BA (Hons) Primary Education

Transcription

1 Interview Day Information BA (Hons) Primary Education 2016 Entry School of Education 1

2 Dear Candidate, We are pleased that you have selected Roehampton as one of your possible universities at which to study Primary Education. We have identified you as a potentially good candidate for our degree programme and we hope that these notes will help you prepare for the interview and make the most of your day with us. It will be an opportunity for you and university staff together to judge whether our programme is the right one for you. We do our best to make you feel comfortable and relaxed and to give you the opportunity to find out all you want to know about us and our BA(Hons) Primary Education programme. We hope that you will find these notes useful, so do read them carefully as they will help you to prepare for the interview itself and for the sample of written English that is described later. You will also find a wealth of useful information on our Primary Education webpage: ( so do study the relevant pages prior to interview. We look forward to seeing you and good luck with your interview. Sincerely, Karin Doull Programme Convener BA Primary Education Anthony Barlow Y1 Assistant Programme Convener Liz Broad Head of Primary ITT 2

3 The Programme for the Interview Day The schedule for the day is outlined below: you will see that there are opportunities to learn more about the programme and the university, to meet with fellow candidates, and to view the campus with current students. You are welcome to bring one member of your family and/or a friend on the day and they are welcome to participate in everything except, of course, the sample of written English, the group task and the interview itself. Accompanying this booklet is an invite providing details of where and when you should arrive for registration. We operate a rolling programme of interviews, and it is important that you arrive on time. The table below provides an outline of what you can expect. All these elements are designed to allow us to get to know you, to decide whether our course will suit you, and whether you are demonstrating the requisite qualities to become an effective primary school teacher. A range of tutors will be involved in the process, giving you an opportunity to meet a number of members of staff. We recognise that you will be nervous, and we will endeavour to put you at your ease. A typical interview experience will look like this, although the order of activities may differ slightly depending on the time you have been invited for. Please expect to be at the university for 3.5 hours in total: Timing Activity 30 minutes Registration 30 minutes Campus Tour 30 minutes Written English task and spelling, punctuation and grammar test 20 minutes One-to-one interview 20 minutes Group task 30 minutes Course talk 3

4 Prior to Interview We ask you to complete a Non-Cognitive Assessment before you attend your interview. This helps us to get a better idea of who you are and your strengths. The assessment can be accessed by clicking here or by copying and pasting the URL : You will find it a bonus if you have had some recent experience in a primary school prior to your interview. If this has not been possible we hope that you have some plans in hand to arrange some. You will need to be sure that primary teaching is what you want to do. Professional Skills Tests in Literacy and Numeracy These need to be passed before you can register on any teacher education programme. We would advise you to study the samples on the NCTL website before you undertake the actual tests. You can find Literacy Skills tests practice material ( and Numeracy For further details about the Skills Tests please visit: We would hope that you have passed these prior to interview or at least by 1 st August It is important that you let us know when you have passed: we look forward to hearing of your success. It is possible that you may need more than one attempt at one or other of these. If this applies to you, we will offer you support if you have made us your Firm choice. Please note that some test centres become very busy and it can be difficult to secure a time to take your skills tests don t leave it until the last minute. In fact, the earlier in the year to book to take the tests, the better. 4

5 What will the Interview include? You will be interviewed by a member of staff who teaches on the Primary Education programme or a primary school teacher who works closely with us, sometimes as a visiting lecturer. All our interviewers have been teachers themselves. Questions are designed to let you demonstrate your personal qualities and your understanding of teaching and learning. We will ask you about your experiences in school and why you have chosen teaching as a career and discuss with you what you think makes a good teacher. You will feel more comfortable answering this if you can relate it to your own experiences which is why we encourage experience to be gained prior to the interview. We will ask you about other aspects of your life, your hobbies and interests and how you have come to make the choice of teaching as a career. We are looking to discuss with you: the amount and range of your experience with children in a primary school and/or other settings your reasons for choosing primary teaching your ability to be reflective your breadth and depth of subject knowledge and the range of subjects you have passed or are taking your preferred choice of subject specialism examples of your leadership qualities or ways in which you have taken on responsibilities your personal interests your awareness of current issues related to primary education your awareness of the physical and mental demands of teaching. You will have an opportunity to discuss any particular needs or support you might require to help you to complete your studies successfully. You will find further information about the Disabilities Team later in this guide. Group Task You will be asked to participate in a group task with a small number of the other candidates. This allows you to show us how you interact with others and whether you are able to develop your ideas about teaching and learning through a group discussion. 5

6 The Sample of Written English This is not a test that you pass or fail. It is an opportunity for you to provide us with a sample of your written English which is one of a number of pieces of evidence that helps us decide how you would fare on the degree and any support you might need during your studies. You will be asked to write approximately 150 words on a topic we will set related to teaching and then complete a short English exercise that should take only a few minutes. You will have 30 minutes to complete both tasks. Choosing a Subject Specialism A key feature of the Roehampton degree in Primary Education is the opportunity to specialise in a subject that is of particular interest to you. This specialism is designed to enhance your knowledge and confidence in a curriculum subject area, and to provide the opportunity for future promotion through curriculum leadership in schools. Most subjects have approximately places. You will have an opportunity at interview to discuss your preferred subject(s). It is worth considering more than one possibility prior to interview in case your original choice proves unsuitable or is oversubscribed. Please note also that specialisms can only run with a minimum of 12 students. Please see the University of Roehampton Primary Education webpage ( for more information about a particular subject and what qualifications are desirable for that subject. Please be aware that we are revalidating the course this year and the current pattern of delivery may therefore be subject to change. 6

7 Who will be at the interview day if I need advice? If you have any questions about admissions and the processing of your application: The Interview Team: led by Tom Cottington. If you have questions about the BA (Hons) Primary Education programme or about teaching in general: Liz Broad, Head of Primary ITT or Karin Doull, Programme Convener BA Primary or Anthony Barlow, Assistant Programme Convener for Year 1 If you have questions about student life in general: Student Ambassadors or any of the staff in attendance What do I need to bring on the day? Photographic identification (ie. Passport, driving licence etc.) Your completed Declaration of Health form (click here for form) Your completed Suitability Declaration form (click here for form) Your original GCSE certificates, or equivalent qualifications, in English, mathematics & a science subject Your official dyslexia assessment (if applicable) Confirmation of having passed the Professional Skills Tests, if available 7

8 What about DBS disclosure? All students who register for a teacher education course need to have Disclosure and Barring Service clearance. The DBS application will be completed during enrolment week in September as part of registration. When will I find out about the result of my interview? You will receive a formal notification of the interview result from the University and from UCAS approximately two weeks after your interview however most results are available sooner via your UCAS track. We hope that you will have a positive experience and enjoy your day with us. Please do not hesitate to speak to someone if you have any concerns or issues. We look forward to welcoming you on to the course. Further information Parking Parking on campus is very limited. If you do decide to drive: you must collect a temporary parking permit from the security gatehouse, main entrance on your arrival; please use the designated parking spaces, avoiding the short-term (20minute) spaces; there are parking bays for Disabled Blue Badge holders. 8

9 Students with a disability, learning difficulty or medical condition Disability Services If you would like to speak with a member of the Disability Services team prior to your interview or on the interview day, whether for information or to alert us to particular needs during your time at university, please feel free to contact Disability Services on: Tel: disabilities@roehampton.ac.uk Parking For directions to parking bays for Disabled Blue Badge holders, please ask at the Main Gatehouse on arrival on the main campus. Dyslexia (or similar disability) We have students on the course who have dyslexia, and some former students who have dyslexia have achieved senior positions in schools. The key issues are the nature of the individual s difficulties and whether he/she has adequate strategies in place to meet the demands of the degree programme, the secure delivery of the curriculum, and the needs of children in a busy primary classroom. If you require on the interview day any adjustments to the sample of Written English that are related to dyslexia, or any similar disability, you MUST provide the interview team with an official assessment. We are unable to make any adjustments on the day without one. 9

10 Where else can I find information? The National College for Teaching and Leadership (formerly the Teaching Agency): Professional Skills Test ment/professional Disclosure and Barring Service: University of Roehampton website: BA Primary Education course overview: University of Roehampton Primary Education webpage: