Interview Questions Flashcards
Why do you want to be a teacher?
Newton Experience
What attracted you to the PDGE course?
Read the Prospectus Reputation Values Ethos Educational goals and objectives The demographics it caters to Any standout initiatives it has championed
Think about what makes you a good fit for this particular training provider, using examples from your work experience, academic life or extracurricular activities to demonstrate how your values and objectives align with theirs.
What have you learned from your school work experience?
This is an opportunity to expand on the information you provided in your application. Don’t just regurgitate what they already know but provide further evidence.
Be ready with some specific, detailed examples of what you did and what you learnt, as well as any aspects that you found interesting or surprising. This might include lesson planning or classroom organisation or observations about how students’ learn.
Try to think about examples that would be most relevant to the training programme you’re applying for. You could also draw on experience in different settings such as youth clubs or playgroups, where relevant.
This question is clearly about how you would apply what you have learnt from previous school experience, but it is also a chance to show your confidence in your ability and your ability to reflect on your performance.
Which of your qualities will make a great teacher?
With this question, interviewers are evaluating your understanding of the role and what is required to succeed as a teacher. You should use your research into the training provider to form a picture of its requirements and match up as many of your qualities as you can with these.
Your answer should focus on the assets that you can bring to the school or schools you will be training in, explaining how your skills would benefit you on your course and the students you will teach.
What qualities do pupils look for in a teacher?
This question is about evaluating yourself from your students’ perspective and having an awareness that different students respond to different teaching styles.
Key competencies such as empathy, strong communication skills and the ability to present information effectively to a range of audiences will all come into play here. Above all, students respond to teachers who are passionate and motivated, so it is important to include evidence of these in your answer.
Again, you should also consider what qualities the training provider values and touch on these in your answer.
Give specific examples of how and when you have demonstrated the qualities you are discussing, plus the positive feedback or results you have received from your students.
Tell me about a lesson that didnt go well?
Talking about your failures or setbacks in an interview can feel scary, and the impulse is often to go on the defensive. But don’t make the mistake of claiming that nothing has ever gone wrong in your lessons.
Everyone has room for improvement and interviewers are not trying to trip you up with this question, rather they are looking for evidence that you can learn from your mistakes.
See this question as an opportunity to demonstrate competencies, such as your ability to reflect on your performance, your resilience when working under pressure, and the skills and strengths you have gained through your school experience.
Prepare a couple of examples of where a lesson didn’t go to plan and focus on what you would do differently with hindsight and how your performance as a teacher has improved as a result.
Tell me about a time you’ve given a particuarly successful lesson?
What you were teaching The age group of your students The strategy that you employed The resources that you used Any challenges that you faced
Tell me about a time a child struggled with their learning, how did you support them?
This is a chance to discuss how you have formed good working relationships with your students, parents and carers, as well as how you have worked with other staff as part of a team.
Your answer should also show awareness of relevant school policies and how you have applied them, an understanding of effective techniques to manage children’s learning, and a sense of accountability for students’ progress.
You should be prepared with one or two strong examples of where you’ve made a difference and be able to talk about the context, what you did and the results of your actions.
The STAR technique would be useful here to help structure a clear and convincing answer. Don’t be shy about highlighting your achievements and capabilities
Tell me a time you dealt with a safeguarding incident?
Demi-leigh Harris
What issues are there in Education at the moment?
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