Essential preparation for your interview: PGCE iQTS (Primary and Secondary)

This page has been created to give you all the information you need to prepare for your interview. It is essential that you read all the sections carefully. All interviews will be taking place online. For further information please get in touch with [email protected].

Important information

• It is important you’ve read all the information on these preparation pages and made a note of what you need to prepare, the items you need to have with you and any questions you want to ask during your online interview.
• You should now have received an email from our Admissions Team with the date and time of your interview along with your individual MS Teams link. If you do not think you have received this, please contact our Admissions Team on [email protected].
• You need to confirm that you will be available for your interview by completing our interview reply form.
• You should allow approximately 50 minutes for the online interview process.
• Your interview will consist of three main elements. A 3-5 minute presentation, a written task based on an article, and then a series of interview questions.
• Please have to hand your original photographic ID (i.e. current valid passport or photo-card driving licence). Your ID will be checked prior to the start of your interview. You may not be able to undertake your interview without it. 
• The interview has been structured in such a way as to enable you to demonstrate your commitment to becoming a teacher, your suitability to work with children and young people and your enthusiasm for your subject and education more generally.
• You need to be able to show that you can engage in discussion, contributing both as a speaker and as a listener.

To ensure that you are prepared for your interview, please read the following information carefully as it outlines the structure of your interview and there are tasks that you will need to complete prior to your online interview.

Interview Preparation

Your interview will consist of three main elements. A 3-5 minute presentation, a short written task, and then a series of interview questions:

1. ‘How would you teach’ presentation

You should prepare a short presentation (no more than 3 minutes) in which you outline how you would teach a pupil about a topic of your choice. This should be a topic which is taught on the curriculum delivered in your placement school and which is linked to the age group you intend to teach, Primary (3-11 years) or Secondary (11-16 years). If you are applying for the Secondary course, this topic should be in your chosen subject.

You can opt to either put together a short presentation (such as a PowerPoint), which you share with the admissions tutor in the interview (via screen share) and talk through or opt do this ‘live’ (without a presentation) during your interview.

Your presentation is an opportunity for you to demonstrate:

• Subject knowledge suitable for the phase in which you are wishing to train to teach.
• An understanding of how you would communicate specific ideas or concepts to learners.
• Clear and coherent communication and presentation skills.
• A suitable level of spoken English including pronunciation, grammar, sentence construction, and punctuation.

2. Written task

As part of your interview for the PGCE with iQTS, you will complete a short written task. This is designed to ensure you have a suitable level of written English. There is nothing you need to do to prepare for this task and all resources and instructions will be provided for you during the interview.

3. Interview questions

The third aspect of your interview will be a series of questions asked by the panel. These questions are designed to ensure that you are suitable to work with children and young people and that you have the necessary academic, personal, and professional skills to train to teach in your chosen phase.

Pre-interview

subject knowledge audit

Prior to the interview you are required to complete a Subject Knowledge Audit. This is completed online, in advance of your interview and you can access this by clicking the button below.

Subject knowledge audit

This is not a test but a way to assess your areas of strength and development with regards to the curriculum you will be teaching in your placement school. You should keep a copy of your responses and be ready to discuss these with the panel during your interview.

What we’re looking for

During the interview process we will be looking for you to demonstrate:

• A commitment to and enthusiasm for working with children and/or young people in your chosen phase.
• Strong communication skills including suitable levels of written and spoken English.
• The personal attributes and values required to train as a teacher including your suitability to work with children and young people.
• The ability to reflect on experiences and the learning taken from these.

Things to do before your online interview

It is essential that you:

1. have downloaded and familiarised yourself with Microsoft Team. You can download this online. Download from the App Store here or Download from Google Play here. And there are useful guides on YouTube to help familiarise you with teams.
2. have your individual Teams link ready. Please contact our Admissions Team [email protected] if you have not received this.
3. dress appropriately. You are not expected to be in formal wear, however you should present yourself as a future professional and take care to be in a suitable location for your interview. This should be somewhere quiet where you won’t be disturbed.
4. are able to take part in the interview with a stable WIFI connection and working microphone and camera. We cannot interview applicants who do not have a camera as we need to verify your identity.
5. have read all the information on this preparation page and made a note of the items you need to have with you and any questions that you want to ask during your online interview.
6. have read the details relating to your pre-interview tasks.
7. have thought about, and can explain, why you want to teach children and/ or young adults and, if applying for Secondary, why you wish to teach your particular subject.
8. have familiarised yourself with the curriculum in your particular location/placement.
9. explored examples of examination requirements for your subject/ phase and identify areas for further development in your subject knowledge.
10. considered how you will address areas identified as needing development from your Subject Knowledge Audit.

What to have with you on the day

If you have any questions about your ID or qualifications, please contact our Admissions Team via email [email protected] prior to your interview.

Any questions?

We look forward to meeting you at your interview. If you have any questions or special requirements that you would like to discuss with us prior to your interview, you can contact us in the following ways: