Teaching task
As part of your SCITT interview, you’ll be asked to teach a small group of pupils for about 20 minutes on a topic of your choice.
For primary candidates, your teaching task should be linked to a book or extract from a book, but this doesn’t limit you to a reading activity. Previous applicants have taught drama, music, science, writing or history lessons based upon an extract from a book. For secondary, your activity should link to the subject you are applying to teach.
Whatever you do, you can prepare by choosing a topic that interests you and finding ways to involve all the pupils. Think about what the pupils might learn in 20 minutes and what questions you might ask. All of our teaching tasks are technology-free, so consider what resources you might need to prepare and bring with you.
Interview questions
When invited to interivew, we will send you the first three questions of the interview to allow you to think about your answers in advance and to ease you in.
We are not looking for the finished product, but for candidates who have the potential to train to teach. Your SCITT interview will try and get a sesnse of why you want to be a teacher, what you know about schools and teaching and what strengths you can bring to the profession. If you know anyone else who has been a teacher, you can talk to them about their role.
Written task
All candidates are asked to complete a short piece of writing to demonstrate they have the fundamental English skills needed to be a teacher. Secondary candidates will also complete a brief subject knowledge paper. You won’t need to prepare in advance for either of these activities.
Where will my interview be?
Ideally, we would like to meet you face-to-face, because this allows us to get to know you, see you interacting with pupils and give you a chance to talk to us and find out more about the Tommy Flowers SCITT. Our interviews take place in partnership schools across Milton Keynes.
Unable to attend in person? Perhaps you are studying at university a long way from Milton Keynes? Don’t worry. Speak to us when invited to interview and we can find an alternative arrangement, including an online interview.
When will I find out the outcome?
We won’t keep you waiting to find out if you’ve gained a place on our course. In the majority of cases, you’ll learn the same day if you’ve been successful, so that we can start the process of enrolment and place you in one of our fantastic, local placement schools.