Artefact
Please bring with you an artefact that could be used in a classroom context to stimulate learning.
Be prepared to explain how you could use this to engage pupils and develop interest in the relevant age group. Your artefact could be (for example) a story, a poem, a picture, or an object.
You'll have a maximum of five minutes to explain:
- The age group of children you would use it with or the specific subject it would incorporate
- How you would introduce it into the classroom environment
- What specific learning it would inspire or develop
What to expect on the day
You’ll meet a member of the interview team and a Student Ambassador in the Wearside View foyer. From here, we'll escort you to your interview where you'll meet a member of the Education team and have a course overview. Parents and supporters are welcome to join you on the day and can participate in the course overview and campus tour.
You'll then take part in a group task with the other candidates, where you'll have open discussions about Education and the skills you think are relevant to the role of the teacher in your chosen age group. Don’t feel like you need to have all the answers, we are interested in you as a person and want to know why this is the chosen route for you.
The group task will be followed by an individual interview with the academic. During this interview, you'll be asked a range of open questions giving you an opportunity, based on your experiences, to demonstrate your values, attributes and desire to teach in the sector. Depending on the size of the group, you can expect to be on campus for a half day (either morning or afternoon). There will be a campus tour included.
English and Maths tasks
You'll complete an English and Maths task as part of the interview process, these are used as a formative assessment tool to begin your subject knowledge development. Please note, these tasks are relatively basic, they are not exams that require revision beforehand. Both the English and Maths tasks will be circulated and completed on the day as part of the interview.
*Please note if you have applied for Durham Sixth Form, you will be contacted by the college once you have booked your interview slot, and the requirements may be different.
Assignment
You are required to complete a pre-interview task to bring with you on the day. This task will require an understanding of teaching in its broadest sense and an awareness of the need to be inclusive.
You should write around 1,000 words on the following:
"What do you believe the purpose of education to be?”
Here are some points of discussion that you may wish to refer to:
- The Further Education and Skills sector
- Equality and diversity
- Barriers to learning
- The economy
- Personal fulfilment
- How people learn
- Progression to the workplace or higher education
You may include literature references in this discussion to support your argument.
What to expect on the day
You’ll meet a member of the interview team in the Wearside View foyer. From here, we'll escort you to your interview where you'll meet a member of the Education team and have a course overview.
The interview day will start with a presentation to cover the frequently asked questions about the course and give you a chance to learn more about what you'll be studying. This includes content of modules, possible times of when you'll be at university, information about our pathways and a group task. You may wish to bring a notebook to take down any important information and we'll make sure that you get a copy of the presentation slides.
You'll then take part in a group task with the other candidates, where you'll have open discussions about Education and the skills you think are relevant to the role of the teacher in your chosen age group. Don’t feel like you need to have all the answers, we are interested in you as a person and want to know why this is the chosen route for you. During your one-to-one interview, you'll be asked a range of open questions giving you an opportunity, based on your experiences, to demonstrate your values, attributes and desire to teach in the Further Education and Skills sector. This will include talking about what subject you may want to teach for your placement experience. You'll also have the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have about the course. Depending on the size of the group, you can expect to be on campus for a half day (either morning or afternoon).
English and Maths tasks
You'll be asked to complete a short literacy and numeracy task, which will be circulated and completed on the day as part of the interview.