IF YOU WERE A TEACHER/QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBJECT How would you approach teaching a difficult concept? Always make sure the pupils understand why it is relevant/necessary for them to study a difficult/boring concept Try to relate it to prior knowledge or experiences they may have Try to devise stimulating and interactive activities that are likely to capture the classs interest and enthusiasm Act enthusiastic about the topic myself (even if I am not!) If it is a difficult topic try to start from a point that seems less daunting and more accessible to the age group. Media could be useful here, for example if teaching Poes The Raven, show clips from The Simpsons version, or if approaching a challenging novel or play, TV or film versions can sometimes be a good starting point. How would you deal with a badly behaved child? Follow the correct procedures that are in place within the department and within the school e.g. going on report, detentions etc Good punishments need to have immediacy e.g. the threat of being kept in for 5 minutes at the end of the lesson is more effective than the threat of an after-school detention next week because it is immediate Never get angry never lose your temper. Its ok to act as though you have lost your temper, if it is well-timed and effective, but dont actually lose it or lose control Try not to shout there is nothing worse than shouting and the pupils laughing at you, because you have no where to go from there Always show the child the respect that you demand in return even when its difficult Never back a child into a corner without a way out then they will feel that they have nothing to lose, and behave even more badly. Always give the child options, and ideas of consequences. For example, if you continue to do x, then y will happen as a result (if you continue to talk loudly, you will have to work in complete silence for the rest of the lesson etc). Have a warning system so the child knows they have misbehaved and make it clear what will happen if they continue to misbehave. Follow through on any threats or punishments. If you dont, you will have no discipline or control in your classroom! Give positive reinforcement and feedback too. In some situations, especially with younger pupils, it can be effective to highly praise the good behaviour of other pupils rather than admonishing the misbehaving pupil. Pick your battles a teacher needs selective hearing! Sometimes it is best to ignore a low-level disruption so that you dont give the child the attention that he/she wants.

How would you go about establishing a good relationship with the children from the offset? Show them respect Talk to them as though they are adults (within reasonable limits of course) Make the boundaries and rules of your classroom and lessons completely clear from the start Give the children a say in their education/classroom e.g. letting them come up with a collaborative set of classroom rules/code of conduct at the beginning of the year and, if ever possible, give them options about what they learn/study (e.g. if you have to teach a novel one term, and you have various novels to choose from, get the class involved in choosing what they study) Be friendly and approachable but do not try to be down with the kids! they will see right through it and laugh at you behind your back. Always be professional. They will respect and like you better in the long run if they know you are there as their teacher, and that you take your responsibilities seriously, rather than being more concerned with being their friend. What modern plays would you teach? I like American plays e.g. A Streetcar Named Desire, The Crucible for older classes Oxford Playscripts have lots of good adaptations of plays aimed at KS3, including modern plays What do you think constitutes an outstanding lesson? A lesson where the objectives are clearly set out and where it is clear at the end of the lesson that these objectives have been achieved by all the pupils. A lesson where the pupils are engaged, animated and interested. A lesson that is interactive and exciting, but where the pupils still feel as though they have achieved something at the end of the lesson. Sometimes it can be a lesson that doesnt actually go according to plan, but where the pupils lead the lesson in a different direction which turns out to be useful and exciting. How would you differentiate a lesson plan? Be aware of and list the different levels within the class e.g. most working at a level 5, some at level 4 and 5 children working at level 6 etc. Be aware of and list any pupils in the class with SEN including any Gifted and Talented pupils. If working with worksheets, for example, consider having different sheets for the different levels in the class e.g. three slightly different sheets. Consider setting different tasks for different groups. Be aware of where difficulties and problems with understanding may occur, and plan how you will overcome these. Always plan too much work, including extension activities, so that even those who finish extremely quickly will never be left without anything to do.

Be aware that it is not always just the brighter pupils who complete tasks quickly. Sometimes, the less able pupils may finish first because they have not been able to go as deeply into the task as others. Make sure that you have extension activities available for this eventuality also, rather than just aiming your extension activities at higher-ability pupils.

How would you find out about a subject that you know little about? Look it up in the National Curriculum documents Ask other teachers about the subject and try to borrow resources or books Look it up in text books Look it up on the Internet What have been your experiences with Shakespeare and should his work still be taught? I have studied Shakespeare since I was in Year 8 and have always enjoyed it. I think his work should still be taught, and actually, I think the curriculum has it about right at the moment; not putting undue emphasis on his work, but still including it as an important text. I think it would be nice for Shakespeare to be taught more in Drama than just in English. What would be the most difficult aspect of teaching and how would you deal with this? Behaviour management and dealing with difficult pupils see above for answer to question about how I would deal with a badly-behaved pupil. The workload I would deal with it by being extremely organised and learning to prioritise. I also know that teachers often share lesson plans, resources etc and this is a good way of lessening an overwhelming workload! The targets and over-testing. I would deal with this by trying not to get too stressed over them, by doing what I have to do but remembering the reasons I wanted to become a teacher, and remembering that primarily my responsibility has to be to my pupils even if there is sometimes pressure from many other directions! Pick a pre-20th Century and post-20th Century play, poem, novel and tell us how you would teach them to different levels. Pre-20th poem Post-20th poem Pre-20th play Post-20th play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. To a higher level, include discussion of communism at the time of writing and how it can be viewed as an analogy, etc. To a lower level, focus more on the history of witch trials in America. Pre-20th novel Mary Shelleys Frankenstein. To a higher level focus on the genre of Gothic Horror, learn about the Romantic period and go into Mary Shelleys life, including her relationship with her husband and friends, who her

parents were etc. Focus on the language and structure, discuss the themes. To a lower level look at representations of the story in the media such as films, etc, and think about how horror has changed since the book was written. Select key passages and discuss what makes them exciting/scary etc. Post-20th novel George Orwells 1984. To a higher level focus on the language and the structure, and look at the dystopian genre and other examples. To a lower level think about its relevance on and effects in our culture today e.g. Big Brother, the phrase Room 101 etc, discuss what has made the novel so enduring.

How can English and Drama be used practically? And how can they be used outside of school? Practical drama e.g. putting on performances. Drama can be used in other subjects such as PSHE or history, where improvisations and workshops can be used. English is essential to all aspects of your life including outside of school, as communication is one of the most important skills you can possess. Drama should improve a pupils confidence and presentation skills, which can be useful in all sorts of contexts outside of schools. What after school activities would you introduce or take part in? School plays/performances Drama club Book club Creative writing club Charity work and fundraising especially Operation Christmas Child How would you deal with classroom disruptions? See above answer for how would you deal with a badly behaved child. If it is a disruption that does not stem from a disruptive pupil, such as maintenance/building work going on, pupils coming and going because they have exams/interviews etc, or people viewing the school and so on I would make sure I had simple to explain, clear individual tasks that can be easily picked up or stopped and returned to. What practical theories would you introduce to a class studying drama? I would introduce Brechtian theories because they are probably the easiest to get to grips with, and can prove useful especially in practical devising work. Do you prefer a more relaxed, informal relationship with your students? I think a relaxed relationship is good but it is always important to maintain a certain level of formality between a teacher and a pupil. A relationship can be relaxed without being too informal. I would prefer a mutually respectful, supportive relationship with my students. How would you recognise and meet a pupils educational needs?

Speaking to other teachers who have taught the pupil, especially if they have just come from primary school or moved from a different school, reading any reports of the pupil. Speaking to their parents/carers if necessary. Observing the pupil in ordinary lessons to recognise any educational needs they may have. How to meet the pupils educational needs is dependent on the pupil and the needs! It would involve communication and cooperation between the school and the parents/carers, as well as between different departments and teachers within the school. I would ensure that I maintained and followed any structures or procedures that were put in place to meet the pupils educational needs, and would devise and implement these myself if necessary.

What is your attitude towards discipline? Discipline is extremely important in the classroom and good discipline stems from respect from the pupils respecting the teacher, and the teacher demonstrating that s/he respects the pupils. How would you deliver a lesson on a specific topic? Answer is dependent on the topic but important points could include having a well-laid-out lesson plan, a clear lesson objective at the start of the lesson in the form of questions where possible, and a simple plenary that shows whether or not the objective has been achieved (e.g. whether the class can now answer the questions). Activities should be interesting and engaging and sometimes interactive. Emphasis on active learning. The lesson plan would need to differentiate between the different levels in the class. How would you deal with a child who is being bullied? Follow the schools procedures in such a situation e.g. alerting whoever is responsible for the childs pastoral care (such as their form tutor), alerting parents etc. I would find out if the problem is widespread or if it just occurs in my lessons by talking to other teachers I would take steps to separate the bullies from the victim If necessary I would speak to both parties I would always make sure other staff members were aware of the situation and I would escalate the information where appropriate. What would you do with a Year 9 class that didnt want to do your subject? Try to make it engaging by choosing topics and texts that they are more likely to find interesting. Perhaps focus on a more media or drama led approach to the subject. Try to show them in creative ways why my subject is interesting and enjoyable, and always demonstrate my own passion for the subject. What books have you read recently what will help you to teach English? Love That Dog by Sharon Creek.

General books on teaching and teaching English.

What do you say when a teenager asks what is the difference between prose and poetry? I turn it around and ask them what they think the difference is. I let them look the two words up in a dictionary if they want, and then open a discussion about their findings. If the question is not resolved within a short discussion I might plan a lesson or perhaps a starter activity about the subject. I would always try to get the pupil to arrive at his own conclusions and come up with individual ideas and viewpoints rather than just giving a simple, direct answer and leaving it there. What is the point of learning about poetry? It can be extremely enjoyable Like all literature, it can be read as an expression of its culture and time How would you stop high ability children from getting bored in lessons? Be aware of such children and include them in my lesson plans, planning extra/different activities for them if necessary. Always point out ways that the activities can be more challenging e.g. some of you may wish to extend this by not only highlighting the adjectives, but also start thinking about the adverbs etc. Plan extension activities in case pupils finish early make sure they are never left without something to do. How would you handle unmotivated students? Try to make the topics and lessons interesting and engaging, but dont fall into the trap of feeling like I have to provide an all-singing all-dancing entertainment show for them every lesson. Make the subject as interesting and relevant to them as I can As far as possible, always make sure they understand why they have to study what they do If it is a general attitude to work and school problem, rather than just to my subject, it may sometimes be necessary to investigate if there is any reason behind the lack of motivation e.g. depression, health problems, problems at home, and to deal with these problems accordingly. How would you promote an effective working environment in your classroom? I would have clear and consistent rules I would have lots of stimulating displays around the walls and ceiling I would ensure that, as far as possible, the room had lots of natural light and fresh air I would allow and encourage the pupils to drink water How do you get on with pupils? Quite well. They tend to like me, but I think I need to work on having them respect me because I look so young.

If you went into a school what signs would you look for to indicate if its a stimulating environment? Displays of pupils work and achievements, lots of natural light and fresh air, good spaces for work e.g. the library, if they have a dedicated drama space, the careers service etc. How would you cope with mixed ability classes? See above questions about differentiation How would you deal with children that dont have English as a first language? Find out how much English they do speak. Find out what kind of support the school has in place for such students, e.g. translators, etc. Such students should usually have a TA or LSA so it would be important to work closely with these support staff. What other roles does the teacher have outside the classroom? Pastoral roles e.g. head of year or form tutor, running/participating in extracurricular clubs and activities. What pre-20th Century text would you teach to an A-Level group? What text would you recommend to A-Level students to read for themselves? What is the point of learning grammar? To aid effective and universally understood communication Why is English a central subject in schools when we read and write in other subjects? We dont learn how to read and write effectively and properly in other subjects. Our studies in English can support our reading and writing in other subjects. The study of literature is enjoyable and a great way to examine social, historical and cultural contexts. What would you do if a pupil asked you a question that you didnt know the answer to? Sometimes it is appropriate to say Thats a great question, why dont you find out for homework and tell us the answer next lesson! I wouldnt be embarrassed to admit that I didnt know. I would say Thats really interesting, Im not actually sure, I will find out and come back to you! Do you think that Media Studies helps or hinders Literature studies? I think it can help as long as it is not relied upon too heavily. How would you teach a non-streamed Year 9 class Shakespeare?

Get them to understand/learn the general plot and characters of the play first so that it is clear in their minds, then spend some time focussing on the language until they have a working understanding of it.

How would you approach a child who was in Year 13 literature class who was extremely high flying? I would encourage the child and offer opportunities to stretch him/herself. What are the weaknesses in your subject knowledge and how do you plan to rectify this? Contemporary English literature is a bit of a weakness. I have already started reading some of the novels and poetry that are on the curriculum and I intend to spend next summer doing lots of reading. Tell us about a lesson you have taught and how you assessed whether or not it was effective. Talk about my Year 7 poetry lessons. I could assess that they were effective because the pupils all responded in the plenary activity how I had hoped that they would, which showed that they had understood the lesson and had learned what I had set out for them to learn in the objectives. Also, I assessed the pupils responses and what the observing teacher said about it. How would you motivate a Year 9 class last thing on a Friday? See above ideas about motivation and making lessons exciting etc. I would not make them do too much writing last thing on a Friday! YOUR PERSONAL QUALITIES Why do you want to be a teacher? I love learning and want to pass this on to others. I think teaching is a career that will allow me to continue to learn. I have a passion for my subject and I want to share that passion with young people. I really enjoy working with young people and find working in a school environment exciting and stimulating. What characteristics do you have that make you a good teacher? Enthusiasm, passion, a good sense of humour, good time management and organisational skills, an actual love of doing paperwork which I think will be beneficial, creativity, good subject knowledge, high standards, a drive to succeed and to help others succeed. Give an example of where you have shown initiative. What author has influenced you lately and why?

Aphra Behn because she was a woman who made a living and managed to be taken seriously in a mans world, and because she was not afraid to write about controversial issues e.g. slavery. She even wrote sex comedies which was hugely frowned upon for a female to do, but she managed to do it and become successful.

Where do you see yourself in five years time? Hopefully as an English and/or Drama teacher in a secondary school! Probably at this time of the year Ill be panicking about the Christmas Pantomime! How would you deal with conflict or criticism? It is important to be open-minded about criticism and take on board any constructive criticism, and be careful not to take it personally In dealing with conflict I would make sure not to be confrontational and try to listen to the other persons point of view How has your own education helped you? It has opened my mind, led me to develop a love of learning and a drive to learn. What are your motivations to become a teacher? I want to help young people to feel the same excitement about my subject that I do, and I want to be able to see the results of the work that I do, and see that what I am doing is making a difference. What contributions have you made/can you make within the school environment? Running extra-curricular activities such as shows, drama clubs, book clubs, creative writing clubs etc. What is it that attracts you to the age range you wish to teach? I have worked with younger children (volunteered in a primary school, HBW, Stage Spiders) and while I find that rewarding, I have come to realise that I am very interested in and enthusiastic about my subject and would like to be able to focus on that in more depth. What makes a good or bad teacher? Good teacher enthusiasm, highly motivated, good sense of humour, excellent organisational and time management skills, good communication skills, nice speaking voice, ability to explain things well, creativity. Bad teacher disorganised, lacks enthusiasm and creativity. What do you think would be your weaknesses as a teacher? I have a bad memory for names (e.g. of writers) and titles, but this is something that I am working on. I have extremely high standards. While this is a good thing when it comes to myself, I will need to work on understanding and learning the appropriate

standards and levels for different age groups so that I can encourage them and recognise their achievements without holding them up to over-high standards. Describe something you have recently learned about. What do you think are the main differences between education today and your own school days? Changes in curriculum and changes in testing, especially post-16 options. Who was your favourite teacher? An English and Drama teacher who taught me KS3 English and GCSE and ALevel Drama. She was amazing and she is one of the reasons I love my subject and want to be a teacher. Have you ever been in a situation where you have had to make a difficult subject interesting and accessible? Yes teaching Huntingtons Disorder to an unmotivated, uninterested bottom set Year 9 class. This was difficult it was very hard to make that topic interesting and accessible. I created a PowerPoint presentation and devised a series of easilyachievable and interesting tasks. I decided that it would be very difficult to make the actual subject interesting to this class so I made the tasks they had to do interesting, and made it so that it was extremely clear to them what they had learned and achieved. Can you think of a moment that made you want to teach. I have always wanted to teach but I can think of a couple of moments that really confirmed this desire for example, at the end of one of my lectures for the SAS, when I suddenly realised I had been sitting in a hot, crowded lecture room on a hard chair for over six hours listening to one woman talk about teaching, education and pedagogy, and I was absolutely rapt and didnt want it to end! Also, the buzz I got when I had taught two lessons to a Year 7 class on poetry, and by the end of the lesson, the pupils who at the beginning had laughed at the idea of writing their own poetry and refused to even try, were producing amazing work. What are your strengths and areas of improvement when working in a group? My strengths are being organised, allocating roles and actually figuring out the logistics of how we as a group will achieve what we have to achieve. My weaknesses are being quiet and worrying too much about stepping on other peoples toes which often results in being unduly reticent. Why do you think we should give you a place on the course? See all above answers about personal qualities, why I want to teach etc. What skills do you have that would help you as a teacher? Very good organisational skills, good communication and presentation skills, clear, pleasant handwriting, excellent spelling and grammar.

Do you think, as such a high achiever, you will struggle to identify with children who have difficulties learning? I had actually worried about that myself, but my school experience has thankfully shown me that this is not the case. We have all had difficulties with things in the past, and even if learning is not one of them, then I can use my past experiences when I have found things difficult to relate to someone finding learning difficult. Do you have any hobbies which might be relevant to teaching? Stage Spiders Tell me about a time when your teamwork skills were tested Can you give us an example of a time when you have been criticised and how you dealt with that? What kind of school can you see yourself teaching at in two years time? For Cambridge say a state school! Two of your pupils are at a bus stop and are discussing you. What are they saying? How old do you think Miss is, she looks about 12! probably! Hopefully, she is strict but fair, she expects a lot from you and demands high standards but in the end she helps you to achieve them, I have learnt a lot from her What are you reading for pleasure? I just read Love That Dog by Sharon Creek. My favourite book ever is The Little Prince by Antoine de Sainte-Exupry.

YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE What is the best lesson you have observed and why? A lesson on finding ways into Shakespeare with a bottom set Year 7 group, focussing on a speech from As You Like It. I would say this was the perfect lesson it was exciting, interactive, involved movement and practical activities, drama, had a clear starter and a good plenary, the teacher managed to keep the classs interest and enthusiasm, the class was well-behaved, the teacher managed to keep them on task using various strategies such as allowing them a few minutes break halfway through the lesson (although she did not of course call it that) where they needed to get up and get scissors, asking and answering questions. This teacher actually did this course that I am applying for, which is one of the reasons I want to do it! What is the worst lesson you have observed and why?

A Year 7 geography lesson where the teacher made the class copy from the text book for an hour. I dont even need to say why this was the worst lesson I had observed! The pupil I was shadowing later told me that nobody learns a thing from that teacher.

Has your experience with children prepared you for teaching? Yes, I think I have a good idea of what it is like to work in a school, and my experience with children outside of school has helped me to be confident when dealing with children and has taught me lots about effective behaviour management. What experience have you had? List work experience and volunteer work. What have you learnt from your previous classroom experience? The importance of structure and lesson planning (although not inflexibility!), good behaviour management, communication, organisational skills. Can you think of an excellent teacher youve witnessed? Yes the teacher from the best lesson I have observed and she did this course! What experiences have you had that tell you teaching is the right career for you? I have really enjoyed my time in schools, I enjoyed my SAS lectures, I love working with children, the lessons I have taught have been very successful, teachers have taken copies of my lesson plans to use themselves. What was your magic moment on placement? When the Year 7 pupil who had refused to try to write poetry, had laughed and tried to disrupt the class, came to me later having gone away and written a poem in his spare time. Think of a teacher who has inspired you, how did they control the classroom? She always showed respect and treated you like adults. She had extremely high standards of behaviour and work and she simply demanded that you met them there was no other option. She never shouted but she had an imposing presence. When behaviour was bad she lowered her voice rather than shouting. She had harsh punishments and followed through on them (e.g. giving a whole class a detention because of a few disruptions) but she made it clear that that was what happened if you did not behave impeccably. What is the most creative lesson you have observed and what made it creative? A lesson for a SATs class on making their creative writing more interesting. The class were put in small groups and given huge pieces of paper. They had to start writing about a given situation and the teacher would periodically shout now make it a ghost story! Now insert a simile! Now introduce a bizarre character! etc

and they had to do so. It was creative because it demanded that the teacher and the pupils be creative. How has doing the Student Associate Scheme helped you? Immensely the experience has been invaluable I have learnt to be reflective and evaluative, I have learnt more about pedagogy and educational issues, and have got a clear picture of what it is like to work in a school. What other work have you done with young people apart from in a school setting? Stage Spiders, HBW

YOUR ACADEMIC APTITUDE How do your degree studies help you with teaching? Lots of group work and presentation work When did your love of literature begin? Ever since I could read! What books have you read lately? Name the books I have read lately Tell us about the past modules you chose to study on your degree. Romanticism, Practical Drama (set design, Performance Art), Critical Theory and Practice, Restoration Theatre, Early American Literature, Modern American Literature, American Drama, Shakespeare and his Contemporaries, Performing Classical Texts, Literature and Food Have you chosen a contemporary, a traditional or a mixed degree? Fairly traditional PHILOSOPHICAL/PEDAGOGICAL QUESTIONS How did the Alexander theory influence you? What is creativity? The ability to look at things in unusual and different ways, to make links, to create things, to come up with ideas, to be original, to be imaginative, to be expressive. What values do you consider to be essential in teaching your subject? A high regard for all forms of literature and the importance of communication skills. How do children learn?

When they are young, through observation and imitation. When they are older, they learn through being taught, and also through discovering things for themselves.

What qualities do you think a teacher should possess in order to teach effectively and ethically? Integrity, professionalism, respect for others no matter what their culture, race or religion. How does school help pupils to develop social skills? I think there are some ways you could argue that school doesnt help pupils develop social skills. It is not natural for pupils to largely only socialise with 30 other people of the same age as them, and there is no other time in life when this would happen. However school can help pupils develop social skills, this can be done through PSHE lessons, through supportive teachers and through lots of group work and interactions in lessons etc. What is the role of form tutor/pastoral role of a teacher? To support pupils in their academic lives but also in other areas where they may require help and encouragement. To be aware of child protection issues. To be a port of call for pupils who may need advice or help. What does inclusion mean? Inclusion providing effective learning opportunities for all pupils according to the government. It is to do with the right of every pupil to be educated in mainstream schools and the duty of those schools and their teachers to ensure that all pupils are catered for, supported, and have the same opportunities for learning and achievement. How would you deal with a child protection issue? Follow the schools procedures, usually involving escalating the issue to higher members of staff, informing the appropriate authorities e.g. social services, sometimes getting in touch with the parents, providing appropriate support to the pupil/s involved, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times (although remember to never make a promise of confidentiality to a pupil, because you may not be able to keep it. As a teacher/adult in a position of authority you have a duty to inform the appropriate authorities whenever you have any suspicion of any child protection issues). Refer to Every Child Matters What types of different learners are there? Visual learners, aural learners, kinetic learners What is the most challenging part of teaching today? The tests and standards, the large class sizes, the prohibitive amount of paperwork

What does the phrase special educational needs mean to you? Every pupil has special educational needs! But it generally means pupils with different educational needs, which could be because they have physical disabilities e.g. sight problems, could be if they heave learning difficulties, do not have English as a first language, have behavioural or emotional problems, etc. Is dyslexia a middle class myth? I dont know much about dyslexia but I dont think so. I think it is something that needs to be taken seriously. What do you understand of the transition between Primary and Secondary School? It can often be difficult for pupils. Schools offer varying levels of support. Talk about Towers School where they had the Competency Curriculum for Year 7. What type of school do you want to teach in and why? For Cambridge interview, say a state school! Because I want to teach a wide range of pupils, from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities. What difficult issues are facing English teachers in the classroom? Increase in the media, people not reading as much anymore, etc.

EDUCATIONAL ISSUES What improvement would you like to see to be made in schools? Smaller class sizes, less involvement from the government/outside bodies, a return to focussing on learning and education rather than passing tests. What is your opinion on the current state of the education system? There are areas in which it needs improvements (see above) but I think especially at the moment people are increasingly aware of this and changes will be made, if slowly. What is your opinion on the new curriculum to be implemented 2008+? I think it looks interesting, it doesnt look that different. When I have spoken to teachers about it, many of them have been very confused and have said that it hasnt been made clear to them at all. What knowledge do you have of the National Curriculum? I have spoken to teachers and read the NC document online. What makes a good school? High standards, excellent pastoral care, good and enthusiastic teachers, placing importance on and having pride in pupils achievements, good relationships between the school and parents.

What do you think of any current issues in education? SATs tests abolished I think this is a step in the right direction, but it has been handled extremely badly there has been a lack of communication and teachers have been left confused. Failure of current qualifications systems such as GCSEs and A-Levels, the new Diplomas, Pre-U exam etc. Bring in the IB! What are your views on equal opportunities and inclusion? Equal opportunities are of course extremely important to be observed and upheld I think in theory inclusion is a good idea. In practice, I think sometimes it can be pushed too far. Do you think inclusion is working in schools? I have seen cases where it is working extremely well and cases where it is failing spectacularly. E.g. one school I went to had an amazing SEN department, with extremely good systems in place to support pupils with SEN and EAL. However I went to another school where I observed a child with severe autism who was attending mainstream lessons, without a dedicated TA, and the teachers hadnt been properly taught how to support him, and it was a disaster for the pupil, his classmates and the teachers, who were often in a situation where the pupil was crawling under a table banging his head on the floor and they were unable to help him. What role do todays schools play in educating children in the 21st Century? An essential role, probably even more so now that there are so many other influences on children such as the media, celebrity culture etc. School should be where essential skills and values are taught. THE UNIVERSITY/THE COURSE Why would you like to study at this university? Good reputation, like the look of the course, good location, I have known a few teachers who have done this course and they have highly recommended it. What do you think will be the most difficult thing about this course? The workload, the high standards, the long hours What can you offer that is different to everyone else on the course? How do you feel you performed at the presentation task (in the interview)? How will you cope with the workload on this course? By being highly organised and prioritising my tasks, and managing my time. I think I will find it challenging but I will cope.

How will you cope with the pressures/frustrations of studying? I am used to studying as I am currently in the final year of my degree, and I really enjoy studying and thrive on it. 1. why have you applied for this job? 2. What have you enjoyed about teaching practice? 3. explain how you plan lessons. 4. If appointed to this post, how would you go anout planning the curriculum for your class? 5. How do you ensure that the children are clear about what they are learning? 6. How would you monitor childrne's progres towards you planned learning objectives? 7. Can you think about some teavching that you have done that had a direct impact on the children's learning? what was it that you think made the learning so successful? 8. How would you organise you classroom for a Yrx class? 9. How do you establish and maintain standards of behaviour? please tell us some of the startegies you have used. 10. What do you think are the implications of working in a Church School? 11. How to you manage the help form your TA's? 12. What is the purpose of displaying the children's work? 13. How do you involve parents in the education fo their children? 14. What do you consider to be the value of involving parents? 15. What skills will you bring to this school?

Our Mission Statement ~Aiming High ~ Exceeding Expectations

Our Vision is for Thornbury Primary School to ....

have a central role in promoting community cohesion. work with parents, family and the wider community as active partners in the further development of the school. celebrate the uniqueness of each person, providing for their different skills, abilities and needs be a place where everyone can achieve success within the framework of our core values.

be a caring and inclusive environment where everyone strives for excellence have happy, motivated children, who love to learn and have high aspirations have a curriculum which responds to the changing needs of the children and leads them to new challenges, new ideas and a new view of the world

Our Core Values

EQUALITY ~ Building good spirit with everyone by being open, welcoming and inclusive RESPECT ~ For self, each other and the environment in which we live and work RESPONSIBILITY ~ Responsibility for ourselves, our community, our environment and our world CO-OPERATION ~ Staff, pupils, parents, governors and the wider community working together to build a better school for the future MOTIVATION ~ The desire to aim high and exceed expectations in all we do

1. Why do you wish to teach at School? 2. What do you think you have to offer? 3. What is the place of your specialist subject in the curriculum for six year olds? 4. What do you think is the role of staff appraisal in terms of professional development? 5. How would you set about teaching reading in your classroom? How would you help poor readers? 6. How would you organise your class in terms of provision for equal opportunities? 7. What do you think is the value of organising the curriculum around topics? 8. How would you manage assessment in your classroom? 9. How would you see parents as assisting you in the classroom? 10. How do you see your career developing in the future? 11. How would you use the computer in your classroom? 12. If your classroom is organised in groups, how do you ensure that everyone is occupied? 13. What is your understanding of the basics? 14. What does discipline mean to you? 15. Who determines what you do in the classroom? 16. As a NQT what are you looTo view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

for in your first school? What do you think will be expected of you? 17. Your letter of appli

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

ion mentioned expertise in (Music / Games) what did you do in this area on your

last TP? 18. What would you look for when on playground duty? 19. What do you think of introducing French into the Primary School? 20. How frank can you be in your reporting of classroom performance to parents? 21. What In-service courses would you like to attend in your first year? 22. The National Curriculum is the prescribed minimum, what would you try to fit in your curriculum beyond this? 23. Is there too much emphasis on play and not enough on the 3 Rs in the early years? 24. How would you involve parents in the life of the School? 25. It is important that children learn correct grammar, dont you agree? 26. What is your understanding of the Hidden Curriculum? Is tradition important in the life of a school? 27. What is the wider eduTo view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

ional value of music? 28. Should Maths be fun? 29. Are you competent across the whole of the primary curriculum? What are your strengths and weaknesses? 30. Where do you stand in the debate over Topic and Subject based lessons? 31. Given a free-hand how would you organise your class? 32. How would you feel with a precociously gifted child? 33. What do you think of team teaching? 34. How do you create a learning environment? 35. Why do we make records on children? 36. What do you think is important in preparing children for adulthood? 37. Are you computer literate? How will you use Information Technology in the classroom? GENERAL PROFESSIONAL ISSUES 1. What is the difference between bias and discrimination? Should the teacher show either in his or her teaching? 2. What would you do if you suspected that a child in your class was suffering physical/sexual or emotional abuse? 3. How would you arrange your classroom or manage your teaching to meet the needs of four year olds? 4. What information do you think it is necessary to pass on to the next teacher of your class? 5. How will you manage assessment in your classroom? 6. What are your views about discipline? 7. To what extent is the class teacher responsible for children with Special EduTo view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

ional Needs? 8. What would you do if, on a Saturday morning, you saw a group of children from your school smoTo view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

in the local shopping centre? 9. What action should you take if, for arguments sake, you accidentally caused injury to a child? 10. How do you see the role of the Governors?

THE CURRICULUM 1. What is the place of your specialist subject in the curriculum for six year olds? 2. How would you set about teaching reading in your classroom? How would you help poor readers? 3. Your letter of appliTo view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

ion mentioned expertise in (Music/Games ). What did you do in this area on your last school experience? 4. What would you look for when on playground duty? 5. What do you think of introducing French into the Primary School? 6. The National Curriculum is the prescribed minimum. What would you try to fit into your curriculum beyond this? 7. How would you go about teaching numeracy at the foundation stage or Year 6? 8. How can Maths beTo view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

e fun? 9. What are your strengths and weaknesses across the whole of the primary curriculum? 10. How would you plan to develop the role of ICT in your classroom? 11. What is the value of play in the learning of young children?

PROFESSIONAL ISSUES 1. How would you organise your class in terms of provision for equal opportunities? 2. What would you do if you suspected that a child in your class was suffering physical/sexual or emotional abuse? 3. What are your views about discipline? 4. What action should you take if, for arguments sake, you accidentally caused injury to a child? THE CLASSROOM 1. How would you see parents as assisting you in the classroom? 2. If your classroom is organised in groups, how do you ensure that everyone is productively occupied? 3. How would you involve parents in the life of the school? 4. What are the important provisions of the foundation stage? 5. How would you go about creating a stimulating learning environment within your classroom? INTERVIEW SCHOOL QUESTIONS 1. If you were to walk into a Primary School what would you look for which might tell you whether or not it was an effective school? 2. Describe your perfect classroom and how it would be organised. 3. How do you think children learn best? 4. Should foreign languages be taught in the primary school? Do you speak any? 5. What are your views on topic teaching versus subject teaching and formal teaching versus enquiry and problem solving based teaching. 6. Questions related to: running of schools policies discipline points organisation

7. Tell me about one of the children you got to know well in school? 8. How would you go about the task of getting a child to do as you say? 9. What are your particular strengths/weaknesses? 10. What are your views on discipline? 11. The school does a lot of extra-curricular activities, clubs etc. Are you happy to be involved in these and if so what could you offer? 12. I notice from your appliTo view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

ion that you are interested in . How involved are you? 13. Where do you see yourself in five years time? 14. The government publishes league tables. What are your views on this and what do you think the consequences may be? 15. What reading/maths schemes have you used in school? 16. What are your views about streaming/setting etc? 17. Tell us a little about the course you have followed. 18. How has your knowledge of your main subject developed during your course? 19. Tell us something about the class on your last teaching practice in respect of age-range and ability. 20. A child in your class comes to you covered in bruises saying they have been hit by their parents. What course of action do you take? 21. How do you see the role of classroom assistants in school? 22. Describe your perfect classroom and how it would be organised. 23. Having looked around the school is there any area you went back to and if so, why? 24. Are there any areas of the curriculum which you are not happy about teaching?