Schools Direct Applicants 2016

Hello giz, I'm also going for secondary though in computer science not maths.

I have had my interviews already and accepted an offer, now just waiting on the university interview date. I loved the short lesson how long is yours? Mine was 30mins which at the request of the teacher observing me, I ended up doing the entire 50min lesson. It was also the same place I got the offer I accepted.

I have taught a number of lessons already both in interviews, work experience and also at college. Pretty simply put a lesson is a presentation, so break it down into 3 simple steps:
1. Introduction and what is the learning outcome (what they will learn about)
2. Main section involving a number of different tasks or activitys to teach the area you need to teach
3.A plenary and return to the learning outcomes.

Remember it is more about your character than your teaching experience, they are looking at training you to become a teacher not recruiting you to be a new staff member to fill a position.
Probably the biggest piece of advise I can give is enjoy yourself and show your enthusiasm for the subject.
In my interview lesson I was getting the students to have fun and laugh while working on some of the boring parts of computer science, I even ended up getting the observing teacher involved who later turned out to be the deputy head.


Think about the resources you are going to need, are you going to get the students to do group or individual tasks, are these going to be practical or paperbased in nature?

Also google school experience programme, because you are doing maths which is a priority subject they will assign you an advisor who will be able to help you out.

I think that is enough for now and I hope it helps you out.

Yeah the interview process was a pain for me, thankfully their was alot of practical elements which allowed me to excel.

During both my work experience and interviews the common occurance of the lack of trained computer science teachers is evident, especially with the change in the ICT to Computing curriculum. Alot of the teachers lacked alot of experience with programming languages. This is understandable because its new to the curriculum.

One suggestion, when you have your interviews which I believe you will get. When they ask you a question pause and take a breath before answering, this shows that you are taking time to respond but also allows you time to understand and respond in a calm manner.
I can talk to anyone even complete strangers but 1 to 1 face to face interviews especially with the weight of importance on top even I have trouble.

I had 2 days before my interviews but am now working as a TA until my course starts. So I will have about 6 months exp. It does help if you can get a few weeks solid exp. Im in my 4th week and have started taking some lessons and doing lots of 1-2-1s with SEN and EAL children.

Well some good news in today, I finally got my University interview for the 11th of Feb, though to say I am nervous is an understatement. I need to pass it to have my conditional school direct offer become an unconditional offer. So a big weight of importance lingers over the result of the interview.

Has anybody else doing a school direct course done their uni interview?

For those of you applying for Primary PGCE via the School Direct route, how much school experience did you have, did you work as a TA beforehand? I've been offered (and accepted) a place and just a bit concerned I'll be disadvantaged by not having worked as a TA. I have about six weeks of experience in school and will have about another three weeks before September.

Is anyone else dreading the long wait between now and when you start in end of august/start of september?

Well some good news in today, I finally got my University interview for the 11th of Feb, though to say I am nervous is an understatement. I need to pass it to have my conditional school direct offer become an unconditional offer. So a big weight of importance lingers over the result of the interview.

Has anybody else doing a school direct course done their uni interview?

Yes! I work full time in a completely unrelated field and I'm so excited to get started now. 7 months feels a long time! On the other hand it's nice to have so long to save money, do some background reading and preparation, have a final relaxing summer...

For those of you applying for Primary PGCE via the School Direct route, how much school experience did you have, did you work as a TA beforehand? I've been offered (and accepted) a place and just a bit concerned I'll be disadvantaged by not having worked as a TA. I have about six weeks of experience in school and will have about another three weeks before September.

Hi, just introducing myself...I've only just applied (still waiting on references). I had planned to apply for sep 2017 but circumstances have changed meaning i can try for this year.

I'm applying for secondary maths. It feels that a lot of people are applying for primary. I'd love to hear from people who have had secondary interviews/had to prepare for a short lesson.