FOUNDATION DEGREE PROGRESSION ROUTE

INTERVIEWS (Primary) Guidance for Candidates

2012 Entry

Contents

1. YOUR INTERVIEW 1.1 Introduction and Arrival 1.2 The Structure of the Day 1.3 What to Bring with You 1.4 Selection Guidance 1.5 Interview Outcomes 1.6 Preparation for Your Interview 1.7 Training in Educational settings

Mission Statement Edge Hill is a higher education institution seeking to provide an innovative, high quality and inclusive learning experience underpinned by a commitment to the advancement, dissemination and application of knowledge. Edge Hill is dedicated to developing individuals as skilled and autonomous learners in challenging and supportive environments. Equal Opportunities Edge Hill aims to provide an institutional environment which is welcoming; and which values and affirms the positive contributions of all its members. Edge Hill seeks to identify and to eradicate any practices which promote racism, sexism or homophobia or which discriminate against people with disabilities, or from particular socio-economic backgrounds, or because of their age. We ask everyone to be aware of their behaviour at all times so that we can continue to develop an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. Alternative Formats This booklet is available in alternative formats or larger font. Please contact the Admissions Office on 01695 650950 to request a copy.

YOUR INTERVIEW

1.1 INTRODUCTION

We are very pleased that you have decided to apply to Edge Hill University for a place on Level 6 of the BA (Honours) Primary Education with QTS* programme. We hope that this booklet will enable you to prepare thoroughly and to present yourself well at your interview. Your interview has three main purposes:

to enable you to present yourself well in a supportive and open, but challenging, context

to establish whether you have the knowledge, skills, experience, and aptitude necessary to cope with the professional and academic demands of an intensive course, to achieve Qualified Teacher Status and to become a good teacher

to inform you about the programme so that, if you are offered a place, you can make appropriate decisions and plans.

Arrival When you arrive at the campus, please report to the Main Reception in the Main Building. If you wish to purchase lunch/refreshments, you will be directed to one of our catering outlets. You should allow an extra 30 minutes to do this. Car Parking on Campus

Given the record student numbers that Edge Hill admitted last year, on-campus parking at the Ormskirk campus is likely to be extremely limited. We would strongly advise candidates to travel by public transport wherever possible. There is an Edge Hill bus which runs from the bus station in Ormskirk to the Edge Hill campus every 15 minutes. If you do travel by car, we have included a parking permit with your interview invitation. Please display this on your dashboard as you enter the campus main entrance, so that it is clearly visible to our parking attendants. They will then direct you to the nearest available space, if any are available. We must emphasise that possession of the parking permit does not guarantee you a space and we are not in a position to guarantee that parking spaces will be available on any given day. If the campus is full, you can find several car parks in Ormskirk Town Centre. For candidates attending morning interviews, you can expect to find long queues on St Helens Road of people trying to get on campus from around 8.00-8.15am. If you are due to attend a morning interview and are attempting to park on campus, we would advise you to arrive no later than this time. There are several catering outlets on campus if you arrive early for you to purchase refreshments.

1.2 THE STRUCTURE OF THE DAY You will be at Edge Hill University for up to four hours and will be notified that you will be attending for either a morning or an afternoon interview. The selection panel will normally include a member of staff involved with the BA (Honours) Primary Education with QTS* Part Time Programme and a senior primary school teacher. The selection procedure will include all or some of the following elements. 1. An Introductory Talk

You will be given more information about the programme and about the interview day. You will be able to ask questions about the programme; please read this booklet carefully first.

2. A series of Written Tests

You will be given one 45-minute, written test containing 20 multiple-choice questions each for English, mathematics, science and ICT. It will relate to the knowledge required of trainee teachers and will be set at approximately Level 6 of the National Curriculum. This is below the levels required for in-course and national assessments, so you will be expected to work quickly and to score high marks. No spelling aids or calculators will normally be allowed.

Questions will sample your knowledge of the listed topics:

English

You will be given a short text and asked about the author's use of written English, including:

identifying and explaining the author's use of certain styles or features

explaining the meaning of the whole text and individual words

identifying parts of speech and types of sentence

identifying word structures

identifying errors of spelling, grammar and punctuation

During the rest of your interview you must also speak and write clearly and correctly, using Standard English and cursive handwriting.

Mathematics

the number system (integers, fractions, decimals, indices)

mental calculations with the above

multiples, factors and ratios

number sequences

linear equations and inequalities

interpreting graphs and co-ordinates

properties of shapes

measurement (common calculations and imperial/metric units)

interpreting statistical data

calculating probabilities

Science

how to carry out investigations and interpret results

Life Systems (biology)

o the functioning of organisms o continuity and change o ecosystems

Materials and their Structure (chemistry)

o particles o compounds and reactions o changes of state

Physical Processes (physics)

o electricity and magnetism o energy, forces and motion o light and sound o the Earth and beyond

ICT

Questions will be set and answered on paper. They will include screenshots from common applications but will not expect you to be familiar with any particular software: most applications have similar functions. Questions may include:

functions of common computer hardware

handling the Windows environment on a PC, including window and file management

standard use of a word processor (text and graphics), spreadsheet and the internet

basic functions of a database and presentation software (e.g. PowerPoint)

3. A Written Task

You will have 20 minutes to answer a question about an educational issue. You will be expected to demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of current primary school practice and of national educational issues, as well as good intellectual and presentational qualities and a good quality of standard, written English. You will not normally be able to use dictionaries or other aids.

Sample questions:

How effective is the Primary Framework for Literacy / Mathematics in primary schools?

Should every teacher have a Teaching Assistant?

4. An Individual Interview

The average length of an interview is fifteen minutes. You will be asked questions related to the topics shown below. You may also be asked follow-up questions based on your answers or your application form. You may offer additional, concise, verbal or written information in support of your application, but there is no need to do so. You will also be able to ask questions.

Standard topics:

Why do you want to be a teacher?

What do you know about a teacher's working life?

What have you already learned that will help you to become a good teacher? If you have a disability or learning difficulty which you believe may affect your performance in the interview, you should contact the Admissions Office immediately so that appropriate modifications may be made to the normal arrangements for the

written test or other parts of the interview. For instance, you may be given extra time for the test or tasks.

1.3 WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU

Qualifications – to hand in to the Admissions Office Please bring with you original and photocopies of certificates, if already attained, which show passes in:

a. grade C or above in GCSE English Language, Mathematics and Science, or equivalent qualifications

b. A and AS levels, BTEC, GNVQ, AVCE, VCE qualifications, or equivalent awards

Admissions staff will check your copied certificates against your originals and sign them as a true copy to be kept on your file. You will be able to take your original certificates home with you on the day. Please note, we will not have photocopying facilities available on the day, so it is important that you bring copies as well as your original certificates. Please note:

If you have changed your name since the certificates were issued, please advise us of this when you hand in your photocopies

If you do not bring photocopies of your certificates on the day and the decision of the panel is to offer you a place, we will withhold the offer until we have verification of your original certificates

Photographic ID You will be required to bring photographic identification to your interview. Any candidate not able to show photographic identification on their interview day will not be able to proceed to interview.

Partnership Agreement

Please bring a signed copy of the Trainee Partnership Agreement which will be

collected from you (a copy of this is at the back of this booklet).

For your interview Please bring with you:

A pen

Any additional supporting evidence that you wish to show to your interviewers.

You MUST bring with you your completed portfolio and you will hand this to a member of staff following your interview.

Students with Disabilities or Specific Learning Difficulties Applicants with disabilities or learning difficulties should note that the decision to offer a place on a course of Initial Teacher Training is made only on the selection criteria outlined in this booklet. However, you should note the following: If you normally have additional time for examinations or tests, or large font type, or any other specific arrangements, please contact the Admissions Office using the reply form provided with your letter of invitation. Please provide a copy of your LEA ‘statement’ or a letter from your school, college or employer to confirm that additional time for tests is a requirement. If you require a BSL interpreter, it is important that you tell us on your reply slip about this and that you allow at least 5 working days for us to locate one for you. Unfortunately, there is a very limited supply of suitably qualified BSL interpreters and, therefore, the demand for these is high. Given the need for all trainee teachers to communicate clearly in spoken and written Standard English and to have excellent presentational skills, you should ensure that you have fully explored for yourself any issues in relation to teaching arising from your disability or learning difficulty, and have thought through any coping strategies and/or adjustments which will need to be made in the workplace to assist you. Please note that discussions about adaptations to the workplace would normally take place after an offer has been made to assist us in placing you in a school, but you should begin your thinking about this as soon as possible. If you would like any confidential advice or information on Edge Hill’s student support services for students with disabilities or learning difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact the following staff:

Inclusion Team Telephone: 01695 584190 01695 584746 Email: inclusiveservices@edgehill.ac.uk

1.4 SELECTION GUIDANCE Are You Ready for Level 6 of the BA (Honours) Primary Education with QTS* Programme? Assess yourself against the following statements - can you demonstrate at your interview that they all apply to you?

Do these Statements Describe You?

Why Do They Matter?

I am enthusiastic about becoming a good primary teacher.

Children need enthusiastic teachers who will stimulate them to enjoy learning. You need to know that you will get personal enjoyment out of teaching, to sustain you through the very hard work that is involved in the Programme.

I already know a lot about children and primary education.

You need to be able to 'hit the ground running' on this programme because there is a lot to learn in a short time. You also need to know what the job of a teacher entails, so that you can be sure it is the right career for you. You will need to demonstrate a highly secure knowledge and understanding of the planning, teaching and assessment cycle.

I communicate well and form good relationships.

You will need to help children to learn and to feel secure in your classroom, and you will need to command their respect. You will need to work effectively with professional colleagues and with parents.

I have good intellectual and organisational skills.

You will need to learn a lot in a short time. You will need to make constant, flexible decisions about how to apply your learning in complex classroom situations. You will need to organise your time around a busy schedule and to monitor and plan your own development.

I have good knowledge of the subjects of the primary curriculum.

You will need to teach English, mathematics, science, ICT, history, geography, RE, art and design, design and technology, music, and PE. A good knowledge of English, mathematics, science and ICT are particularly important. You must be able to speak and write Standard English at appropriate times and to read well.

Selection for Interview To be selected for interview, you will normally have demonstrated that you already have: 1. A commitment to and understanding of primary education, founded on significant,

recent and relevant school experience.

2. Suitable personal and presentational qualities, including a good standard of written English

3. C-grade GCSEs in English Language and in Mathematics (these are entry

requirements and should you be offered a place on the Programme you will need to have passed these, or equivalencies, before the commencement of Level 6 in April 2012). Equivalent qualifications are accepted in all cases, including Edge Hill University entry tests in English, Mathematics and Science.

The interview panel may ask questions to check how well you meet the above criteria.

Criteria for Selection at Interview You should satisfy the panel in respect of your: 1. Commitment to, experience and understanding of primary education 2. Personal, intellectual and presentational qualities 3. Competences in English, mathematics, science, and ICT

including the abilities to read effectively and to communicate clearly and grammatically in spoken and written Standard English

4. Suitability for employment

Further Information The programme often has many more suitable candidates than the number of available places; when selecting from those who meet the criteria, preference will be given to the strongest candidates. Successful candidates are required to have regular Internet access through a PC. You must meet statutory requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach and must not previously have been excluded from teaching or working with young children nor have a criminal background that might prevent employment as a teacher.

1.5 INTERVIEW OUTCOMES

You will not be informed of the outcome of your interview on the day. You will be informed of the decision by the Admissions Office as soon as the University is in a position to commit to an offer of a place. Please note decisions will not be given over the telephone – you will be advised in writing only.

If You Are Successful If you are successful, we will send you brief feedback and you will be enrolled onto BlackBoard as soon as possible to enable you to have access to relevant Programme materials.

If You Are Not Successful A rejection does not mean that we think you would not become a good teacher. It merely means that, on the interview day, other candidates showed even more strengths than you did. If you are unsuccessful, we will send you brief interview feedback including test grades, an indication of the selection criteria that most influenced the panel's decision, and any advice that the panel felt able to offer you. Admissions Tutors can not offer you further feedback on your interview.

1.6 PREPARATION FOR YOUR INTERVIEW

Time in School If you are able to spend more time in school before your interview, you should use it to gather relevant experiences and information. If all your experience has been in one school or class, try to broaden your experience by spending time elsewhere.

General Reading You may also need to do some general preparatory reading and research, to develop your understanding of educational issues and current developments. The following text is currently used on Programme and is also a useful introductory reader.

Cockburn A (ed) (2006)

Teaching Children 3 to 11: a student's guide

Paul Chapman 0 761 954 899

A read through recent issues of the Times Educational Supplement, or the educational supplements of broadsheet daily newspapers may be helpful. You might prefer to use one of the following websites. Do not feel that you have to build up detailed knowledge of facts and figures, however - we only expect a general knowledge and awareness of educational issues at the interview stage.

http://www.tes.co.uk The Times Educational Supplement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk The BBC News site. Click on the Education link.

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk Ofsted. Click on Publications for on-line reports on topical issues.

http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk The Standards Site - the latest DCSF thinking. Browse anything that interests you.

Subject Knowledge Preparation You may feel that you need to improve some areas of your knowledge in preparation for the interview test, or at least to reassure yourself that you understand the levels at which questions will be pitched - i.e. approximately National Curriculum Level 6, which is the average expected at the end of Key Stage 3. If you use any of the following resources, you should check its content in relation to the interview test content outlined in section 1.2. Most major publishers produce Key Stage 3 revision guides for English, mathematics and science, as books or as CD-ROMs. These are readily available in shops or from an internet seller. On-line revision guides and sample questions include: BBC Bitesize http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/schools/revision

Skool.co.uk (maths and science) http://www.skool.co.uk Primary National Strategy: grammatical knowledge for teachers http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/profdev/literacy/571599

The books listed below are currently used as core texts for subject knowledge on the Programme. They go well beyond the levels required at interview, but you may find them useful. You will certainly need to study them before starting the course. English

Mallett M (2008)

The Primary English Encyclopaedia Fulton

Mathematics

Suggate J, Davis A, & Goulding M (2006)

Mathematical Knowledge for Primary Teachers 3rd edition

Fulton 1 843 1242464

Science

Johnsey R et al. (2009)

Primary Science: knowledge and understanding 4th edition

Learning Matters 978 1844452781

ICT

Practical advice will be more helpful than a book. There are many short and evening courses available at further education colleges, e.g. CLAIT or European Computer Driving Licence courses, although we appreciate that you may not have time for these before your interview. Alternatively, you may find that a friend or another member of your family can help.

Written and Spoken English You should be able to write Standard English with accurate grammar and spellings, normally without using a dictionary or other aids. You should normally be able to use cursive (joined-up) handwriting, with standard letter formations and joins, because your handwriting will be a model for children in school. Your handwriting does not need to be beautiful, but it should be legible. You may need to practise it before your interview.

If you normally speak in a local dialect, please be aware that you must demonstrate throughout your interview that you can use the grammar of Standard English; as a teacher, you will need to do so when you are in the classroom. For instance, you should avoid saying such things as "When the children were sat on the carpet." All accents are acceptable if you speak clearly. If you are unsure about your spoken English, ask someone suitable to advise you.

1.7 TRAINING IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS

Initial Teacher Training Programmes at Edge Hill University and its partner institutions are predicated on the principle that as an aspiring teacher you will receive the highest quality experience at Edge Hill to enable you to have opportunities to be an excellent teacher. As you study on a programme of Initial Teacher Training at Edge Hill, you will be placed in settings that will provide you with a depth and breadth of experience. Edge Hill will provide you with a number of placements that may be geographically diverse and that will, across the duration of the programme, provide you with an appropriate curriculum, age phase and learner- based experience. If you agree to accept the offer of a place on your chosen programme then it is essential that you agree to the following criteria:

Ready for Training?

If you accept the place offered to you, then you must ensure that all documentation in relation to you being legally able to train within educational settings, is provided by you within 3 weeks of you receiving documentation from Edge Hill’s Admissions Department.

You are required to complete a CRB and provide relevant documentation to support.

Ensure that all medical paperwork is completed.

Provisionally register with the General Teaching Council.

If you have lived abroad for 3 months then you may need to obtain a criminal record check from the country/ countries that you resided in. Please contact admissions@edgehill.ac.uk for information.

Please refer to the documentation you will receive from Admissions for further details on the above requirements.

You will not be able to do any training in an educational setting unless you are: medically cleared, have Edge Hill CRB clearance, enrolled as a trainee at Edge Hill University and provisionally registered as a member of the GTC.

If your interview is taking place within 10 weeks of the commencement of the programme then you will have been advised to bring all documentation to the interview. If your interview is successful, then we will endeavour to process the CRB check immediately but there is no guarantee that it will be processed in time for your first placement. If this is the case, then you will supported in starting your placement later than your peers.

Training in Educational Settings

The Partnership team will source all ITT placements.

You will be expected to travel to your placements and you must be prepared to travel some distance. You will be expected to drive or travel on public transport to your placement.

We do provide some reimbursement for travel to and from training. Please see the Faculty travel policy for more details.

We have training partnership arrangements in a range of locations and including the North West, the North East, the Isle of Man, Staffordshire, Cheshire, the West Midlands including Shropshire and London. We expect that you will approach each placement with a flexible and conscientious attitude, acting with integrity and commitment. We will ensure that we take into consideration your personal circumstances and needs.

Where will placements be located? Based upon your individual training plan a placement will be allocated accordingly. This means that the placement is not decided on geographical location but on your specific individual training needs. Therefore there is an expectation that you will be required to travel from home to the placement. There is no set criterion for what is/could be deemed as a reasonable journey (this could mean several hours travel). Travel will be via car or public transport (please refer to the Trainee travel and accommodation policy). It is your responsibility to ensure that you are able to get to your placement by the time required each day. In addition, we make use of placements located at a distance from Edge Hill, in areas such as Shropshire and the Isle of Man. If you are allocated a distance placement we will provide either accommodation or travel as appropriate.

10. Admissions Information Additional notes to applicants who are subsequently made an offer after interview: In order to ensure your smooth entry to Edge Hill and your professional training programme, it is important that you adhere to the national criteria for entry to the profession by following guidance notes issued by the DfE/TDA/GTTR/UCAS/Edge Hill Prospectus and that you are:

a) able to comply with the requirements of the offer sent to you and any other requests as soon as they are asked for and certainly by no later than 31 August or an agreed date.

b) able to meet the national requirements for full clearance to work with children in respect of the Police Act and the health standards to enter the profession

c) responsible for:

i. completing all forms sent to you and the prompt return of the forms

ii. professional/academic references: Contacting your academic referee, if requested to do so, to arrange for a reference to be sent or faxed to the Admissions Unit on 01695 584628. (The decision on your application will be delayed until we are in receipt of this).

iii. providing the Admissions Unit with academic qualifications or examination results as soon as they are known.

iv. formal application through UCAS if appropriate

If you are having difficulties locating previous examination results/certificates it is important that you initiate a search on receipt of the offer either by or through contacting your previous school/college or the relevant examination boards. Please be aware that search fees are in place and searches take a number of weeks to complete.

We have listed below some of the examination boards:

Assessment and qualifications Guildford Alliance (AQA) Stag Hill House Tel 01483 506506 (for NEAB,AEB,JMB,SEG) Guildford Fax 01483 300152 Surrey e.mail: postmaster@aqa.org.uk

GU2 7XJ website:www.aqa.org.uk

Manchester AQA Tel 0161 953 1180 Devas Street Fax 0161 273 7572 Manchester e.mail: postmaster@aqa.org.uk

M15 6EX website:www.aqa.org.uk

Edexcel Foundation Stewart House Tel: 0870 240 9800 32 Russell Square Fax: 0207 758 6960 London e.mail:enquiries@edexcel.org.uk WC1B 5DN website:www.edexcel.org.uk Oxford Cambridge and RSA Head Office Tel: 01223 552552 Examinations (OCR) 1 Regent Street Fax: 01223 552553 Cambridge e.mail helpdesk@ocr.org.uk CB2 1GG website:www.ocr.org.uk Welsh Joint Education 245 Western Ave Tel: 029 2026 5000 Committee (WJEC) Cardiff Fax 029 2057 5994 CF5 2YX e.mai: exams@wjec.co.uk

website:www.wjec.co.uk

Failure to comply with this could result in you having to take and achieve a satisfactory standard in the Edge Hill University equivalency tests for which a fee may be charged. For more information on the equivalency tests please contact the equivalency team on 01695 584618.

For applicants who have any doubts about complying with the national requirements to train as a teacher or Edge Hill’s offer it is important that you are aware of the financial and enrolment implications of this when joining the professional training programme.

a) Provisional enrolment only will be undertaken b) Limited access to IT and other learning facilities c) Restrictions in being allowed into schools d) Financial support will be withheld e) That Edge Hill has the right to cancel an application if it is subsequently

found that information has been omitted or false statements made on the application form.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The Admissions Unit is here to help and assist you. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Telephone:

01695 650950

01695 650955

01695 657143

DISCLAIMER Edge Hill makes every effort to ensure that this information is accurate at the time of printing. Edge Hill reserves the right to change or discontinue any course, programme or module, or the specific content thereof or to amend any other information without notice. Edge Hill does not accept any liability arising out of or in connection with any such changes.

Trainee Agreement

It is a priority of the Faculty of Education to ensure all trainees are provided

with a quality placement. To facilitate this, ITT Placements will be allocated

based upon individual training needs, rather than on geographical location.

This means that you may be placed at a remote placement which may require

Edge Hill University to provide accommodation or a distance placement which

means you may be required to travel daily using public transport.

Do you agree to be placed anywhere within the *Edge Hill University Partnership?

YES

Signature: ………………………………………………………………………….

Date: ………………………………………..

NO

Signature: ………………………………………………………………………….

Date: ………………………………………..

(If no please state reasons)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

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*Edge Hill University Partnership extends across the whole of the North West as well as other regions including Yorkshire, West Midlands, Wales, Isle of Man, North East Lincolnshire and all other areas where placements are sourced.