Uni Interviews- Primary education

On Monday I sent off my personal statement and so far I've been invited for two interviews, to study primary education (with qts). This will be my first interview (ever), so does anybody have any advice for interviews and in particular for primary education courses? What sort of questions will I be asked? What should I wear?
Thank you

Hello .

I can help you out a little as I study a BEd in Post Primary.
Basically all interviews for initial teacher education, whether it be primary or post primary, use round about the same questions as they are interviewing you on why you want to be a teacher generally.
First off dress smart, but not bland. Wear some colour. NO JEANS OR DENIM of any kind.
My best piece of advice would be to prepare well before hand and get someone to do a mock interview with you, trust me it helps a lot!

The questions are a difficult one as they change every year and even change interview to interview. However, its always good to be prepared and have a good answer prepared for the generic questions such as; why do you what to be a teacher?; What qualities should a good teacher have?; Why you want to study at the certain university; Why you have chosen primary. I also had questions on the advantages and disadvantages of foreign students coming into UK schools, what advantages would a teaching placement abroad have for both your study of education and your future career.

Lastly, they will almost certainly ask if YOU have any questions at the end of the interview. ALWAYS HAVE ONE!

Hope this helped a little, and Good Luck in your interviews, I know how nerve wrecking it can be!

I'm looking to study the same course as you! I haven't sent off my UCAS yet - i'm a little bit scared!
I've only ever had 1 interview before and that was only for my part time job which is nothing like teaching. I've heard that some uni's require a portfolio with evidence of classroom experience and you do some group tasks as well as your individual interview. Safe to say, I'm bricking it!

(PS, Good Luck )

Thank you, that's great!

I went outfit shopping today and I'm going with a smart looking, plum coloured dress from dorothy perkins, a black blazer and tights! My first interview is wednesday and I have to do a 2 minute presentation on something I have done during my work experience and then have a written exam and individual interview. I will practise answering the questions you suggested What sort of questions would you recommend I ask? And where are you studying? I am really nervous!

Thank you

I had my interview at Winchester a couple of weeks ago (and got in EEK) The book thing is a group presentation and you have to find something that links all the books, and talk about that and then the books individually. I chose a book by a local author called 'Finding Dotty (In the bag that thinks its a potting shed)' Shop around and try to find something that links well to the new curriculum in various subjects and read your book lots before you go so you can think of fun ways to teach it. Also try not to pick something too overused like The Very Hungry Caterpillar or We're Going On A Bear Hunt, although these books are amazing for learning they will have seen them before a lot of times and both were brought by people in my interview, one girl also brought a book she knew that Winchester used as a go to for second year students and she got in as well so you could always look at that for ideas. TBH it doesn't really matter what book you choose but the ways you can make it a great book by your enthusiasm and ideas for learning with it.

Hope this helped and wasn't gibberish.

Good Luck

I have two interviews for Primary Ed so far at Worcester (next week eek!) and Winchester. I've been preparing a lot but still need to buy my outfit!

Slightly worried about Winchester as you have to bring a children's book that you could use as a starting point for learning in the classroom and I don't really know what to bring! Any help, especially from those who have been through the Winchester process or are in the same boat as me, as to what I could bring would be fab

As for questions, I know for Worcester that I'm going to ask about subject specialisms!

I have one at Derby on Wednesday too! Do you know what object you're bringing?

I wasn't told to take an object! What was it for?

My interview was at University of Bedfordshire, and it went like:
*First we were given a tour of the campus etc.
*Then we were given tests in Literacy and Numeracy.
*Next were the interviews themselves:
-we were split into groups, and had one of the course tutors and a headteacher from a local school overseeing us. We took it in turns to do a presentation about any item, and explain how we would use it to stimulate learning, i.e. how we would build a lesson around it, how that would link to the curriculum
-after this were our one-to-ones, where we were interviewed by either the tutor or the head. They ask what you know about current issues in education, your experience working with children, and why you want to be a teacher.

Hope this help

I have an interview at Bedford on Wednesday, how did you find it?


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