Interview Guidance
Congratulations on gaining an interview for our BA (Hons) Primary Education leading to QTS
course. The information in this booklet will assist you in preparing for your interview, will give
you an idea of what to expect on the day, and will provide you with further details about
studying Initial Teacher Training (ITT) at Leeds Beckett University.
You have been selected for interview on the strength of your application. We feel you
demonstrate a range of attributes and qualities that indicate you have the potential to
succeed as a student and as a beginning teacher. The process requires you to attend a formal
interview so that we have a chance to make a decision as to your suitability for an ITT course.
You too must make a decision, based on your findings at interview, as to which university and
course you think would best meet your needs as a learner. It is our aim to ensure you leave
us with sufficient knowledge to make your decision wisely.
We hope that you will enjoy your time at Leeds Beckett University. Do remember that an
interview is a two way process and that you should treat the interview as an opportunity to
ask the award tutors questions. Your ITT award will be intensive, demanding and challenging,
but ultimately enjoyable and rewarding.
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Message from the Course Leader
The BA (Hons) Primary Education Course aims to develop highly employable teachers who
make an impact on children's learning by being enthusiastic, confident and passionate.
Placing the child at the centre of learning and teaching is the hallmark of Leeds Beckett
teachers. In order to develop the understanding and skills necessary to engage young children
in active learning, our course is itself highly practical. You will explore the use of storytelling,
drama, practical science, investigative maths, practical history, and much more, both at your
own level and in ways which you can use directly with children.
We make full use of our stunning campus, including
our open grassy spaces, internationally renowned
sports facilities, woodland and even a secret garden!
We work off campus, too, learning to explore ‘in the
landscape’.
Our course reflects the needs of children growing up
in an ever-changing, diverse society and is inclusive
of all needs, interests and backgrounds. Our trainees
grow to become enterprising and creative professionals, able to be
critically reflective on their own approaches to teaching. Our trainee
teachers gain expertise in all core and foundation areas of the National
Curriculum as well as taking one subject as a Specialist area which, in
turn, develops leadership roles for your
future career.
Dr Chris Ford
Course Leader
BA (Hons) Primary Education
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What will the Awards involve?
Awards leading to Qualified Teacher Status or Early Years Teacher Status are intensive. They
involve both university and school/setting based training. In addition to developing your own
understanding of children and the curriculum, you will also work to develop your ability to
teach effectively and thus enable pupils to learn. Students on QTS/EYTS awards are expected
to behave in a professional manner at all times. This involves:
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Regular attendance
Excellent punctuality
High standards of behaviour and professionalism in both school and in university
Completion of work to set deadlines
A commitment to the achievement of high standards of performance, both in
school/setting and university-based work
All awards leading to Qualified Teacher Status must address the Teachers’ Standards, (DfE
2012) and all awards leading to Early Years Teacher Status must address the Teachers’
Standards (Early Years), (DfE 2013).
The Standards are achieved in several ways:
 The university-based award covers two areas: academic study, in which you work to
develop knowledge and understanding and professional studies in which you consider
the more general professional requirements of becoming a teacher. In some cases
these two are distinct and in some modules they are intertwined.
 The school/setting-based award is designed to enable you to experience life in
Nursery/EYFS, KS1 and KS2 settings and to develop effective teaching skills, (as
appropriate to your award). It is in school/settings that you will be guided by
practitioners and by your University Link Tutor to translate the theory learned during
the university studies into effective practice.
What are we looking for?
Successful candidates must show that they are able to:
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Demonstrate that they have the intellectual, personal and presentational qualities to
become an effective teacher
Communicate clearly and concisely in spoken and written Standard English
Display a commitment to the welfare of all children
Display a commitment to developing their curriculum knowledge and understanding in
order to teach effectively
Display a commitment to developing their knowledge of general educational issues and
debates
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Requirements of the day
We expect that applicants come dressed appropriately for an interview on a professional
course. You are welcome to bring one guest to join you for our main presentations but your
guest must leave you for the interview tasks; (NB: one guest only is due to room capacity).
On arrival, you will be directed to register with the Student Admissions team and receive a
schedule for the day’s events.
The session will begin with an introductory talk, followed by a course specific talk and guests
accompanying applicants are welcome to attend these. After guests leave, you will undertake
the Skills Test Diagnostic and Short Written Task, components of the interview schedule. The
remaining components of the interview schedule take place after lunch.
You will be provided with a lunch voucher which you can use in our Food Court. Our Food
Court offers a wide range of hot meals as well as freshly prepared sandwiches and salads and
a variety of drinks. You are of course welcome to bring your own lunch if you would prefer.
You should plan to be at your interview for the full day and you should make travel
arrangements accordingly.
Since many applicants have previously attended University Open Days, campus and
accommodation tours are no longer scheduled events on QTS/EYTS interview days. However,
optional campus tours will be available starting at 09:15 on each interview day. If you would
like to book a place on a tour please follow this link to our online booking form:
http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/itecampustourbooking/
The Interview
Your interview and tasks have two main purposes:
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To establish whether you have the attributes that will enable you to cope with both
the professional demands of the award and the related academic work
To give you the opportunity to explain what attracts you to teaching as a career and
why you think you are a suitable candidate
The interview will include:
1. Short presentations by applicants (5 minutes)
2. Small group task
3. Skills Tests diagnostic (short maths and spelling test) and a short written task
4. Short individual interviews which begin with applicants sharing a portfolio
exemplifying their practical experience in classrooms/settings
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The interview is mostly conducted in small groups. You will share your short presentation
and engage with others in questions and answers. Subsequently, you will work together on
a shared task.
1. Presentation: select a short story/appropriate extract (fiction or non-fiction) suitable for
use within your chosen age-phase.
You will be expected to:
 Introduce your short story/extract with a rationale for your choice (target age and area
of learning)
 Read your short story/extract out loud to a small group of other applicants who will
be in role as pupils (allow 1 minute for reading your short story/extract out loud)
 Illustrate how you would use the story to support learning and teaching. You may
wish to bring associated resources (resources should not require special equipment or
set up time)
 You must be prepared to answer questions from other applicants about your
presentation as well as be prepared to ask questions of others
 You will have up to 5 minutes to do this so rehearsal will be key to your preparation
2. Small Group Task: Preparation prior to interview is not required.
3. Skills Test Diagnostic: The interview also involves a short maths task and two short writing
tasks. For each of the short tests, you will have a printed copy in front of you and which the
interviewer will read out loud. The timings are short but because of the nature of the tests,
the interviewer will have some flexibility; you will be invited to indicate a declared disability,
e.g. dyslexia, on the response sheet and this will be taken into account. The short maths task
involves a multi-step calculation; calculators will not be used but you will have space to make
informal jottings. To prepare for these short tasks, we recommend engagement with Skills
Tests practice materials available on the DfE website:
http://sta.education.gov.uk/
The short tests are simply components of the whole interview experience. If you have any
concerns about this requirement, please contact at [email protected]
where your queries will be discussed confidentially.
4. Interview/Portfolio: exemplifying practical experience in classrooms/settings. This
individual interview is designed to explore:
 your reasons for wanting to enter the teaching profession
 relevant work and life experiences you have
 skills of collaboration (putting forward ideas and listening to others)
 awareness of wider issues related to teaching
 your thinking about the role of the Primary school teacher
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You will be expected to:
Bring a small portfolio which includes:
 A record of how much time you have spent in schools/settings and range of age-phases
appropriate to the degree programme you have applied for, (e.g. Nursery/EYFS and KS1;
lower KS2 and upper KS2)
 Two examples of teaching episodes/experiences or activities you have been involved in
with supporting evidence which focuses on how teaching/different factors have impacted
on children’s learning and development. Evidence might include:
o Written, analytical reflection(s)
o Annotated children’s work
o Photos
o Planning
 If possible, a reference/testimonial from school/setting which confirms the time you have
spent in the classroom/setting and comments on the contribution made
What to prepare in advance/bring with you on the day
Please bring with you:
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Original photographic identification (Passport or Driving Licence). Please ensure
that the photograph is recent enough to recognisably identify you
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Your completed School/Setting Work Experience & Professional Skills Test form
which is enclosed at the end of this document
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Your short story/appropriate extract (fiction or non-fiction) suitable for use within
your chosen age-phase
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Your portfolio exemplifying practical experience in classrooms/settings
We also recommend that you bring this booklet with you as it contains useful contact
information.
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What happens next?
Outcome following the interview
If you are successful following your attendance at interview, we will process an offer of a place
on the course via your UCAS Track account. If you are unsuccessful, we will also notify you
via your UCAS Track account. If you would like feedback following an unsuccessful decision,
you should contact us at [email protected] to request this.
Accommodation
You can apply to live in University accommodation from February 2016, as long as you have
selected Leeds Beckett University as your firm choice. Further details about the
accommodation the University has to offer and how to apply can be found on our website:
http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/our-university/accommodation/
Professional Skills Tests in Literacy & Numeracy
If you haven’t already done so, you will be required to pass all mandated government tests
(currently Professional Skills tests in Literacy and Numeracy). Please follow the appropriate
links on the Department for Education (DfE) website: http://sta.education.gov.uk.
We strongly recommend that you engage with these tests as soon as possible as test
appointments quickly become booked up.
Disclosure and Barring Service/Health checks
Please note that in line with requirements set out by the National College for Teaching and
Leadership, all successful applicants for Initial Teacher Training courses must undertake a
number of safeguarding checks (including an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
check and prohibition and disqualification checks to ensure applicants are not prohibited from
working with children), as well as a successful medical fitness check, before commencing the
course. If you select Leeds Beckett University as your firm choice we will send you further
details in the summer about completing a DBS (formerly Criminal Record Bureau) enhanced
check and the occupational health screening questionnaire. Please ensure you keep your
contact details up to date with us. Please notify Student Admissions of any changes by
emailing [email protected]
Your results
Depending upon the conditions of your offer and the type of qualifications you are studying,
your results may be sent directly to us between June and August. Alternatively, we may
contact you directly to ask you to send us your results once you have received them. Once
the results of your DBS check, Health check and academic results have been received we will
be able to consider making you an unconditional offer.
Course start
The course will start on Monday 19th September 2016. Induction information will be available
from late summer via our online welcome website. Further details will be sent nearer the
time.
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Useful Contact Details
Student Admissions
The Student Admissions Team is based at Carnegie Pavilion. If you have any questions prior
to or following your interview, please contact:
0113 812 3113
[email protected]
Accommodation Office
Our Accommodation Office will be pleased to assist you if you are interested in finding
accommodation in Leeds for the duration of your studies. The office can be contacted as
follows:
0113 812 5972
[email protected]
http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/accommodation/
Student Support
The University has a team of staff who can offer advice and guidance to applicants on a range
of issues, including disability advice and student money advice:
http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-experience/student-support/
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WORK EXPERIENCE and PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TESTS 2015/16
School or Setting Work Experience to support your application
Applicant Name
Course applied for
Experience
Number of
Days
Completed
Name of School or Setting
Comments
E.g. state Key Stage and class
Further classroom-based experience scheduled (must be due to start before end of June 2016)
Name of School or Setting
Total Number of
Days Completed
/ to complete
Number of days to complete
Comments
/ 15
ADDITIONAL ‘OTHER’ DAYS you would like us to know about your profile (E.G. self-sourced
placement/opportunities to work with young people in settings other than classrooms)
Organisation
Age range
of
children
Number of Days /
Hours Completed
Comments
Professional Skills Tests – Please tick as appropriate
I have passed Skills Test:
Literacy
I have passed
Skills Test:
Numeracy
I have formally
attempted Skills
Test: Literacy
I have formally
attempted Skills
Test: Numeracy
I have not yet
attempted the
Skills Tests for
Literacy and
Numeracy
You will be asked to hand this document to staff during registration on your interview day
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