Interview for Secondary Education (Chemistry) PGDE

About your interview

Interview format

Our interviews take the form of a group interview made up of three sections. Throughout the interview, interviewers will be observing your interpersonal skills and how you participate within the group. They will consider your knowledge and understanding of education in Scotland and any previous experience you may have. 

1. Group task
   You will undertake a task with a group of other applicants. In this activity we will be discussing the attributes of an effective teacher, so it would be helpful if you could consider, before the interview, the qualities and characteristics teachers should demonstrate.
2. Presentation
   • You will present a two-minute prepared presentation to the rest of the group (approximately 11 other applicants and the interview panel).
   • You will not have access to technology on the day so please do not use PowerPoint or any similar digital technology to support your presentation. We ask that you do not read from notes, however, you may use brief notes written on cue cards for reference.
   • You should choose ONE of the following topics for your presentation:
     • What does learner engagement look like, sound like, and/or feel like in the Scottish classroom? How would you nurture this? Refer to literature to back up your discussion.
     • Identify a current issue in Scottish Education and discuss the issues or tensions relating to it, using relevant literature to support your discussion.

3. Group Discussion
   The final section of your interview will take the form of group discussions linked to the topics of relationships, wellbeing and resilience and/or trust and respect, all within the context of education. Throughout the interview, interviewers will be observing your interpersonal skills and how you participate within the group. They will consider your knowledge and understanding of education in Scotland and any previous experience you may have.

On the day

Face to Face Interviews

Interviews will take place in the Dalhousie Building on the main campus of the University of Dundee. You will be interviewed by a member of the University lecturing team and by a teacher in a promoted post from one of our neighbouring schools. You will be part of a group of twelve initially to whom you will make your two-minute presentation. You will work in a group of six to complete the rest of the interview activities.

Online Interviews

Online interviews will be available for applicants with international fee status.

We use Blackboard Collaborate for our online interviews. You will be given a link to access your interview in your confirmation email. There is no need to register for an account or log in, simply click the link in your email to join the online meeting at the time stated in your confirmation email.

Dress Code

For your interview you should dress smartly. If you are struggling for an outfit and you are currently a school student, your school uniform will be fine.

Running late

If you are running late on the day of your interview, please email [email protected] as soon as possible.

Managing your nerves

We recognise that interviews are stressful, and we do not want this to stop you from giving your best performance. If it is obvious that you are becoming a bit flustered, our interviewers will be helpful and encouraging and will put you at ease.

Timescales

Invite to interview

If you are invited to interview, we will email your invitation to the email address you have used to apply. You will not be notified of an invitation via UCAS.

Rather than issuing all invitations at once, we release them in phases depending on when your application has been assessed by our Admissions Team. Where possible, we will try to give you at least two weeks' notice to allow you to make any arrangements.

Interview timings

You should plan to be in your interview for approximately two hours.

Interview dates

We typically hold our interviews between January and March. It is wise not to plan holidays over this period so that you do not miss out on an interview date. Our booking system will allow you to choose from a selection of dates and times. We advise that you book quickly to secure a slot which is best for you.

Interview outcome

After interview, some early decisions will be communicated but most applicants will be notified after the interviews are completed. Final decisions will be made by the UCAS decision date. This decision will be communicated via UCAS and will be sent to the email address you have used to apply.