Essential preparation for your interview: PGCE Primary Early Years Education with QTS

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. Please note for this course we’re offering online interviews only. Face to face interviews can be accommodated to facilitate accessibility if required. For further information please get in touch with [email protected]. Please make sure you’re reading the right guidance for the interview you have been allocated as there will be differences.

Important information

• You will receive an email from our Admissions Team with the date and time of your interview along with your individual Microsoft Teams link. If you do not think you have received this, please contact our Admissions Team [email protected].
• You should allow approximately 50 minutes for the online interview process.
• You need to confirm that you will be available for your interview by completing our interview reply form.
• Please note, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) software during your online interview is not permitted. If the interviewing staff suspect that you are using AI at any point, this could affect the progression of your application and the outcome of your interview.
  

What we’re looking for

The interview has been structured to enable you to demonstrate your commitment to becoming a teacher and your enthusiasm for education. You need to show that you can engage in discussion, contributing both as a speaker and as a listener. You will also be given the opportunity to demonstrate the contribution that you could make to the PGCE programme and, ultimately, to the education of children.

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

• a commitment to and enthusiasm for working with children,
• strong verbal and written communication skills,
• the personal attributes and values required to train as a teacher,
• the ability to reflect on experiences and the learning taken from these.

Our aim at interview is to be able to identify the highest quality candidates. Therefore, performance in all aspects of the interview will be taken into consideration:

• Interview tasks
• Individual interview

Things to do before your interview

It is essential that you:

• dress appropriately. You should present yourself as a future professional.
• have read all the information in this document and made a note of the items you need to have with you and any questions that you want to ask during your interview.
• have thought about, and can explain, why you want to teach children in the Early Years age range.
• have familiarised yourself with current educational issues. Useful publications include:
  • The Guardian Educational Supplement (published on Tuesday)
  • The Independent Educational Supplement (published on Thursday)
  • The TES magazine (published on Friday)
  • Appropriate websites include:
    • The BBC Education website
    • Department for Education (DfE)

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: