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Anyone had a PGCE interview at Cambridge?

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did you find out in your offer letter you had Homerton then? I'm already a member of the University which makes it even harder for me to get a room in a college as I have lived in halls for 3 years. But I might try phoning Hughes and see if I can get a room. Do you mean you do get Room Priority at Hughes? I would like to be at Hughes due to it being around the corner from my swimming baths and mill road- where my favourite organic food/health shop is. But then again Homerton is home, so its so confusing !

No I was sent a letter from Homerton directly. I'm now a member of Hughes Hall but still waiting on their letter! This is a pain because it's completely delaying the accommodation process. Worried the PGCE rooms will have filled up by the time they finally send me the letter. Arghh.
So considering you're already a member, do you have any idea on how the accommodation at college works then? Is it first come first served or...?

Reply 41

Avahne

Original post by Aimee-Lou_

Fab news well done! I wonder if we where at the same interview? 1 Dec, 2 o'clock start? Im specialising in Biology! I'm really looking forward to starting, I do have one worry though,, Accomodation!! Apparently we can be posted in schools as far as Essex so I'm slightly worried as to how that works with accomodation, travelling and getting back to the Uni xx

I was actually at the one on 30th November at 2pm, so only a day before! I heard from someone at the Faculty today, apparently they are posting letters to us which were intended to arrive before xmas but might be stuck in the post. For me, the conditions are just admin type things - health questionnaire, CRB check etc, so nothing to worry about :smile:

I know what you mean about accommodation...like Claricles says I suppose, best to ry and not think too much about it until we find out about our placements. A lot of people at my interview seemed to have better reasons than me for staying near Cambridge. I guess the Faculty have picked the schools because they are good for PGCE students though, so even if we have to relocate for our second placement, hopefully it will be worth it!

The only downside now is that September seems so far away!

Reply 42

baie

Original post by Affectation

well how it works for undergrads is you automatically get 3 years accom in halls. in post grad its masters and phds are guaranteed. PGCE they give them out to special conditions firsts, like if you have illness or anything ... i don't think it will be first come first served, because we have got longer to find houses! I met someone who has been put in hughs and wants to go to homerton... maybe do a swap? x

Reply 43

BeeKeeBo

Had my PGCE interview last week - hoping to do secondary in Biology, and live in Homerton - just waiting for a reply now! Feeling quite nervous! Anyone else doing Biology? :smile:

Reply 44

gingerbreadman85

Original post by Affectation

Hughes you have a pretty good chance, did my PGCE there a few years back and i didn't even apply till Feb ish and still got a room. Hughes is really well placed for the city, easy walk to most of the pubs. Homerton is a good 20min walk away, but you'll find lots of people walk in together, plus most of your time is spent on placement.

Original post by BeeKeeBo

Had my PGCE interview last week - hoping to do secondary in Biology, and live in Homerton - just waiting for a reply now! Feeling quite nervous! Anyone else doing Biology? :smile:

Good luck. Mark Winterbottom (lead Bio guy) is a total legend. It's a really good course!

Reply 45

BeeKeeBo

Original post by gingerbreadman85

Good luck. Mark Winterbottom (lead Bio guy) is a total legend. It's a really good course!

Thank you

Had my interview with him, he definatley seemed like a legend! Have you already done this course?

Reply 46

gingerbreadman85

Yeah, did Science - Chemistry 2 years back now. Good times. Now working in one of the partnership schools (we've got 3 Cambridge Science PGCEs joining us next term).

It's a hard year, then the NQT year is harder. Really rewarding though.

Reply 47

Rachel-88

I've got my interview for Early Years coming up in just over a week so been doing some prep for it. Don't suppose anyone can give me any advice on whether we need to have a look at current issues in education? Seems like an obvious thing to do but it wasn't on my letter and I'm unsure where to start with researching it! Any guidance would be much appeciated :smile:

Reply 48

BeeKeeBo

Original post by Rachel-88

I don't know whether it'll come up in yours, but at the beginning of my interview they discussed with the group about the White Paper that just came out - it was released in about November, think you can find it on the bbc news website; it's basically about giving teachers more powers in the classroom. I just read the summary but it was enough to give me something to talk about. That's all really - other than have a good answer for why you want to do your PGCE at Cambs :smile:

Reply 49

Rachel-88

Original post by BeeKeeBo

Ahh thank you! :smile:

I've been having a look at that so it's good to know I'm on the right track. Was your interview for Early Years as well? Did you get an offer?

Reply 50

BeeKeeBo

Original post by Rachel-88

Ahh thank you! :smile:

I've been having a look at that so it's good to know I'm on the right track. Was your interview for Early Years as well? Did you get an offer?

No I did secondary, but I imagine the paper may come up because it applies to all teachers :smile:

Not yet, had my interview just before christmas, so won't get an reply til about next week! When's your interview?

Reply 51

Affectation

Original post by gingerbreadman85

Ah thanks that's reassuring :-) Still haven't had their letter. Will give them a ring after new year.

Reply 52

golden_bough

Original post by Rachel-88

I had an interview for secondary a few weeks ago and didn't get asked anything about it! I think you should research it anyway - even if you don't get directly asked about it you can weave it into one of your answers to make you sound knowledgeable!

Reply 53

xhelen1989x

Original post by baie

Just to let you know its definately first come first served at Homerton. This year there were 150 PGCE students who applied for accomodation and it was the first 20 who sent in their application forms who got rooms there. They don't go on anything else at all so you have to be quick quick quick! I sent mine off the next day and I wasnt quick enough lol.

Oh and Hughes Hall is guaranteed for accomodation apparantly...my friend said she only applied there cos it was guranteed accomodation which I did not know at the time lol.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 54

gingerbreadman85

Original post by xhelen1989x

Oh and Hughes Hall is guaranteed for accomodation apparantly...my friend said she only applied there cos it was guranteed accomodation which I did not know at the time lol.

Yeah, virtually guaranteed. They have a LOT more accommodation for PGCEs than Homerton. We virtually had the run of the main building, with a few PhDs thrown in for good measure.

Nice place. Kitchens are a little cramped, and god help you if you get stuck in my old room (i had bigger rooms in central london!). Good social atmosphere though, i'm still in touch with most of my old floor-mates and am best mates with the fellow science PGCE from next door.

Reply 55

Rachel-88

Original post by BeeKeeBo

No I did secondary, but I imagine the paper may come up because it applies to all teachers :smile:

Not yet, had my interview just before christmas, so won't get an reply til about next week! When's your interview?

I hope it does! Ahh, hope you get a reply soon :smile:

.
My interview is on Friday, eek!

Original post by golden_bough

Ahh maybe they vary what they ask then! Did you have to bring in any educational issues at all?

Reply 56

golden_bough

Original post by Rachel-88

I hope it does! Ahh, hope you get a reply soon :smile:

.
My interview is on Friday, eek!

Ahh maybe they vary what they ask then! Did you have to bring in any educational issues at all?

Nope, nothing - I was actually quite annoyed because I'd spent ages studying stuff! Haha. They asked me why I wanted to teach, whether I preferred teaching able or SEN pupils and something else which I can't remember but it wasn't related to educational issues. But I think in these situations it's always better to be prepared, so do a bit of research just in case, and good luck!

Reply 57

Rachel-88

Original post by golden_bough

Ahh how annoying! Still, at least it was a question on something where you'd have a preference rather than what you think of an issue. I assumed the group activity would be something like a discussion on educational issues but I suppose it could be something entirely different. The individual interview I guessed would be my reasons for teaching and relevance of my degree or something. Guess I'll find out soon! Just worried I'm on the wrong track.
Thanks :smile:

good luck to you too with getting an offer!

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 58

velovelo

Original post by Rachel-88

good luck to you too with getting an offer!

Good luck with the interview on Friday Rachel I'm sure you will get in!

I have my interview for General Primary tomorrow! Quite excited now, its been such a long time coming I just want it to be here.

I'm going to be reading up on some educational issues and reading the paper that they sent us. So many questions they could ask us about it.