of educational issues at the interview stage.
- The Times Educational Supplement - http://www.tes.co.uk
- BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/default.stm
- Ofsted Publications - http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications
- School Zone - http://www.schoolzone.co.uk
Subject Knowledge Preparation
You may feel that you need to improve some areas of your knowledge, or at least to reassure yourself that you know the levels at which questions will be pitched - i.e, approximately National Curriculum Level 6, about the average expected at the end of Key Stage 3. If you use any of the following resources, you should check its content in relation to the interview test content outlined above.
Most major publishers produce Key Stage 3 revision guides for English, mathematics and science, as books or as CD-ROMs. These are readily available in shops or from an internet seller. On-line revision guides and sample questions include:
- BBC Bitesize - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/schools/revision
- The Guardian - http://www.learn.co.uk
The books listed below are currently used as core texts for subject knowledge during the PGCE year. They go well beyond the levels required at interview, but you may find them useful. You will certainly need to study them before starting the course.
English
Mallett M (2008) The Primary English Encyclopaedia, Routledge 9780415451031
Mathematics
Suggate J, Davis A, & Goulding M (2010) Mathematical Knowledge for Primary Teachers 4th edition, Fulton 9780415559232
Science
Peacock G, Sharp J, Johnsey R & Wright D (2009) Primary Science: Knowledge and Understanding 4th edition, Exeter: Learning Matters 9781844452781