Deciding and then entering teacher training with a course or school direct training provider means you’ll have a number of questions specifically relevant to you.
At certain times of the interview day you could have opportunities to ask questions related to the primary or secondary teacher training course you propose to undertake.
My interview day for a PGCE university course as a group we were able to ask general questions when the university gave us a talk about the course and expectations from us, if offered a place.
The one to one interview you receive is an ideal time for questions to ask at the end of a teacher training interview (BA, PGCE) as you’ll be asked if you have any questions.
Good questions to ask end PGCE interview teacher training
- What’s the past experience of student teachers on the course or at the school?
- Question on part of the course, training or instruction you receive.
- How far is the distance of teaching placements?
- Can I limit the travelling time to school placements?
- Pre course reading I can do?
- Question about teaching specialist subject area you are required to teach.
- What equipment and technology is in school classrooms.
- Do I require purchasing any equipment or materials for the course or teaching placements?
- Identify if there is a rigid set curriculum in the subject area.
- Specific question on the assessment criteria on the course.
Possible you have individual questions that are specific to you on the course or during training placements.Take a good look at the university or school website and information you’re sent about the course or training.Don’t ask questions that are already answered on a universities website.
1.What’s the past experience of student teachers on the course or at the school?
Frame this question positively finding out about the general overall experience previous teacher trainees had on the PGCE course in relation to issues with organisation or delays.
For me I would be looking for a PGCE training provider where the course has a good reputation, well organised and high level of previous year’s success.
Successful pass rate on the course for previous years is important, as a larger proportion of fails could be a course provider issue or a very high assessment criteria for you to achieve compared to similar courses.
2.Question on part of the course, training or instruction you receive
As a business & economics teacher with the subjects being optional in secondary school I would ask if I would be teaching an additional subject as well or just my own subject area.
One specialist subject could mean you teach fewer hours than stem trainee teachers such as maths or English.
3.Distance of teaching placements
Travelling to 2 separate school placements is required for teacher training for BA or PGCE with primary & secondary schools in city, town and village locations.
You might be required to travel over 1 hour each way to a village in another part of the county. Think about using public transport and getting to school on time.
4.Can I limit the travelling time to school placements?
Am referring here to can you limit the distance and amount of time you need to travel to school placements? Probably not.
The university will take trainee teacher circumstances into consideration and place you in the most suitable school for the course and you’re teacher training requirements.
5.Pre reading I can do?
I was given a reading list as a suggestion, although I did not require any of pre-reading as when on the PGCE I was provided with all reading or suggested material.
6.Question about subject area you are required to teach.
Possible if teaching history what age group would you expect to teach or is it years 7-13.
7.What equipment and technology is in school classrooms for teachers.
Use of smart boards in every classroom, computer or laptop use, teaching aids?
Teaching science you may have a specific question on equipment.
8.Do I require purchasing any equipment or materials for the course or teaching placements?
Example is a laptop that would be required to type up the large amounts of paperwork. PGCE courses require you to document and submit a portfolio of evidence.
9.Identify if there is a rigid set curriculum in the subject area.
Books, reading and other materials. How much freedom from the standard curriculum to be taught you have, although the school mentor/department answers this generally.
10.Specific question on the assessment criteria on the course.
You ask about how you are formally assessed and how frequent this is.
Questions to ask at the end of a BA or PGCE teacher training interview is up to you depending if you’re unsure about some details or a specific part of the training.
Ask 2 to 4 questions that you prepared before arriving at interview. Good idea to write them down before, and refer to them during the 1:1 interview if required.