PGCE Secondary Interview

[Bab67]

I'm going back to work after 10 years bringing up DS and DD. Have an interview for a Secondary Maths PGCE this week. Can anyone give me any advice about what I can expect at the interview. I am SO nervous!!

Hiya

Have a really good answer as to why you want to enter the profession. Did you go into some schools to get experience? If so talk about it lots and know about STEM initiatives.

PM me if you want more advice specifically.

Good luck!!!

Thanks for coming back to me.Yes I have been volunteering in a secondary school and have also done some teaching in post compulsory education. I want to teach maths but I really don't know what to expect at the interview.l need to do a 5 minute microteach but I haven't been told what area of maths I will need to talk about- HELP!

My interview was 10 years ago mind..... !

I think what to do is try to have a very general plan, do you have any games or things on an interactive whiteboard that can be easily adapted?

All I've been told is that I have to do a 5 minute microteach and that no preparation is necessary!

Try to relax (easier said than done) it will not be to trick you. I had to write an essay on the day about how I would teach photosynthesis.

Best of luck- go get em!

Thank you! I cant't believe how difficult the interview process seems- 20 minute written paper, microteach, interview and a group discussion- and this is just for a PGCE place!
Are you a secondary teacher?

That sounds standard. I did English PGCE a few years ago and the interview was the same: 20 min exam, presentation, formal interview and lots of group stuff. Just remember that they are always watching you (but that hopefully they are looking for what qualities you'd bring to the profession rather than trying to catch you out)

I'm surprised you don't have to prepare anything for the 'microteach'. We had to prepare a presentation about how we would teach 'something' to Year 7.

Oh, don't say 'just' for a PGCE place. Depending on the subject and the uni those places are hard to come by! See the difficulties now as preparation for your PGCE year, teaching interviews and teaching itself!

Yes, secondary.

Good advice from Jenga there too.

I had forgotten about all the group stuff, we had lots of that as well as the essay and interview itself.

did they give you a year grou - that would surely help?

(group)

What is the written paper on. Is it testing the subject knowledge or something else?

At mine it was an article about education and then our response to it. I don't know if that was 'normal' or a way to check our written English as I was applying to become an English teacher.

Thanks jenga.

Am HoD (maths) and have been involved with pgce interviews; show why you want to teach, and be 'child centered' think every child matters.
Also, really break down the maths concepts that they will ask you to teach- we usually give them area of a rectangle, or fraction addition to do, and some students don't think about the really basic concept. e.g. for area that it is the space inside a 2d shape, and that this is something that needs to be explained in an interesting way. I know that for secondary pupils they will have covered this, but the interview will be testing how you break down concepts and make them accessible.

Good luck.