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Primary PGCE interview - Anglia Ruskin

Last post 17/02/12 at 17:22 by djaye14, 118 replies
Post started by djaye14 on 10/01/12 at 19:22

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  • djaye14 avatar
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    Posted by: djaye14 10/01/2012 at 19:22
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    Hello!

     I have an interview for Primary PGCE at Anglia Ruskin (Chelmsford) on 19th Jan!

     Have already had an interview at UEA but got rejected :( I sort of know what to expect, but still worrying!!

     Has anyone else applied/got an interview with ARU?

    Has anyone been for interview? If you have could you tell me what the tasks/interview were like? Especially the maths test!

     Thanks! x
  • Teach1020 avatar
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    Posted by: Teach1020 10/01/2012 at 23:13
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    Hello,

    I had an interview at Anglia last year, was really relaxed so don't worry too much! As I remember the maths test was pretty basic, but I can't remember exactly what was on it sorry! I don't know what task you have been set but we had to talk about how we would use an object across the curriculum - it was all very straight forward and they weren't out to trick you in any way, just seemed to be checking that you are willing to make a contribution and listen to the contributions of others more than anything else.

    As for the interview itself, the questions were probably similar to what you have found online/heard before. I think there were a couple of scenario based questions too.

    Feel free to message if you have anymore questions, otherwise good luck!
  • djaye14 avatar
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    Posted by: djaye14 11/01/2012 at 11:16
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    Ah cool! I have heard that the maths test is pretty basic - fractions, percentages, basic algebra etc... luckily I only resat my GCSE maths last year, so a lot of it is still in my mind!

     We haven't been set any tasks... from reading forums in previous years you had to do a group interview... but this year it seems I only have an individual interview, english test and a maths test! Seems much easier than the interview I had at UEA!

    Can you remember which scenario questions you were asked? Was it all based on your experience or was it things like, 'Give us an example where you had to use your initiative?' etc.

     I am currently studying my undergraduate at Anglia Ruskin (but I'm at Cambridge campus) so hoping that will give me a bit of a headstart!

     Thanks for your help!
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    Posted by: Teach1020 11/01/2012 at 17:39
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    To be honest with you I don't think it would make much of a difference that you are already studying with them. But hey I might be wrong!

    No by scenario questions I mean more like....what would you do if. E.g. You are in a classroom and one of the children runs out of the room suddenly, upset. What would you do in this situation?

    That's not a particularly good example, but you can't really prepare for questions like that, you just have to go on your gut reaction at the time as they could give you any number of scenarios!

    It seems they have changed the interview process a little from last year though, so it would be a good idea to prepare those 'give us an example of a time' questions too and whatever else you can come across!

    Training is all about being reflective - noticing when something has gone badly, identifying what you would do differently next time and then making the change to become a better teacher, so I would advise you to get that idea across if they ask you qualities of a good teacher or anything like that.
  • djaye14 avatar
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    Posted by: djaye14 11/01/2012 at 18:15
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    I would like to think it will help me out lol!

     I will definitely prepare some scenario questions, but also attempt to answer them with my work experience and what I've encountered there too.

     Yeah, I know they have changed the process. Was a bit concerned coz people I know had a group interview etc, seems much easier! In the interview email it just says to research into teaching and teaching news etc...!

     

     
  • Charlotte91x avatar
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    Posted by: Charlotte91x 18/01/2012 at 14:52
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    Hey, I'm the same, currently at ARU Cambridge with an interview at Chelmsford on Fri 20th, so nervous!! I've been thinking about scenario questions as well in preparation for the interview. Been on gcse bite size for maths and English revision which I have found useful. I have a friend that went to an interviewiat aru Peterborough earlier today and said that the maths test wasn't too bad and that the English test had a bit about spelling, grammar and then some questions on an article. I imagine that ours will be pretty similar! Good luck :) xo
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    Posted by: djaye14 18/01/2012 at 15:01
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    Hey charlotte91x,

    Ah right, really?! What are you studying?! Good luck for your interview! Mines tomorrow!

    Yeah I have heard the maths test is pretty basic (doing some maths now as we speak!) and I reckon the english test is like the QTS skills tests. It has a spelling part, grammar part, and a comprehension part (check them out on the TDA website!) 

    Ahhh cool! I've been speaking to someone on here who had an interview at peterborough today, dont know if her interview was this morning or this afternoon but she said she was gonna fill me in on the types of questions and stuff!

  • Charlotte91x avatar
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    Posted by: Charlotte91x 18/01/2012 at 15:36
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    Yeah, I'm studying English Language and Linguistics, how about you? Good luck to you as well :) Lol, so am I, it's crazy how much there is too remember! Ah that's great, thank you, Gunna go have a look at that now. Oo really that'll be handy! My friend said she was asked the obvious things like 'Why do you think you'd make a good teacher' and then things like 'What do you think you'll be learning on this course/ how will you manage the modules alongside the placement work'. Doesn't sound too bad. She did say that Peterbourough only had 30 places too offer tho which is worrying! And that there were a lot of mature students with lots of experience within schools. Also worrying for me as I don't have too much experience yet! Do you have a lot of experience within schools and stuff?
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    Posted by: djaye14 18/01/2012 at 15:48
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    I'm surprised I have never seen you! I study English Literature!! We may have crossed paths in some modules :P lol.

    Yeah they do normally ask obvious questions. I already have been for one interview at UEA (was my first choice) but didnt get through :( it's made me prepare better for this one though! And like your friend has said, it was full of mature students and people who had taken a year out so they had bags more experience than me. I was also the only one who came from a different uni in my group, and for some reason it felt like they favoured their own.

    Yeah the allocation for ARU is 63... so split between pboro and chelmo! The allocations are awful this year. UEA had 182 but they were one of the first courses to fill. I've sorta realised since being on this application process that this is much more difficult than i anticipated to get on. So if I dont get into ARU I shouldnt feel too disheartened and that I can always try again next year. I really didnt want to take a year out tho! Guess it'd be good to get more experience though, like TA work and that.

    Yeah, don't worry, I don't have oodles of experience either! I spent 2 days a week September-December in Primary school with Foundation stage and KS1. Really need much more but as you probably know its hard doing a degree and this at the same time! xx
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    Posted by: Charlotte91x 18/01/2012 at 16:51
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    Wow really what a small world! Yeah I bet we have lol, especially as I took lit 1 & 2 modules during my 1st/2nd years! Oh no, yeah at least you know what's coming this time and are well prepared. I have only applied for Chelmsford as everywhere else is quite far away from where I live, so I'm really really hoping to get in. Ahh that doesn't sound too good! At least if they favour their own here then it'll be a good thing for us lol. Oh my God I didn't know that, I was hoping Chelmsford would have more places as its way bigger :( that's ridiculous. Same here, I had no idea how difficult it was going to be or how little places there are, it's going to be really tough to get in then. Oh well, positive thinking :) lol. Yeah, that's my plan too if I don't get accepted this time. Really just want to do it now though! That's good, yeah it's so hard. I was only able to do one day a week as I had the worst timetable ever lol; it was like 2 hours a day right in the middle of the day, so with travel there was barely any time for anything either side. So annoying. I've spent some time in KS2 and 3 tho over my second year and last semester which was good. At least doing both should show that we are eager and committed tho, hopefully they'll understand and give us a chance :) ! Those practice papers are really good, thanks xx
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