sample interview experiences and questions

PGCE Primary Education

2014_15

Wednesday 18th February 2015

TE0730 Reflective Professional Studies

Employment 101- from trainee to teacher

Where to look

Placement School Local Authority Listings TES Indeed Supply Agencies It’s who you know!

Making Informed Choices

Be wary of getting a job that you don’t really want!

Know what and where you’re looking for.

TES

Application Form

Covering Letter Letter of Application (Supporting

Letter / Personal Statement)

Visiting the School

Speculative Visits – Pre Application

Post application candidate visit

Questions

Can you tell me the most recent developments in the primary phase of the National Curriculum?

Disclaimer

All of the questions that follow have been drawn from the real interview experiences of students who have completed the programme in the last 3 years. Please remember that every school is different and every Governing Body wants to find the best person for their own school.

There is no right answer to these questions, but awareness of the sorts of things that are asked can only help.

Sample Interview Experience (1)

Tasks:

Speed Questions: Quick questions to answer with first thing that came into your head.

1. What is the next book you want to read?2. What is the best holiday you can remember?3. What animal do you see yourself as?4. What do you think about cats?

Diamond 9 task: We were given 9 statements to rank in the order of importance together within our small group, concerned with the qualities of a good teacher. Sense of humour, passionate about making a difference, well organised and systematic, caring and approachable, creative, imaginative and flexible, good communicator are examples that were used.

Once we had agreed on the order, we then had to justify why we had chosen these in the order they were, and why in the context of this school.

Reading task: We were taken to a year one class and told to share a story at a table with a group of five children each.

Object task: We each brought in an object that reminded us of something that we were very proud of, and talked to our whole group, the head and the deputy head about it.

Writing Task: Write two paragraphs about how you would establish effective classroom routines and expectations in order to ensure good behaviour.

Child-led interview: We talked with a group of children and then they had to tell the teachers what they had learned about us and we had to tell them what we had learned about the children.

Then lunch then sent home...

“I didn't get through to the formal interview, although I feel formal interviews are my forte I'm not disappointed, the school wasn't the

best fit for me, and two people who work there already went through to the next round. 15 of us beat over 300 applicants to get an

interview.”

Sample Interview Experience (2)

First I had to do a 30 minute lesson on Mathematics, and was observed by the senior leadership team. My brief was; 22 children, mixed year 1/2 class, ranging from p scales to level 2, 1:1 autistic child.

I had 10 minutes to set up my classroom and wasn't given an objective for the lesson. I rang up and asked the prior learning of the children so that I could understand what they already knew - the headteacher was helpful and told me that they knew their basic number skills and had just finished the topic of money.

After the lesson observation I then got through to the final interview. I got given the questions 10 mins prior to the interview (The lesson was graded as outstanding).

Ten Tips for Interview Lessons How long is the lesson? How many children? Year group and subject focus? Using names – stickers Lesson Objective/Success Criteria – Print + Laminate + Blu Tak Plenary – be explicit about what they have just learnt – P L B Resources – Photo Packs / Flash Cards / Key Words  Paired Activity – Creates discussion opportunities and keep all children actively involved Smile Dress appropriately

1. Why did you choose to apply to (the school) and what skills could you bring to the school?

2. In terms of assessment, what strategies would you use if you: A- noticed a child not progressing in a lessonB- noticed a child not progressing over a period of time

3. What is you favourite subject to teach and why?

4. What is your least favourite subject to teach and why?

5. Have you come across children with an IEP?

6. What do you think about parental engagement?

7. What behaviour strategies have you implemented within your teaching style and why has it worked/not worked?

8. Could you give a critical reflection on your lesson you taught this morning?

9. Could you now present your portfolio of evidence (Standards)?

Things to Consider

Contact with the school – how have they asked you to contact them?

Arranging a visit to the school? Asking questions Reviewing the school website Reviewing the school’s Ofsted report Proof-reading your application Preparing for interview Breathe…

Across the next few slides are a series of sample questions that have been shared with the team at Northumbria by students past and present.

They are drawn from a series of school interviews across the Partnership as well as questions that have been asked during the Durham Pool interviews.

Questions

Tell us about what has brought you here today – quick life summary!

3 words to describe you and 3 words to describe your teaching, 3 words to describe our school

How do you develop positive learning behaviours with the children in your class?

Questions

What do you consider your strengths in subject teaching?

What are your areas for development?

How would you ensure children learn to read?

Questions

Identify your strengths in terms of a subject specialism, providing examples from your previous teaching experience.

If you were in school for an Ofsted inspection, what would you be most worried about?

Questions

What do you understand by assessment for learning?

What do you by assessment of learning?

What is your experience of assessing children’s English and mathematics work?

Questions

How do you know if the children in your class are not making good enough progress?   

  Tell us about a lesson that you planned

that resulted in high quality writing from children?

Questions

Tell us about a difficult team situation that you were in and how you dealt with it?  

What is the best training or development you have ever had?

What do you know about Pupil Premium and how it is used to benefit children’s learning?

Questions

How do you ensure children in your class are kept safe?

Can you identify behavioural strategies that you have used in your class that has supported your class teaching?

Questions

What do you do when a usually disruptive child vomits in class and the rest of the class think this is hilarious?

What is your view on collective worship?

Your head thinks competitive sport damages self esteem. What is your view?

What are they looking at?

Confidence Personality Body Language Your face!

Interview Performance