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Essential preparation for your online 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 online interview. It is essential that you read all of the sections carefully.

Important information

  • There will be no requirement for you to attend the University at this time – your online interview will be conducted remotely using Blackboard Collaborate.
  • You should now have received an email from our Admissions Team with the date and time of your interview along with your individual Blackboard Collaborate link. If you do not think you have received this, please contact our Admissions Team [email protected]
  • You need to confirm that you will be available for your interview by completing our interview reply form.
Interview reply form
  • You should allow approximately one hour for the online interview process.
  • The interview has been structured in such a way as to enable you to demonstrate your commitment to becoming a teacher, your enthusiasm for your chosen age phase and for 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. You will also be given the opportunity to demonstrate the contribution that you, personally, could make to the PGCE programme and, ultimately, to the education of children.

How to use Blackboard Collaborate

  • You can join your online interview on any device – PC, tablet or smartphone, and we would advise using Chrome or Firefox as your browser. Please ensure that your browser is fully up to date.
  • If you would prefer to access the session in the Blackboard App please download the app called Blackboard Collaborate TM Mobile, which, using Google Chrome as your browser, you can find in your normal app store.
  • If you experience any technical issues, please visit the help page.
  • Your online interview link can be accessed 10 minutes before the start of your interview. Please follow the steps below:
  1. Open the link in your browser
  2. You will then be able to see the session you are joining and there is a place for you to type your name. Please ensure you type your full name and select ‘Join Session’.
  3. Each session will be hosted by a member of Edge Hill University staff, they may not be in the online room when you join, however please stay online.
  4. You can join with your camera and microphone switched off and you will be advised by the member of staff when it is time to switch them on.

Things to do before your online interview

It is essential that you:

  • have your individual Blackboard Collaborate link. Please contact our Admissions Team [email protected] if you have not received this.
  • dress appropriately. You are not expected to be in formal wear, however you should present yourself as a future professional.
  • 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.
  • have thought about, and can explain, why you want to teach children in the Early Years age range.
  • have prepared and sent your ‘This is me’ video.
  • have prepared to deliver your five minute group task.
  • 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 Times Education Supplement (published on Friday)
  • have visited appropriate websites such as

Tasks to prepare before your online interview

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:

  • ‘This is me’ video
  • Group task
  • Individual interview

Read on to find out more about each element:

‘This is me’ video

Prior to your interview we would like you to record a short video ‘This is me.’ This is not a test of your filming and editing skills so please don’t spend a long time preparing this. This is an opportunity for you to tell us a bit about yourself, for example –

  • Anything interesting about you
  • Where you live
  • Something about your family or friends
  • Your interests or hobbies
  • What you are currently studying
  • What you are most looking forward to when you start university
  • Anything else that you think will be of interest to your interviewer.

As a guide your video should be 1-2 minutes long. Please email your video along with your full name and date of birth to [email protected] by 3pm the day before your interview.

How to upload your video

Google Drive

On your phone, computer or tablet, open the Google Drive app on Google Play, the App Store, or website. Click Add then click Upload. Find and click the files you want to upload. You can view uploaded files in My Drive until you move them. Share the file via email.

YouTube

Create an account if you do not have one already. Sign in to your account on the App or by website and select the upload button. Drag and drop or select the file to upload. Enter description, tags, and privacy information. Share the video to social media. Send the video link via email.

Wetransfer

Go to the WeTransfer website. Select your video file to upload. Enter the email address you want to send to and your email address. Enter text description and then press the transfer button to send your video. The file will begin transferring and will say transfer complete when this has been done. You should receive a confirmation email confirming that your video has been received.

You will only have to upload your video to one of these options. There are various online guides and YouTube videos that can advise you on how you can upload your video.

If you have any difficulties with completing this task, then please do still attend your interview and your interviewer will discuss other options for you.

Group task

In your groups of approximately four candidates, you will each take it in turn to deliver a five-minute task. You can choose one task from the tasks below. Please be prepared to deliver your task for 4-5 minutes. The interviewers may ask questions and will observe the discussion. You will not be able to share your screen therefore PowerPoint slides cannot be used. However, you may want to use and show relevant physical resources.

Task A
Task B
Task C
Task D
Task E

Your individual interview

You will have a 10 minute individual interview with a member of the Edge Hill University Partnership which will cover:

  • your reasons for applying for this programme
  • the role of the teacher
  • your own skills and attributes and how these might support you in being an outstanding teacher
  • current issues relating to Early Years’ education.

What to have with you

Photographic ID

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 the process. If you do not have suitable ID on the day, you may not be able to take part in the online interview and will have to reschedule for an alternative date.

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

Original certificates

Please note:  Collection of certificate/qualifications will only be requested if you are successful at interview and we will withhold the offer until we have verification of your original certificates.

  • Bachelor Degree Certificate or official Transcript. If you hold a Masters of PhD please have these with you as well.
  • GCSE qualifications – particularly Mathematics and English Language at grade c or grade 4 or above, or equivalent qualifications.
  • If you are currently studying towards the above qualifications you will be asked to provide these as soon as the results are available.
  • If you have changed your name since the certificates were issued, please provide evidence of your name change (e.g. marriage certificate, change of name deed poll etc).

What we are looking for

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

  • a commitment to and enthusiasm for working with children
  • strong 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

Any questions?

We look forward to meeting you for your online interview.

If you would like to request a face-to-face interview, please contact our Admissions Team using the details below.

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: