The Interview Day

Interview days are arranged throughout the year once UCASTT applications are received. The group attending for interview will comprise applicants drawn from a number of subject specialisms. The composition and size of the group will depend on the applications received. The selection process is carried out by the SCITT Programme Manager and Senior Leaders from our partner schools.

Please note that the SCITT is unable to meet any expenses you incur in attending for interview. Interviews may also take place at our partner schools from time to time.

Outline of the Day

ID, certificate/document check and completion of the SCITT Trainee Suitability To Teach declaration form.

(If your interview is successful and you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions on this form, the SCITT Programme Manager will discuss the circumstances with you.)

Brief introduction by the Programme Manager

  • A group problem solving activity and facilitated group evaluation
  • A teaching task to a group of 5/6 students from Year 7 or Year 8 (PE teaching tasks will be different to this and you should follow the additional guidance provided to you)
  • A formal panel interview
  • A subject related written task or a Maths tests for Maths candidates

The start and finish time will be confirmed prior to interview and will be subject to the number of candidates in attendance. Details of all the tasks will be advised in advance to enable candidates to thoroughly prepare.

What happens after Interview?

The Programme Manager and other members of the interview panel will consider all the evidence available in making their decision about offering you a place: all sections of the UCASTT application form; performance at interview; written subject task and teaching task.

As well as updating the UCASTT Track system, we will ring you to inform you of our decision and then confirm this in writing. We normally aim to provide you with a verbal decision within 48 hours (2 working days) of interview. The range of possibilities in offering a place as set out below:

The SCITT sets high standards for entry onto the course. We are fortunate to recruit well-qualified applicants and some courses, particularly in the nonshortage subjects, are substantially over subscribed. It is therefore inevitable that not all applicants who fulfil all the basic criteria can be accepted. The Programme Manager will provide feedback to all applicants if requested.

All offers are conditional.

All conditional offers will have a time limit within which the conditions must be met. The time limits are set to allow the candidate enough time to meet the conditions and also to ensure the SCITT has sufficient time to fill the place if the conditions are not met.

  • Conditional Offer – related to gaining experience in schools
  • Conditional Offer – related to passing equivalency tests in Maths and/or English
  • Conditional Offer – related to subject knowledge targets and/or satisfactory completion of a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course
  • Conditional Offer – related to completing your degree
  • Conditional Offer – related to providing GCSE and degree certificates as evidence that you meet the entry requirements

A Conditional Offer could combine two or more of these requirements 

Please note that in addition to any of the conditions that can be applied all offers are subject to candidates obtaining, prior to the start of the programme, a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure for the child workforce; being declared ‘fit to teach’ following the Health Management check; and passing the Professional Skills Tests in Literacy and Numeracy.

Offer Information

Successful completion of the skills tests (numeracy and literacy) is a requirement of entry to the ITT programme.

Please note that it is expected that all applicants will have successfully completed both of the Professional Skills Tests, or at the very least have made the booking for them, prior to attending a selection day. It is strongly recommended that you take the tests as soon as possible, if you have not already done so.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership has developed guidance and support materials to help candidates pass the tests. Full details about these professional skills tests are available online:

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/professional 

All students offered a place on an Initial Teacher Training course must obtain an Enhanced DBS certificate prior to registration. If you accept an offer of a place, we will contact you with further information regarding this process. Please note that there is a charge of £44 for a DBS application and this is payable to the SCITT at the time the application is made.

If you have lived overseas for a substantial period during the last five years, you may be asked to provide a local police check from the country of residence for the relevant period. For some countries this may take some time to organise, so we recommend that you request this as soon as possible. We will discuss this with you should this be necessary.

The DfE website addresses fitness to teach thus: “(ITT) providers have a responsibility to ensure that candidates have the health and physical capacity to teach and will not put children and young people at risk of harm. Many people with disabilities or chronic illnesses may have the capacity to teach, just as those without disabilities or medical conditions may be judged to be unsuitable to teach.”

The intrinsic functions of the work of a teacher as defined by Fitness to Teach are prescribed by The Education (Health Standards) (England) Regulations 2003 for the purposes of section

141 of the 2002 Education Act. It is recognised in this document that teaching is a demanding career and anyone intending to train to become a teacher needs to have a high standard of physical and mental health. Teachers are responsible for safeguarding the health, education, safety and welfare of their pupils.

If you are successful at this interview you will be required to complete a declaration of health questionnaire. However, if you have had any ill-health in recent years which you think might affect your ability to complete the course please discuss this at interview. The course is very demanding both physically and mentally and requires sustained commitment throughout.

The SCITT will make a charge of £24.99 to each trainee for the initial Health Management check. This will be collected from you on the first day of the programme.

We welcome applications from students with specific learning difficulties, long-term conditions and disabilities. We are committed to equal opportunities in the admission of students, and we have long been involved in rolling programmes to improve the campus and consolidate facilities and services.

Many students are concerned that disclosure of a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia or disability will disadvantage their application for a course. You will be reassured to know that, on the contrary, it is helpful if the SCITT knows in advance about your particular circumstances so that you can be alerted to the availability of the appropriate facilities and services at the earliest opportunity. The SCITT welcomes your application and, as an individual, you are also protected by national legislation.

If you have any particular needs we can make accommodations if we know in advance of the interview date. It is not compulsory for you to disclose your SpLD or disability to us. However, if you do not tell us what you require in advance of the interview or when you subsequently take up a place on the course, we cannot consider your needs. No lowering of standards is acceptable but it is 5

possible to take SpLDs and disabilities into consideration and make reasonable adjustment, including offering extra time to complete subject tasks where relevant. Bear in mind that success for any student on an ITT course is dependent on both attaining the required standards for academic work and successfully demonstrating competence in all the requirements as set out in the ‘Qualifying to Teach’ standards.

If you are eligible for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), then it is a good idea to contact your local authority about any provision you may need for the course before your course begins as the DSA can take some time to process. This support might include study support and/or additional equipment. Information is available on the web at:

https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas

The Department for Education’s website contains further advice about training to teach if you have a disability. Please visit:

http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/about-teaching/teachers-with-disabilities

Guidance for applicants invited for Interview