Selection Process
PGCE Early Years and PGCE Primary - University-Led (Core)
PGCE Secondary - University-Led (Core)
PGCE Primary and PGCE Secondary - Partner-Led & School Direct Salaried
PGCE Primary (3-7 & 5-11): University-Led (Core)
After your application form has been considered, you may be invited to a Selection Day at the University.
Ideally, you will have already spent some time in a UK mainstream school in Reception - Key Stage 2.
The Selection Day will include:
Storybook Activity
Your presentation will include:
- A rationale for your choice of storybook
- Reading a section of the text for 2-3 minutes as though you are reading to a class of children
- Sharing questions that you might ask the children in response to reading the story to generate a class discussion
- Identifying potential links to the wider curriculum (i.e. how does this text relate to science, history etc?)
You are allowed to work from notes during this presentation, and for face-to-face interviews, supply handouts to the audience (we recommend you make five copies). There may be no visual projector/TV screen available so the presentation should not be delivered through e-resources (i.e. PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.) If you are having an online interview, you are welcome to use a PowerPoint presentation.
Individual Interview
- Look at our Interview and Selection Tips page
- Ensure you come with all the documents you need
- The interview day will include a Fundamental Skills Task (to be completed within 30 minutes on the day of interview)
PGCE Secondary (11-18): University-Led (Core)
After your application form has been considered, you may be invited to a Selection Day at the University. Ideally, you will have already spent some time in a UK mainstream school in Key Stages 3-5.
The Selection Day will include:
- A Pre-Prepared Mini Lesson
- This is predominately for face to face interviews
- For the odd online interview that we are still offering, you may prepare a powerpoint presentation. otherwise the information is the same.
- A Skills Assurance Task
- This task is designed to identify your support needs in numeracy & literacy.
- A comprehension task that will allow you to demonstrate your ability to write professionally and interpret school data.
- An Individual Interview
- Pre-reading taskLink opens in a new window
- Take a look at our Interview and Selection Tips page.
- Ensure you come with all the documents you need
PGCE Primary and PGCE Secondary (11-16): Partner Led
& School Direct Salaried
- A Lesson Task
- An Individual Interview
- Look at our Interview and Selection Tips page
- Ensure you come with all the ID Documents you need and your qualifications
Your invitation to interview from the school will clarify further.Please note - we can’t sponsor Student Visa holders on the PGCE School Direct Salaried route
PGCE iQTS (International QTS) Primary (Online interview)
After your application form has been considered, you may be invited to an online interview the University.
The Online Interview will include:
Pre interview (You are invited to attend at 10am (UK time) on the Tuesday before your Interview Day)
- You will be invited to join the Blackboard Collaborate room via the link in your interview selection confirmation email.
This will allow for:
- Pre Interview Technology Check and explanation of Blackboard – 10 minutes
- Overview of programme entry requirements - Reminders about attested certificates and safeguarding checks
- You will be sent via email
- Welcome presentation from the iQTS course leader, Kirsty Weeks – This is an online recording – 15 Minutes
- Fundamental Skills Task - You will be asked to undertake a fundamental skills comprehension task.
This task is designed to identify your support needs in literacy and numeracy. You will be given 45 minutes to return your response to the task via email
Interview day
Storybook Activity (15 mins)
Your presentation will include:
- A rationale for your choice of storybook
- Reading a section of the text for 2-3 minutes as though you are reading to a class of children
- Sharing questions that you might ask the children in response to reading the story to generate a class discussion
- Identifying potential links to the wider curriculum (i.e. how does this text relate to science, history etc?)
You are allowed to work from notes during this presentation. As you are having an online interview, you are welcome to use a PowerPoint presentation.
Individual Interview (45mins)
- Ensure you have one form of photographic ID with you on the interview day as this will need to be verified at interview
- You will have time at the end of your interview to as questions
PGCE iQTS (International QTS) Secondary (Online interview)
After your application form has been considered, you may be invited to an online interview the University.
The Online Interview will include:
Pre interview (You are invited to attend at 10am (UK time) on the Tuesday before your Interview Day)
- You will be invited to join the Blackboard Collaborate room via the link in your interview selection confirmation email.
This will allow for:
- Pre Interview Technology Check and explanation of Blackboard – 10 minutes
- Overview of programme entry requirements - Reminders about attested certificates and safeguarding checks
- You will be sent via email
- Welcome presentation from the iQTS course leader, Kirsty Weeks – This is an online recording – 15 Minutes
- Fundamental Skills Task - You will be asked to undertake a fundamental skills comprehension task.
This task is designed to identify your support needs in literacy and numeracy.
You will be given 45 minutes to return your response to the task via email
Interview day
- A Pre-Prepared Mini LessonLink opens in a new window (5-10mins)
- For your online interview you may prepare a powerpoint presentation.
Individual Interview (45mins)
- Ensure you have one form of photographic ID with you on the interview day as this will need to be verified at interview
- You will have time at the end of your interview to as questions