Essential preparation for your interview: PGCE Secondary Science (Biology) with QTS
This page has been created to give you all the information that you will need for your interview process. You should have been informed by admissions whether you will be completing an online or in-person interview. If you are unsure which one you will be completing, please get in touch with [email protected]
Important information
- We offer interviews in person (on campus) or online. This page is for those applicants who are having an 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 Microsoft Teams 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.
- You should allow approximately 50 minutes 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 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. 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 and young adults.
Tech Check
If you do not already have Microsoft Teams, you can download this online.
There are useful guides for the Microsoft Teams App available on YouTube to assist you.
Things to do before your online interview
It is essential that you:
- have your individual Microsoft Teams 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 and take care to be in a suitable location for your interview. This should be somewhere quiet where you won’t be disturbed.
- 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 read the subject specific information below containing the details relating to your subject specialism.
- have thought about, and can explain, why you want to teach children and young adults from the secondary age range and, in particular, why you wish to teach your particular subject.
- have read educational publications to familiarise yourself with current educational issues. Useful publications include:
- The Guardian Educational Supplement (published weekly)
- The Independent Educational Supplement (published weekly)
- The Times Education Supplement (published weekly)
- have visited appropriate websites such as
- The BBC Education website
- Department for Education (DfE)
- Standards Testing Agency
- National curriculum and examination boards to further supplement general preparatory reading and research.
- have read and understood the below information regarding ‘Training in Educational Settings’ to enable you to answer questions about your support needs.
Training in educational settings
The Partnership team will source all ITT practices.
- You will be expected to travel to your professional practices, and you must be prepared to travel some distance. You will be expected to drive or travel on public transport to your placement.
- We do provide, in some instances, reimbursement for travel to and from training.
- We have training partnership arrangements in a range of locations including the North West, the North East, Staffordshire, Cheshire, the West Midlands including Shropshire and London. We expect that you will approach each practice with a flexible and conscientious attitude, acting with integrity and commitment. We will ensure that we take into consideration your personal circumstances and needs.
All contact with practice schools is made formally via the Faculty of Education’s ITT Partnership Team; trainees should not contact schools directly to arrange practices.
Subject knowledge audit
Prior to the interview you are required to complete a Subject Knowledge Audit.
Download and complete your subject knowledge audit.
This is not a test but a way to assess your areas of strength and development with regards to the current Science curriculum. Please note, you are required to email your Subject Knowledge Audit to [email protected] at least two full working days in advance of your interview, clearly labelled with your full name and date of birth.
Subject specific tasks to do before your online interview
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 also tasks that you need to complete prior to your online interview.
Your interview will consist of two main elements. A 3 minute presentation and then a series of interview questions:
‘How would you teach’ presentation
During your interview you will be asked to present for 3 minutes on how you would teach a Key Stage 3 pupil about plant and animal cells. You can opt to either put together a short presentation (such as a PowerPoint), share this with the admissions tutor in advance and talk through it in your interview or opt do this ‘live’ (without a presentation) during your interview.
Your presentation is an opportunity for you to demonstrate:
- Subject knowledge
- An understanding of key concepts in your subject
- An understanding of skills and application in your subject
This is also an opportunity to demonstrate your creative ideas and to show how well you communicate with others. In some instances, the presentation will also allow tutors to identify those applicants who may require a Subject Knowledge Enhancement Course (SKE) as part of their offer conditions.
Please note, if you plan to use a PowerPoint (or equivalent) presentation you need to email this at least 24 hours in advance of your interview to[email protected]. Please label any file with your full name.
You are advised to prepare for your interview by:
- Looking at the KS3 and KS4 National Curriculum Programme of Study for Science
- Exploring examples of recent GCSE examinations for Science and identify areas for further development in your subject knowledge in your specialism of Biology and also Chemistry and Physics up to GCSE level.
- Considering how you will address areas identified as needing development from your Subject Knowledge Audit.
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.
Additional Supporting Evidence
If you have any additional supporting evidence (i.e. additional references, evidence of work experience, etc) that you would like to show, please email this to the Admissions Team prior to your online interview: [email protected]
What we are 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
- 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 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:
- Telephone 01695 650950
- Email [email protected]
Important information
- We offer interviews in person (on campus) or online. This page is for those applicants who are having an in person interview.
- You should now have received an email from our Admissions Team with the date and time of your interview. If you do not think you have received this, please contact our Admissions Team [email protected].
- You should aim to arrive 15 minutes before your interview time.
- You need to confirm that you will be available for your interview by completing our interview reply form.
- You should allow approximately 2 hours for your visit to campus as this will encompass your formal interview and presentation, a tour of the campus, and opportunity to meet with colleagues in admissions who will check your certificates and documentation.
- 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 subject and education more generally, and for you to visit our beautiful campus. 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 and young adults.
Things to do before your in person interview
It is essential that you:
- 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 in person interview.
- have read the subject specific information below containing the details relating to your subject specialism.
- have thought about, and can explain, why you want to teach children and young adults from the secondary age range and, in particular, why you wish to teach your particular subject.
- have read educational publications to familiarise yourself with current educational issues. Useful publications include:
- The Guardian Educational Supplement (published weekly)
- The Independent Educational Supplement (published weekly)
- The Times Education Supplement (published weekly)
- have visited appropriate websites such as
- The BBC Education website
- Department for Education (DfE)
- Standards Testing Agency
- National curriculum and examination boards to further supplement general preparatory reading and research.
- have read and understood the below information regarding ‘Training in Educational Settings’ to enable you to answer questions about your support needs.
Getting here
Planning your journey to the university is an important part of your preparation. On this page you will find some useful information to help you do this:
- Directions to our Ormskirk campus.
- Information on planning your route.
We would strongly advise that you travel by public transport wherever possible, as parking on campus is limited and cannot be guaranteed.
Please note, for your journey planning your destination train station should be Ormskirk.
If you are planning to travel by car, please display this parking notice and allow plenty of time for your journey and parking. If the on-campus car park is full, you can find several parking options in Ormskirk town centre.
If you do arrive early, there are several catering outlets on campus for you to purchase refreshments.
You will need to report to the Student Administration Centre 15 minutes before your interview time. Please use our Campus Map for guidance.
Training in educational settings
The Partnership team will source all ITT practices.
- You will be expected to travel to your professional practices, and you must be prepared to travel some distance. You will be expected to drive or travel on public transport to your placement.
- We do provide, in some instances, reimbursement for travel to and from training.
- We have training partnership arrangements in a range of locations including the North West, the North East, Staffordshire, Cheshire, the West Midlands including Shropshire and London. We expect that you will approach each practice with a flexible and conscientious attitude, acting with integrity and commitment. We will ensure that we take into consideration your personal circumstances and needs.
All contact with practice schools is made formally via the Faculty of Education’s ITT Partnership Team; trainees should not contact schools directly to arrange practices.
Subject knowledge audit
Prior to the interview you are required to complete a Subject Knowledge Audit.
Download and complete your subject knowledge audit.
This is not a test but a way to assess your areas of strength and development with regards to the current Science curriculum. Please note, you are required to email your Subject Knowledge Audit to [email protected] at least two full working days in advance of your interview, clearly labelled with your full name and date of birth.
Subject specific tasks to do before your in person interview
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 also tasks that you need to complete prior to your in person interview.
Your interview will consist of two main elements. A 3 minute presentation and then a series of interview questions:
‘How would you teach’ presentation
During your interview you will be asked to present for 3 minutes on how you would teach a Key Stage 3 pupil about plant and animal cells. You can opt to either put together a short presentation (such as a PowerPoint) and bring this with you via a USB (pen drive) or opt do this ‘live’ (without a presentation) during your interview.
Your presentation is an opportunity for you to demonstrate:
- Subject knowledge
- An understanding of key concepts in your subject
- An understanding of skills and application in your subject
This is also an opportunity to demonstrate your creative ideas and to show how well you communicate with others. In some instances, the presentation will also allow tutors to identify those applicants who may require a Subject Knowledge Course (SKE) as part of their offer conditions.
You are advised to prepare for your interview by:
- Looking at the KS3 and KS4 National Curriculum Programme of Study for Science
- Exploring examples of recent GCSE examinations for Science and identify areas for further development in your subject knowledge in your specialism of Biology and also Chemistry and Physics up to GCSE level.
- Considering how you will address areas identified as needing development from your Subject Knowledge Audit.
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.
Additional Supporting Evidence
If you have any additional supporting evidence (i.e. additional references, evidence of work experience, etc) that you would like to show, please email this to the Admissions Team prior to your online interview: [email protected]
Original certificates
Please bring relevant certificates with you on the day for our Admissions Team to look at.
- Bachelor Degree Certificate or official Transcript. If you hold a Masters or 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
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
- 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 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:
- Telephone 01695 650950
- Email [email protected]