University College Plymouth St Mark & St John

Recommended preparation for interview

In order to prepare for the interview all applicants are asked to:

1. access/read the National Curriculum on the QCA National Curriculum website www.qca.org.uk  
2. access/read the Early Years Foundation Stage at www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-00261-2008 , as well as the National Curriculum for KS1 only at  http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-1-and-2/  
3. prepare a task relating to the group interview (enclosed with your invitation letter)
4. request verification of your classroom experience from the school on headed paper to present at interview

Structure of the interview day 

Please click here for the structure of the interview day.

Areas focused upon in interview

• Professional Attributes
  This includes high expectations and commitment to realising and raising pupil potential; professional behaviour; facility for collaboration, reflection and innovation.
• Professional Knowledge and Understanding
  This includes subject knowledge as defined with your degree/academic qualification, but also the curriculum context of the subject – i.e. what and how it is taught in schools.
• Professional skills in relation to teaching and learning
  This includes your reflections from your own observation/experience of teaching/learning.  All applicants are expected to have had some experience/observation in a primary school.

You will be assessed upon the following elements:

• Subject knowledge per se - The essential knowledge and understanding needed in order to teach a subject effectively
• Pedagogy: subject theory and practice - An understanding of the teaching skills and strategies needed to teach all pupils effectively
• Pupils' development - An understanding of how learning is linked to pupils' development and their social, religious, etnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds and contexts
• Attitudes - Positive attitudes to pupils' learning that underpin subject knowledge, skills and understanding

(For more information, go to www.tda.gov.uk )