PGCE Primary programmes

You will receive an email from Admissions to indicate that you are eligible for an interview. 

A member from the School of Education will then contact you with regards to organising an interview with you at a date and time that suits you both.

If you are applying to St Mary's via one of our Lead Partner alliances, please could you make sure that you notify your alliance of the date and time of your interview once you have booked it.

Zoom link

If you have booked an online interview you will be sent a link to join your interview on Zoom by your interviewer. In some cases, this may not be until the morning of the interview. Please check your email spam and trash folders before contacting us.

If you have not received the Zoom link by 10am on the day of your interview, please email: pgceprimary@stmarys.ac.uk.

If you have completed your qualifications we will need to verify these before any offer can be made following a successful interview outcome.

Please log on to your applicant portal and select the ‘My application’ tab.

If we need documents from you then there will be a button which is labelled ‘Documents – action required’ – please select this button.

There will be a list of documents that we need. If the status is ‘accepted’ it means we have already verified the qualification. If the status is ‘required’ it means we need you to upload the relevant document. You can do this by selecting the button labelled ‘upload’.

Please ensure you: 

• rename the document so that it explains what it is; for example, if the document is a copy of your UK passport please ensure the filename is ‘UK passport’
• only upload one copy of each document.

Please note: If the document you need to upload is made up of multiple pages please send this to the admissions team using WeTransfer instead. Please ensure you quote your student ID. The team will be able to combine your pages into one document which will make it easier for us to review.

If you are still studying towards your bachelor degree then you won't need to upload this now but it will be required once you have graduated and before you can start the course.

Who will interview you

You will be interviewed by a member of the Primary Teaching team.

Recording of interview (Online interviews only)

Your interview will be recorded. At the very start of the interview connection the recording will begin, and you will be asked to confirm that you are happy for the interview to be recorded. The interview will be terminated if you are not prepared to have the interview recorded. Once recording has been confirmed, you will need to show two forms of photo ID.

Before your interview please read the Consent Statement and Use of Recorded Interview document, you will be asked to confirm that you have read and agree with these statements at the start of the interview.

Online interview

Your interview will consist of:

• an ID check
• some interview questions
• At the start of the interview, you will be asked to provide a 5 minute presentation which includes reading a book. For more details, please download the postgraduate student Reading Task. 
• a writing task - this short comprehensive task will be 15 minutes long, which includes the time to read, plan and write. You will be given a statement to read, and then asked to write 100 words. This activity will take place online using One-Drive. You interviewer will provide the document within the interview.

At the end of the interview there will also be an opportunity for you to ask the interviewer any questions you may have.

It is unlikely you will be asked questions that will surprise you if you have given this process some thought. We have already seen something in your application which indicates that we think you might make a good teacher. The interviewer will try to further explore your reasons for wanting to become a teacher and the steps that you have taken to inform this decision.

On campus interview

You should arrive on campus no later than 10 minutes before your interview time. On arrival, please report to our main reception.

Your interview will consist of:

• an ID check
• some interview questions
• At the start of the interview, you will be asked to provide a 5 minute presentation which includes reading a book. For more details, please download the postgraduate student reading task. 
• A writing task - this short comprehensive task will be 15 minutes long, which includes the time to read, plan and write. You will be given a statement to read, and then asked to write 100 words. Your interviewer will provide the document within the interview.

As well as your individual interview with a member of the Primary team, there will also be a course talk and an opportunity to talk to a student ambassador and to take a campus tour. We expect that you will be finished with us after 2 hours.

1. Read our guidance on the DBS and Fitness to Teach Disclosure and then complete our online questionnaire Primary Teaching Interview Form. We will need to receive your completed pre-interview form before your interview. If you have any difficulty in completing this form please email Farhana at pgceprimary@stmarys.ac.uk.
2. Watch the PGCE Primary Programme Director video.
3. Read and review the Teachers' Standards referred to in your interview.

If you require any adjustments for interview, please email diagnostic or medical evidence of this to wellbeing@stmarys.ac.uk with information about your interview and any required adjustments.

Please see our Student Wellbeing Service for more information about support available at St Mary’s.