Hi Lisamarie86,

 

I have already had my interview for Primary PGCE and am waiting to hear back on whether or not I have been accepted. So fingers crossed 

First of all, you are given an introductory talk about what you do on the course, and then split into small groups (of about 5 or 6). You then go off in your small groups, and to begin with, introduce yourself to the group. You then do paired activities and then debate them after as a large group. After this, you take turns in doing your five minute teaching task. I was quite nervous about this but I think it went quite smoothly. After all the teaching tasks, you get back into pairs and debate the maths investigation that you have been given, saying how you worked out the answers. Finally, you do a written reflection on what you could have done better on the day, and what you have learnt from yourself and others.

 Good luck with yours, if there is anything you want to know, feel free to ask.

 

Alex Feaver x

Lisamarie86 - I have an interview on the 12th as well!  Are you in the morning or afternoon?  I'm excited but beginning to get a bit nervous!

feaver87 - The info you have given is really helpful and has definitely made me feel a lot better about the interview.  I have a few questions if you don't mind giving a bit more advice.  The teaching task - can it be about absolutely anything?  In the email they sent they said that a flipchart and overhead projector were available....is that like an oldschool overhead projector witht the plastic bits of paper things, or can we hook a laptop up to it (am wondering if I want to use pictures or photos if I would be better off bringing actual pictures).  Also you mentioned doing paired activities then debating them....is that mainly about teaching and learning techniques etc or do I need to be completely uptodate on governments plan for education?

I hope your interview went well and you were successful!

Thanks!

Steph

I did my PGCE at Oxford Brookes last year. The teaching task can be anything - choose something that you are interested in rather than just something you think will impress, because a) you'll feel more confident and b) it'll give them an insight into who you are. There won't be an opportunity to use ICT because they want you to focus on showing them your aptitude for teaching rather than your proficiency with ICT. Visual aids are good but make them simple - your five minutes is quite strict and you don't want to waste time on setting up something complicated.

I have an interview at Oxford Brookes on 12th January for the Primary PGCE too. I am also feeling very apprehensive. Its great to hear from others who will be going and very helpful to hear from those who have already been through it all! x x

Great to hear from everyone!! Thank you so much for your information regarding the day everybody! Feeling a little bit better about it all now!! Just hope the nerves don't get to me!! My interview is in the morning on the 12th when is yours? Good luck let us know how you get along!! What kind of things do you need to talk about with the maths investigation are you basically just telling your partner how you went about it? What were the main things that you should focus on regarding this? Hope you don't mind my questions maths scares me!! :o) Lisa x x x

Good luck everyone! Let us know how you all do! X

 Anyone heard about a decision yet?

Im in! Anyone else in? X

Congrats Lisa

 I got in too

Hello all,

Congratulations on getting in, I found out on Friday I have an offer as well, which I am dead happy about as I was a bit nervy during my interview! I have had the offer on Track on the GTTR website but no offer letter or anything like that, does anyone know what happens next?

Well done again,

Matt

 Hey Matt

Well done on getting in as well. I'm the same, I have the offer on track and i think they dont do anything with it until you accept the place. You probably wont get letters or anything from them for a while, at least a few weeks anyway (maybe not until after Feb 11th date you had to respond by). They will then tell us any information we need to know about getting the medical and police check completed I assume. For now i think just be pleased you got in, sit tight and wait.

 Congrats, and see you in september!

I got an offer too!  Had the letter from gttr and letters from Brookes about CRB etc.  Unfortunately I live abroad and they want a police clearance from here (which do not exist!) so not sure I will be at Brookes in September if I can't get it sorted.....inshallah I do!

Congrats to everyone for getting in!

Well done everyone!!! Such a relief!!! I'm sure you'l get it sorted before sept! Fingers crossed for you! How's everyone getting into Oxford everyday? I'm looking for anyone wanting to share petrol/ car share near the high Wycombe area? Lisa

Hi, I have an interview at Brookes on 14th March (I applied VERY late!). Very much looking forward to it. This is my second attempt at a PGCE interview, I was unsuccessful last year. I know what I'm doing for the 5 minute teaching task but I am a bit concerned about the paired discussion/activities. What sort of things are we asked to discuss? Current educational issues? Why we want to teach....just the standard questions? I hope everyone's interviews have gone well. I really want to do well this year! Thanks so much x By the way : anyone else got an interview on the 14th March?!

[edited by: Ella1281 at 22:43 (GMT 0) on 20-2-2012]

Hey, I got an offer as well. Sent back my CRB form and health check form so just waiting to get the health check info back and get that sorted. I live in Maidenhead and will be going from there but some days possibly going from High Wycombe if that helps. Was going to look and see how much the train costs and whether it would be cheaper than driving. Look forward to seeing you all in September.

Hello!

 

I also have an interview on the 14th of March! and this is also my second attempt! I'm not sure whats a good idea to teach, I've got an idea but worried its not the right thing... Did people focus on hobbys, something fun? or something a bit more academic? Yes I'm not sure either... any help would be much appreciated!!!

 

:)

Yay! Great! So glad to hear that someone else here has an interview on 14th March! I'm starting to get nervous now! Hopefully someone could give us an idea about what to expect on the day. Concerned about the group tasks and what questions we will be asked :-O

The day is very relaxed. There isn't a one one one interview they look at how you perform on the day with a range of activities. The teaching task can be on anything. I would recommend doing the teaching task on something you already know or have an interest in ie a favourite hobby. Don't do it on something you have to learn from scratch or have no interest and then teach the rest of the group, you may feel uncomfortable. I'm not sure if the group discussions change at every interview but we were put into pairs, given statements about teaching and the classroom and then were asked to put them in priority order. There is no right or wrong answer, its what you and your partner decide. Like I said the day is very relaxed and at times may feel quite informal. Just remember to be yourself! Good luck with the interview.

Thanks for your help, its reassuring to be told its relaxed, think thats the main problem before hand, always build it up to be a horrible nightmare!!! So really the group discussions are more common sense questions rather than brushing up on educational issues etc before hand? or is this something we might need to do to add to the discussions? thanks for giving advice for the teaching task too!! really nice of you to still be helping us out! :)