Well, thought this would come in helpful for all the 2006 applicants.
I have adopted this idea from the TES forum and decided to post my reply here as well.
This is my interview/application history for 2005:
I applied to (I was a late applicant in January 2005)
Kingston University: BA Primary Ed with Art&Drama - unsuccessful (was full already)
St.Marys Twickenham: BA Primary Education - withdrawn (they took a while until they decided to offer me an alternative place due to late application)
Middlesex: BA Primary Ed - unconditional offer
Greenwich: BA Primary Ed - unconditional offer
Roehampton: BA Primary Key Stage 1&2 with D&T - conditional offer
Goldsmiths: BA Education, Culture and Society - unconditional offer
Middlesex, BA Primary Education (no specialism available)
April 2005
We all assembled in a room, BA and PCGE applicants. Had our qualifications checked, then they split the group (undergrads and grads) and told us about the course and the foreseen changes on the course.
On to another room where one group had a math test, the other one the English test. Then we switched. The English test was a response to a text we were given beforehand, which was also discussed later on in the day. The Math section was easy enough, you could bring a calculator and they provided some as well. Just be sure you actually READ the questions (they make a point of saying that as well before you start the test). I think we had 20-30 min for each test.
We were then split into small groups of 7-8 people and walked over to another building with our interviewer. Nice enough lady.
There was no individual interview, so this group interview was very vital! It was split into three parts as far as I can recall.
Task 1: Discuss with your neighbour what you think makes a good teachers, etc. We were meant to really engage in this. Then we discussed the results in the group. The interviewer picked a person to start etc.
Task 2: Think about something you want to teach and how you want to teach it. We were given a pen and a transparency and had to work on this for about 20 min. Then we had to present it in front of the group.
Task 3: Discuss (in the group), the text you read for your english test.... We were left alone in this and the discussion went very well for over 15 min.
It is important that you show enthusiasm and smile.
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University of Greenwich, BA Primary Education with D&T
April 2005
The university sent an extract from the N.C. in the mail which we were meant to read carefully and they also asked us to prepare a very short presentation.
We were asked to come to the student office where our qualifications were checked. Then we all went to a lecture hall and took an English test (essay on your teaching experience or something...).
Someone talked about the course and we were given the chance to choose our specialism.
Then we were divided into groups of 5 people and left for the group interview.
We didn't have much time, as the tutor also had to interview all 5 of is individuallly, so he started with the presentations straight away. From 5 people only 3 really prepared one (I was a lucky one who did), but we all managed somehow. We also discussed the presentations briefly.
After everyone was done, he interviewed us seperately. My individual interview was very pleasant. I just talked about my previous experience, why I want to continue the course in the UK and not in Germany and he then asked me what I think about foreign language learning in Primary School (my presentation topic) and why I think equal opportunities are important.
That was it.
The next part of the day was a campus tour and accommodation tour.
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Roehampton University, BA Primary Education with D&T
May 2005 on the phone
OK, so this is a bit unusual, but I thought I'd include it anyway.
I was interviewed on the phone after I submitted my English test to them. I had to take the test, which was really just correcting a child's work, under supervision at a local school.
The D&T tutor called me and asked me a few general questions, about my experience, about D&T and I also had quite a few questions for him.
Asking questinons and responding to questions in an elaborate way shows you are interested.
Anyway, that was that, the interview was fairly short, he just wanted to make sure my English is good and I know enough about the N.C.
He offered me a place right then and there.
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Goldsmiths College, University of London, BA Education, Culture and Society
NON TEACHING
May 2005
This is a bit unusual, too, as it was a phone interview as well. We just had a nice chat and he asked me a lot of questions about education, my views, etc.
I decided to go for this course in the end for several reasons.....