If you are thinking to apply for teacher training, the most important thing to do is to ensure that you are fully aware of how to prepare for a teacher training interview. By carrying out appropriate research, you will feel much more in control of the interview. Furthermore, you will have anticipated what will get asked in the interview, and you will have learnt more about teaching as a profession and what is required to be a good teacher.

It is essential to tailor your preparation for the teacher training interview. Whether it is school-led or university-led training you are applying for, it is worth noting that each institution is different. Therefore, you should do your research and look out for subtle differences in tone, mindset and general philosophy of teaching to establish if you resonate with those, and how you could get this across in the interview.

At Male Childcare & Teaching Jobs, our team are committed to supporting aspiring teachers in kickstarting their teaching career in the best possible way. For this reason, we have prepared a list of useful tips that will help you prepare for a teacher training interview.

 

Useful information to prepare for a teacher training interview

Training providers might receive a high volume of applications. For this reason, they are not always able to interview everyone who applies, even though they meet the essential requirements for the course. As an applicant, you will be selected for the interview based on academic and non-academic criteria.

If you are invited to attend an interview, things could turn around very quickly. Therefore, you should ensure you can attend your interview within 40 working days from the date you submitted your application. If you are invited to multiple interviews at the same time, you should try and ask to reschedule one (or more) of your interviews. If the training provider cannot rearrange your interview, you might have to choose which interview to attend.

If you are unable to attend an interview, you should inform the training provider as soon as possible, and give them the reason why. If you fail to do so, your application might get rejected. Where possible, the training provider will offer you an alternative interview date.

The training provider should provide you with all the information you need about their interview process such as, for instance, if it is a two-stage process. You will be able to find additional information on a training provider’s interview process on their website. Furthermore, the training provider should give you any preparatory work that needs completing for the interview ahead of time.

If you decide not to attend your interview, or not to take up a place, the training provider might want to get some feedback from you about your decision. They should make it clear how you can provide feedback to them.

 

To prepare for a teacher training interview, get ready for more than just the formal interview

To best prepare for a teacher training interview, you can read through your interview invitation, which should give you additional details on what else to expect on the day. Sometimes there will be other activities as well as interview questions, such as group exercises. These are designed to test your communication, teamwork and sometimes even leadership skills. You may be asked to do a short presentation where you will be tested on your ability to engage an audience.

If the selection day is taking place in a school, you will probably be asked to complete an exercise with a group of children such as, for example, teaching part of a lesson. But don’t worry, the selection panel is not expecting you to already be a polished teacher. It will be looking for thoughtful and thorough preparation as well as evidence of developing a rapport with children.

 

To prepare for a teacher training interview, think of the qualities that training providers are looking for

It is natural to think about the questions you are likely to be asked and begin to formulate answers. But you should not stick to this strategy too strictly, as you may not be asked anything you are expecting.

Instead, make a list of the qualities you’ll bring to teaching and the insights you’ve gained from your experience in schools. Then think about how these can be applied to a wide range of questions.

What qualities are training providers looking for? Training providers will be on the look-out for a wide range of qualities which would make you a good teacher. Here are some of them:

• Passion – show you care about teaching.
• Confident with and respectful towards children.
• Professionalism – in both your mindset and the way you conduct yourself.
• Personality – this can easily be reflected in how you present yourself, so dress smartly!
• Energy – enthusiasm is infectious!
• Resilience – being a teacher can be tough, so you’ll need to show you’re up to the task.
• Understanding of the commitments for teaching – even the most prepared interviewees can be nervous about some things. It’ll be ok as long as you demonstrate how you can overcome these in order to succeed.

 

To prepare for a teacher training interview, think of what skills training providers are looking for

At your interview, training providers will be looking for evidence of relevant skills a teacher must possess, including:

• good reflective abilities – if you’re asked to do a presentation, training providers often look for your ability to reflect on your own performance
• ability to scale information to present to a range of audiences
• literacy and numeracy – some providers may carry out English and maths tests as part of the interview process
• subject knowledge – some providers may ask you to complete a subject knowledge enhancement course as a condition of their offer.

 

When you discuss your skills during your teacher training interview, make sure you do not forget about your other life experiences. Maybe you have had experience managing a staff team professionally, worked within a team, communicated across departments or spent time with people from a range of backgrounds.

This is all relevant, so if you spot the chance to talk about valuable experiences aside from teaching, then talk about them. Just remember to make the link to teaching clear. How will those experiences help you as a teacher? Your interview panel will be interested in people with all sorts of skills.

 

To prepare for a teacher training interview, think of what questions training providers could ask

At a teacher training interview, training providers will be looking for recent examples from your experience to illustrate your answers to their questions. Your current or previous employment, voluntary work and hobbies may also be relevant if they link to teaching, skills and education.

You should give full answers to their questions, bringing in your experience of the classroom (or elsewhere, for example volunteering) and knowledge of current issues in education. Prepare answers which evidence the skills required – such as good communication, professional working relationships and the ability to accept and act on feedback.

Be ready with examples around what you’ve learned. For example, planning lessons, organising the classroom, assessing learning and adapting to the needs of different students. Don’t be afraid to state your views, practical solutions or novel ideas.

Here are some typical examples of interview questions for teacher training, to help you prepare:

• They could ask you to demonstrate an understanding of what helps children to learn.
• Why have you picked a school-based/university-based route?
• What have you learnt from your experience in schools?
• They could also ask you about your understanding of the subject you will be expected to teach. Therefore, it is a good idea to look at the national curriculum before your interview.

 

If you want to learn more on what questions you might be asked during a teacher training interview, you can read our blog on the 7 most common interview questions for teacher training.

 

To prepare for a teacher training interview, get the basics right

To prepare for a teacher training interview, you must get the basics right. This means:

• Getting a good night’s sleep before your interview day
• Being punctual at the interview
• Dressing smartly, but comfortably
• Checking your body language
• Speaking clearly.

 

Where can I find out more to prepare for a teacher training interview?

• David Douglass, Director of Sacred Heart Newcastle SCITT, shares his top tips for teacher training interviews on the UCAS Teacher Training blog.
• You can find a wealth of information to help you prepare for your teacher training interview on the Get Into Teaching website.
• Training providers will often have specific information about their interview process on their website.