1 Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance

PGCE (Primary) Interview

Guide

2 Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance

Congratulations, you’ve made it through the first part of the PGCE Primary selection process and have been invited to attend the next stage of the selection process.

This guide will help you with all of the information you’ll need to know and some practical advice to help you do the best you possibly can on the day itself. Please refer to the letter you received for your date and time slot.

We look forward to meeting you and in some cases, starting a relationship with you that’ll see you through to qualified teacher status and far beyond.

Una Coyne, PGCE Primary Admissions Tutor

About the Department• There’s a whole world outside the classroom

• Educational Studies isn’t just about teaching and learning. At Goldsmiths it’s exploratory and expansive. We see education as a window on which to view the world, and as something with the power to define who we are and how we live.

• As a department we’re interested in seeing what education can tell us about the social, political and economic forces of our times and what these forces mean for the everyday lives of individuals and groups at different levels of society. It’s why our research delves into areas including culture and identity, gender, multilingualism, and youth cultures, and why we maintain a commitment to social justice and inclusion.

• We have a strong pedigree in teaching practice – we’ve been training teachers since 1904 – and have gained recognition from Ofsted for our ‘outstanding contribution’ to widening participation in Initial Teacher Education. This means that as a student here you have the chance to start or continue your studies into primary and secondary teaching including PGCE through a range of routes.

• At Goldsmiths we encourage you to be reflective in your learning so you can explore education not just from afar but in relation to your own experience. So you’ll be able to take part in the kinds of conversations that inform group learning – you may even be looking at research that’s affected your own life. And we also draw on our strength within the visual arts, embedding creative strands through many of our courses.

Why choose Educational Studies at Goldsmiths?• We’re interactive. And we never stop learning from each other. Come and inform our teaching and

practice by drawing on your own experience and learn from many different perspectives in small class seminars and discussions. Visiting guest speakers range from Grayson Perry to Shami Chakrabarti.

• We’re inclusive. It’s the diversity of our community that makes us distinctive. Whatever your background or educational experience we make sure you gain the support you need through an approachable team of expert staff so you’ll never feel like you’re just a number.

• We’re engaged. Our connections with schools and communities both locally and globally give you the opportunity to see how educational policy and practice play out in different settings – as part of the BA Education, Culture & Society you have the chance to study for a term in China or Luxembourg.

At Goldsmiths you can:• Get involved in a lively programme of research seminars and contribute your own work

• Learn from academics who are leading the field and focusing on areas including social justice and identity and the arts and learning

• Access resources within our on-site research centres including the Centre for the Arts and Learning, the Centre for Identities and Social Justice, and the Centre for Language, Culture and Learning.

Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance 3

Area What we are looking for

Interpersonal skills and communication

•Ideasareverywelldevelopedandarticulatedwithconfidenceandfluency

•WrittenEnglishiscorrectandshowscogencywithnoerrors

•Communicationinallcontexts(groupandindividual)isappropriate,balancedandshowsaclearappreciationofothers

Leadership and passion

•Clearleadershipofthegroupindiscussiontask–abletoarticulatepersonalviewswhilstelicitingtheviewofothergroupmembers

•Clearevidenceofexperienceofleadership

Support and respect •Averyclearunderstandingofthesupportthatwillbeneededtoensureprogresswillbemade

•Interactionwiththegroupandinterviewerishighlyappropriateandparticipationevenwhennotleadingisrelevantandverysensitivetotheopinionsandneedsofothers

Resilience and adaptability

•Clearunderstandingofresiliencyandhowitrelatestoteachingand/orpriorexperiencesthatindicateyouhavethecapacitytomanagetheunavoidableuncertaintiesinherentintherealitiesofthePGCEprogrammeandteaching

•ClearunderstandingofwhatwillneedtobedonetoprepareforthePGCEprogramme

Self-organisation and proficiency

•Evidenceofahighlyorganisedandwellpreparedapproach

•Pre-interviewtaskswellresearched

•Averyclearunderstandingofteachingandlearningdrawingonarangeoftheoryandpractice(asappropriate)

Guidance

The purpose of this booklet is to guide you through the interview process at Goldsmiths, University of London. Please read it carefully, as it includes details of the preparations you’ll need to undertake.

Theinterviewformsanimportantpartofourselectionprocessanditspurposeistoassessbothyourabilitytocommunicateeffectivelyandyouracademicandpersonalsuitabilitytoteach.Youshouldalsobepreparedtodiscussanyrelevantexperienceyouhavegained.

The areas that we’ll be particularly looking for are:

Your interview invitation

Assoonasyouhavereceivedaninvitationtoattendaninterview,contacttheISOTeam,emailiso-admissions@gold.ac.uk,toconfirmyourattendance.Duetothehugepopularityofyourchosenprogramme,weregretthatweareusuallyunabletorescheduleinterviews,sowedohopethatyouwillbeabletojoinusonthisdate.

Goldsmithsiscommittedtoequalityofopportunityandthereforeifyourequireanyadjustmentstoenableyoutoparticipatefullyintheinterview,orifyoufeelhealthordisabilitymayhaveaffectedyourabilitytomeetourentrancerequirements,pleasecontactourDisabilityCoordinator(disability@gold.ac.ukor02077172292).Thecoordinatorwillensureanyrequiredsupportisavailableforyouattheinterview,andduringstudyshouldyousubsequentlybemadeanoffer.PleaseensurethatyoubringwithyouproofofyourdisabilityandshowthistotheAdmissionsTutorwhowillbeleadingthesession.

4 Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance

Advance preparation for the day

Ensurethatyou’reuptodatewithcurrenteducationalissues.Youcandothisby:

• Reading the Education Guardian www.guardian.co.uk/education

• Reading the TES info.tes.co.uk

• Accessing the BBC Education website www.bbc.co.uk/news/education

• Blogs that may be of interest to you include: www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk cnes4education.wordpress.com michaelrosenblog.blogspot.co.uk

Thesesuggestionsarebynomeanscomprehensive,buttheytakedifferentviewpointsoneducationandwillencourageyoutoviewissuesfromdifferingperspectives.

Whenyou’rebeinginterviewedtheinterviewerswon’tbelookingtoseeifyouexpressviewswithwhichtheyagree,ratherthattheviewsyouexpressarewellconsideredandreasoned.

Preparation for the phonics check

Duringtheinterviewprocessthesewillbeachecktoassessyourknowledgeofsystematicsyntheticphonics.Youmaywishtoreviseyourknowledgeofthesepriortointerview.

Ausefulfilmtoassistyouisatwww.youtube.com/watch?v=8v7Yl4phJcgor http://youtu.be/8v7Yl4phJcg [shortenedlink]

Preparation for the mathematics check

Aswiththephonicscheckabove,duringtheinterviewprocesstherewillbeachecktoassessyourknowledgeinallareasofmathematics.

Ausefulwebsitetohelpyoureviseforthisiswww.primaryresources.co.uk/maths/mathsB3.htm

Alternatively,thiscoursebookwouldbeextremelyusefulinupdatingyoursubjectknowledge:

Mathematics Explained for Primary Teachers (2010, 4th Edn.) by Haylock, D.

Preparation for the written task

Aspartoftheinterviewprocessyouwillberequiredtoundertakeapieceofwriting.Guidanceaboutthesubjectofthispieceofworkwillbegivenontheday.

However,itshouldbepointedoutthataswellasassessingthequalityofyourwriting,thistaskwillbeusedtoassessyourhandwriting,grammarandspelling.

Preparation for the discussion task

Duringtheinterviewprocessyou’llberequiredtodiscussanarticleasamemberofsmallgroupandyouneedtopreparethisbeforehand.

Thefullarticleisavailableat

www.tlrp.org/pub/documents/Principles in Practice Low Res.pdf or http://bit.ly/1fpDozc [shortenedlink] andyouneedtoreadpages14-16inclusive,entitled‘What’stheevidence?’.

Thearticleisdividedinto10sectionsandyoumustpreparetoleadagroupdiscussioninanyandalloftheseareas.

Leadingadiscussioninvolvesbothexpressingyourownviewandensuringthateveryoneelseisencouragedtoparticipatewithnosinglepersonallowedtodominate.

You’llthenbeaskedtoparticipateindiscussionsabouttheotherareas.

Candidateswillonlybepermittedtoselectwhichsectiontoleadonattheinterview,soyoushouldprepareforallareas.

Preparation

Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance 5

Five days’ school experience

Beforeyou’reacceptedontothecourseyou’llhavetocompleteaminimumoffivedaysofexperiencewithinyourchosenagerange.Youshouldprinttheformonpage9,asktheschooltocompleteitandstampitwiththeirofficialstamp.Ifyou’vecompletedthisbeforeyourinterviewpleasebringitwithyouontheday.

QTS Skills tests in literacy and numeracy

AllcandidateshavetopasswhatareknownastheQTS(QualifiedTeacherStatus)Skillstestsbeforeacceptanceontoanycoursetotraintobeateacher.

Informationaboutthesecanbefoundonthegovernmentwebsiteatwww.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/professional/b00211200/registrationor http://bit.ly/LdjJcC[shortenedlink]

PracticeQTSliteracytestswww.education.gov.uk/QTS/Literacy/assessment_engine.html

PracticeQTSnumeracytestswww.education.gov.uk/QTS/Numeracy/assessment_engine.html

TheGoldsmithsTeachersCentrerunssupportsessions,detailsofwhichareatwww.gold.ac.uk/educational-studies/teacherscentre/numeracytestsupport

School experience QTS Skills tests

6 Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance

On the day of the interview

The basics

•Planyourjourney–knowyourrouteandarriveearly

•Ifyou’renotifiedthatyourinterviewwilltakeplaceinthemorning,pleasearriveby8.25amforan8.30amstart.(PleasenotethattheEducationBuildinghasacardentrysystembutsomeonewillbetheretowelcomecandidatesfrom8am)

•Ifyouarenotifiedthatyourinterviewwilltakeplaceintheafternoon,pleasearriveby12.40pmfora12.45pmstart

•Makesurethatyouhaveanyrelevantcontactnumbersathandsothatyoucancallifyouareunavoidablydelayed.

PleasenotethatModernLanguagesinterviewsmaytakeplaceonthedayoratanarrangedtimeoverthephone.

Youwillbeinformedwhichmethodwillbeusedonthedayofyourinterview.

Important things to remember on the day

•YourCV

•Yourcompletedandstampedschoolexperienceform(ifcompleted)

•NotificationofpassingQTSskillstests(ifcompleted)

•OriginalsandphotocopiesofGCSE(orequivalent)gradeCoraboveinEnglishLanguage,MathematicsandScience

•Originalandaphotocopyofyourdegreecertificate(ifcompleted)

•Proofofdisabilityifrequestingadditionaltimeforthephonicscheck,mathematicscheckand/orwritingtask

•Passportsizedphotographwithyournameclearlyprintedontheback

•Ascheduleoftheinterviewprocesscanbefoundonthenextpage.

Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance 7

Approximate timings

What we are assessing

Activity

AM session PM session

8.30am 12.45pm Self-organisation Arrival and welcome

8.35am 12.50pm ProficiencySubjectknowledge

Phonics check (7minutes,or10minutesforthosewithregistereddisability)

8.45am 1pm ProficiencySubjectknowledge

Maths check (10minutes,or13minutesforthosewithregistereddisability)

9am 1.15pm Explanation of the PGCE courseAbriefintroductiontoGoldsmiths

9.25am 1.40pm InterpersonalskillsCommunicationSupport/RespectLeadershipSelf-organisation

Discussion activity

10.10am 2.25pm SubjectknowledgeCommunicationStandardEnglish

Writing test(30minutes,or40minutesforthosewitharegistereddisability)

10.45am 3pm ResiliencePassionCommunicationInterpersonalSkills

Short(15minutes)individualinterview

Variable timings Modern Languages interviews (Modern languages specialists only)5-minutetalkintargetlanguageaboutexperienceinanothercountryfollowedby5minutesofquestions(Thisinterviewmaytakeplaceinpersononthedayorsubsequentlyoverthetelephone)

Preparation Preparea5-minutetalkaboutanexperienceinanothercountryinyourtargetlanguage.LookatBBCBitesizeforGCSEpreparationtorevisevocabularyfordescribingvisitsandplacesabroad

8 Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance

Goldsmiths campus map

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Education Building

Loafers Café Open from 8.30am

Please note that the Education Building has a card entry system, but someone will be there to welcome candidates from 8am

Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance 9

Pre-programme 5-day School Experience Requirement Form

DearHeadTeacher

AllpotentialstudentsapplyingforthePrimaryPGCEprogrammeatGoldsmithsarerequiredtocompleteafive-daypre-programmeschoolplacement.Pleasecanyoukindlycompletethefollowingformtoaidusinourselectionprocess.

MarcusBhargava,HeadofInitialTeacherEducationGoldsmiths,UniversityofLondon,NewCross,LondonSE146NW

PotentialPGCEstudent’sname(print) Dateofbirth

GoldsmithsorUCASTeacherTrainingapplicationreferencenumber(print)

Pleasetickandcommentasappropriateonthefollowing

Department of Educational Studies – PGCE Primary

WouldyourecommendthispersonforaPrimaryPGCEProgramme?YES/NO

Wouldyoubewillingtoofferthispersonaplacementoncehe/sheisontheGoldsmithsPGCEprogramme?YES/NO

Signed(HeadTeacher) Date

Attributes Very good Good Satisfactory Weak Comments

Professionalconduct

Engagementwithpupils

Relationshipwithotheradults

Teachingskills

SchoolDetails

HeadTeacher SchoolOfficialStamp

ClassTeacher

SchoolContactDetails

Datesofattendance

10 Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance

AsanacademicandcreativeinstitutionGoldsmithsstandsout.Wechallenge.Wequestion.Wetransform.Andourdegreecoursesareanythingbutprescriptive.Everydaywe’reresearching,teaching,anddiscovering–butwecan’tdothisalone.Comewithaninquisitivemindandanopenheartandcreatethelearninglandscapeyouwanttosee.AtGoldsmithsyou’llneverbejustanumber.Takeyourfuturefurther.

About Goldsmiths, University of London

Who we are, where we are, what we do

• We blend academic rigour with creative insight Foundedin1891,andpartoftheUniversityofLondonsince1904,we’vearichacademichistorybutwe’realsoknownforourcreativeapproach.

• We are small but mighty Youwanttobepartofsomething–weareaclose-knitcommunitybutwecomefromeverycorneroftheworld.

• WearethepeoplebehindthebooksWe’reknownforourground-breakingresearchinareasasdiverseasinfantrecognitiontotheanthropologyofgamblingsoyou’llbetaughtbyanddebatewiththebestinthefield.

• We are at work in the world Youwanttogoplaces–wearethepeopleinsidetoday’sindustries.Fromdigitaljournalismtosocialworktocomputerprogramming,you’llbetaughtbyacademicswhoworkwithinthefieldbringingtheknowledgeofprofessionalpracticeintoeveryprogramme.

• We nurture individual talent AtGoldsmithsyoucanbewhoeverwhoyouwanttobe.Weallseethingsinourownwayandwethinkthatyouruniquetakeontheworldiswellworthpreserving.

• We champion the bold We’reagreatplacetomakeyourmark.OuralumnireflectGoldsmiths’brandofmagicacrosstheworldshapingthesocio-culturallandscapeonaglobalscale.

• We are part of South-East London We’rebasedonasingle-sitecampuswithinLondon’svibrantNewCrossneighbourhoodbutwe’realsojustminutesfromtheheartofthisgreatglobalcity,hometomajorculturallandmarksincludingtheNationalTheatreandTateModern.

• We put your future first With1,400studentscurrentlyaccessingworkplacementsandinterdisciplinaryprogrammesthatreflectandrespondtotoday’spractice,fromthemomentyoujoinuswe’llbehelpingyoushapeyourcareer

• We are a global community Withalmostaquarterofourstudentscomingfrom120countriesoutsidetheUK,you’llbejoiningadiverselearningcommunitysoyou’llneverbeshortofstimulatingconversation.

• We approach subjects differently Wetakeaninterdisciplinaryapproachtoallourdegreecourseswhichmeansyouwon’tfindoursubjectsprescriptiveandyouwon’tfindourteachingdulleither.

Goldsmiths | PGCE (Primary) Interview Guidance 11

Keep in touch

www.gold.ac.uk/educational-studies

www.facebook.com/GoldsmithsUoL

twitter.com/mygoldsmiths

www.youtube.com/GoldsmithsLondon

vimeo.com/goldsmiths

Goldsmiths, University of LondonNew CrossLondon SE14 6NWwww.gold.ac.uk

© 2014 All details were correct at the time of going to print. Please be aware that additions and amendments may need to be included through the course of the academic year.