Interview Days - Primary PGCE

What to expect

This information is for prospective applicants. As part of the PGCE application process, you'll take part in an interview day. These focus on the knowledge and skills that are essential to succeed as a trainee teacher.

Recruitment to the course is robust. It is designed to identify candidates who are resilient and who can thrive on our programme. Candidates invited to attend an interview will receive an allocated interview slot. 

The interview will explore the interviewee’s potential and previous knowledge, skills or experience that is beneficial to the candidate’s role as a trainee teacher. There will also be an opportunity for candidates to ask any questions they may have to the course team. 

On the interview day, you will take part in the following assessed activities:

• interactive Presentation, prepared in advance
• interview questions relating to the teaching profession and contemporary issues
• written task to demonstrate your comprehension and communication skills

We will welcome you for an in-person interview at Newcastle University. Under exceptional circumstances, such as for those living overseas, candidates may request an online interview and selection process.

We’ll provide you with your individual time slots for each activity on the day. Your assessors will include staff from Newcastle University, plus staff from local partnership schools.

You can find more information about the items you should bring on the day, below. Your invite to interview email will provide you with further details including the date, time and location of your interview day. See our campus map for directions.

 

What to bring on the day

Please bring originals of the following documentation:

• passport and/or driving licence
• birth certificate
• degree certificate (if you have already graduated)
• GCSE certificates or equivalent for English Language, Maths and Science
• any change of name documents (for example, marriage certificate, change of name deed)

You'll also need to bring the resources for your Interactive Presentation (further information on this will be provided to candidates at the point they are invited to interview).

 

Assessment criteria

Decisions following the Interview Day are reached through consultation between partnership school and university colleagues. They are based on:

• your application
• your references
• your performance throughout the Interview Day

We'll use the following criteria:

• written and oral communication skills
• pedagogical and subject knowledge
• understanding of education (especially current issues within education and the demands of teaching in primary schools)
• reflection on experience
• quality of thinking
• personal attributes and skills

 

MERIT scheme

The Minority Ethnic Recruitment into Teaching (MERIT) scheme offers support to Black or Minority Ethnic (BAME) students aspiring to train as a teacher in the North East.

For further details and contact information, visit the MERIT scheme website.

 

Next steps

You’ll be informed of the outcome of your Interview Day via DfE. You’ll also receive an email from the University. You'll usually be notified of the decision within a few days of your Interview Day.

In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about our course, visit the Primary PGCE course page.