PGCE interview tasks

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 aged students (11-12 years old).

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by ONE of the following the formal elements found within Art, Craft and Design:

• • Line
  • Shape
  • Form
  • Tone
  • Texture
  • Pattern
  • Colour
  • Composition

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen formal element topic.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however there is no facility to wash brushes or get water as part of the interview, so try to limit your resources to paper, pencil and pens if you wish to use materials and remember you only have 5 minutes to complete your presentation. You will not have access to a computer or projector for this task. 

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 11 students (15-16 years old).

The activity should focus on how you would introduce the topic - Homeostasis. Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic.

Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about Homeostasis. You may bring materials with you for either yourself, or the interview panel to use, however there will be no computer or projector available. Remember that you only have 5 minutes.

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 9 students (13-14 years old).

The activity should focus on how you would introduce the topic – Atomic structure. Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic.

Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about Atomic structure. You may bring materials with you for either yourself, or the interview panel to use, however there will be no computer or projector available. Remember that you only have 5 minutes.

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7, Year 8 or Year 9 aged students.

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by any aspect of computer science at KS3.

Please base your topic on a relevant area of the KS3 National Curriculum for Computing Programmes of study.

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen aspect of computing.

NOTE: Not everyone on the panel will be a computing specialist so it should be easier to pick an exciting topic where they learn something new.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however there is no interactive board, whiteboard, projector or computer. You may want to bring in printed resources, pencils, rulers etc… or anything that they may need to use during your session. 

Prepare a 5-minute introductory activity aimed at year 7 students.

This activity should focus on how you would introduce students to ONE of the following aspects of poetry:

• Rhyme
• Rhythm
• Form
• Repetition
• Tone
• A specific Literary Technique (For example: simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia)
• The use of language for effect
• Themes, Ideas, Attitudes
• Context

You may use any poem of your choice for this activity but remember to consider its suitability for the age and year group of the students. Try to be creative when introducing your topic; the interview panel should be engaged and learn something new following your interactive activity.

You may bring resources for the panel to use, but you will not be given access to a computer or projector. As you only have five minutes to complete this task, you should try to limit resources to pen, paper and handouts. 

Prepare a 5-minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 aged students (11-12 years old).

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by the topic of ‘weather and climate’.

This topic is included in the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum for Geography.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however there is no interactive board or whiteboard. You may want to bring in printed resources, pencils, rulers etc. or anything that they may need to use during your session.

Remember that you only have 5 minutes to ‘teach’ your activity to the panel so try to create a ‘hook’ which is engaging and introduces the start of a new learning journey. 

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 aged students (11-12 years old).

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by any aspect of mathematics at KS3.

To help you identify the content covered at KS3, check out the following resources.

• DfE guidance on teaching maths at KS3
• NCETM KS3 subject knowledge audit

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen aspect of mathematics.

NOTE: Not everyone on the panel will be a maths specialist so it should be easier to pick an exciting topic where they learn something new.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however there is no interactive board, whiteboard, projector or computer. You may want to bring in printed resources, pencils, rulers etc… or anything that they may need to use during your session. 

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 10 aged students in a GCSE PE class.

This activity should focus on intrinsic and/or extrinsic motivation and link to sporting examples.

Please specifically refer to the current AQA GCSE Physical Education specification.

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen formal element topic.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however you will not have access to a computer or projector for this task.

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 students (11-12 years old).

The activity should focus on how you would introduce the topic – Forces. Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic.

Following your 5-minute activity, the interview panel should have learned something new about Forces. You may bring materials with you for either yourself, or the interview panel to use, however there will be no computer or projector available. Remember that you only have 5 minutes.

Task 1

Prepare a 4-minute introductory activity aimed at year 7 students.

This activity should focus on how you would introduce students to ONE of the following aspects of poetry: 

• Rhyme
• Rhythm
• Form
• Repetition
• Tone
• A specific Literary Technique (For example: simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia)
• The use of language for effect
• Themes, Ideas, Attitudes
• Context

You may use any poem of your choice for this activity but remember to consider its suitability for the age and year group of the students. Try to be creative when introducing your topic; the interview panel should be engaged and learn something new following your interactive activity.

You may bring resources for the panel to use, but you will not be given access to a computer or projector. As you only have five minutes to complete this task, you should try to limit resources to pen, paper and handouts.

Task 2

In one minute, explain how you would introduce a year 7 class to the subject of Drama, giving at least one example of a practical activity you would use and explaining why this would be a good introductory activity. This might be (but is not limited to):

• A whole class warm-up
• A paired/individual warm-up
• An introduction to a specific play of your choice
• Improvisation
• A specific skill such as still pictures, mime, use of voice etc

Prepare a 5 minute ‘Introductory’ activity aimed at Year 7 aged students (11-12 years old).

This activity should focus on how you would introduce and get students excited by ONE of the following the formal elements found within Design and Technology:

• Single point perspective drawing skills
• Food safety
• Textiles suitable for clothing

Try to be as creative as possible in how you introduce the topic. Following your 5-minute activity the interview panel should have learned something new about your chosen formal element topic.

You may bring materials with you for the interview panel to use, however there is no facility to wash brushes or get water as part of the interview, so try to limit your resources to paper, pencil and pens (if you wish to use materials) and remember you only have 5 minutes to complete your presentation. You will not have access to a computer or projector for this task.