Interview Information - PGCE Secondary courses

This page contains all of the information you will need for your PGCE Secondary interview. Please read it all very carefully. If you have any questions about this information or about your interview in general, please contact teaching@bathspa.ac.uk.

Although we are accepting applications and interviewing candidates, we cannot make offers to candidates for PGCE programmes starting in September 2013 until the allocation of teacher training places for 2013/14 is confirmed to the sector by the Training & Development Agency for Schools (TDA).  We expect the TDA to announce allocations and clarify arrangements for financial support during January/February.

The information below relates to PGCE Secondary only.

Documents

The documents below relate to your interview day. It is important that you click on the links and check and read all of these documents, completing and bringing them with you on the day as necessary (and as outlined below).

• Subject task
• Subject knowledge audit
• Document checklist (to be completed and brought to interview)
• Map and directions of how to get to the interview (at our Culverhay site)

All of these should be completed and brought with you to the interview. Discussion of your subject knowledge audit will form part of your subject interview. Please ensure that you also bring all of the original documents listed on the checklist along with a photocopy of each, to the interview, to allow us to confirm your identity.

Any applicant who has requirements or requires modifications to the writing, reading or numeracy assessments should email teaching@bathspa.ac.uk, with a copy of their diagnostic or medical report, in advance of the interview and should introduce themselves to the invigilator at the time.

The Interview

The purpose of the day is to give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you possess the appropriate qualities, attitudes and values expected of a Bath Spa Teacher, (a Bath Spa PGCE trainee) and to enable us to assess your potential to meet the Bath Spa Profile Characteristics which incorporate the QTS Standards. You will be interviewed by both University and school based colleagues.

At the beginning of the day you will be welcomed and the programme for the day will be explained. You will also be given an outline of the Secondary course structure and an overview of our expectations of a Bath Spa Teacher.

During the day you will be involved in

• A group discussion related to the priority issue of Inclusion in education. This will involve reading, synthesis of information and effective communication of understanding.
• An individual subject based interview comprising presentation of the subject task outlined in the link above and a short individual interview. The subject knowledge audit will be discussed in this section of the day.
• A written exercise, lasting 30 minutes, which requires you to write, in your normal handwriting, about the characteristics of an effective teacher. It will be assessed on organisation and structure, grammar, punctuation and spelling as well as writing style
• A basic numeracy test lasting 30 minutes (please note that jottings can be made but calculators are not permitted).
• This range of activities is designed to assess your passion for teaching and education, your ability to communicate and interact with an audience, your knowledge and understanding of your subject and your basic literacy and numeracy skills. We would expect you to have gained some experience in at least one school that is related to the Secondary age phase. It would be helpful for you to have reflected on this experience as well as any other experience of working with young people you may have and be prepared to discuss it at your interview.

If you are unable to attend this interview, please email teaching@bathspa.ac.uk. We will also be able to assist you with any pre-interview queries that you may have.

We ask all candidates to arrive in good time to park and make their way to the designated room. Under normal circumstances all candidates should be finished by 4pm.

The University is seeking to improve support for students with additional needs and is committed to a programme of adaptations to enable full access to the learning environment. If you would like to discuss any additional needs you may have before visiting, please contact the Student Support Service at studentsupport@bathspa.ac.uk or telephone 01225 876543.

Clearance Check Process

Bath Spa University requires clearance checks to be carried out before you will be able to start the course.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (previously known as Criminal Records Bureau (CRB))

You are required to apply for a DBS Enhanced Check if you are offered a place on any of the courses listed below. Your application must be made through Bath Spa University as the DBS (CRB) registered body.

Courses for which we require a DBS Enhanced Check

• Foundation Degree Early Years
• Foundation Degree Education Studies for Teaching Assistants
• Foundation Degree Health and Social Care Management
• BA Education Studies (single honours and combined awards) for school experience modules
• PGCE - all courses

Please note that, in addition to the above, any module, study or voluntary experience that involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults will also require you to apply for a DBS Enhanced Check .

We cannot accept a DBS Enhanced Check that you already hold unless it was issued through Bath Spa University within the last three years and you have been in continuous study at Bath Spa University in that time.

If you have not completed your DBS Enhanced Check application you will not be allowed to enrol for the course. Certain courses may include this requirement as part of a conditional offer to you, which means that we would not be able to confirm your place until we receive your completed DBS application. A DBS application pack will normally be issued to you if you firmly accept our offer, or with our offer letter to you.

The DBS application pack will list the documentation we require from you as well as payment, which for the 2013 admissions cycle is £44. You must have submitted a fully and correctly completed DBS application form, as well as payment and the required documents in order to be allowed to register for the course.

Medical Clearance

You will be required to complete a medical questionnaire if you apply for one of the courses listed below. The questionnaire will normally be included in the CRB Enhanced Disclosure pack. There is no charge for this check.

Courses for which we require a medical clearance:

• PGCE - all courses

Applicants for PGCE courses are also asked to disclose to us, in a separate letter, details of any physical or mental illnesses or conditions from which they suffer, and particularly any conditions which have lasted more than 12 months duration, and which may impact upon their ability to fulfil the normal duties of a teacher.

GTC Suitability Clearance

You will be required to complete a GTC Suitability Clearance form if you apply for the following course. This will normally be included in the CRB Enhanced Disclosure pack. There is no charge for this check.

• PGCE - all courses

Declaration forms

You will be required to complete a declaration of fitness to teach and a declaration related to the Criminal Records Bureau if you apply for the following course. There is no charge for this check.

• PGCE - all courses

DBS FAQs for PGCE Trainees

Please note that we will shortly publish FAQs relating to DBS. Please contact admissions@bathspa.ac.uk if you have any questions in the meantime.

Q. Do I need a new DBS Check/CRB Enhanced Disclosure?

A. If you doing a PGCE course then you will need a new DBS Check applied for through Bath Spa University.

Q. I have a CRB from my previous workplace can I use this?

A. We are unable to accept any other DBS/CRB’s except those obtained for the PGCE Course at Bath Spa

University.

Q. Where do I get a DBS application from?

A. A pack will be sent to you as soon as you are made an offer, so please ensure you inform us of

any changes of address since your application.

Q. Where do I send the completed application?

A. PGCE Admissions Administrator, Main House, Bath Spa University, Newton St Loe,

Bath, BA2 9BN, there will be an addressed envelope in your pack.

DO NOT SEND DIRECT TO DBS – THEY WILL ONLY SEND IT BACK TO US AND IT WILL DELAY YOUR

APPLICATION

Q. What kind of ID do I need to provide?

A. If you are a 3+1 applicant then you must provide the required documents.

If you have provided the identification documents requested at interview, you will not be required to provide thethem again. Should you be unsure if you provided the appropriate documents this can be checked by contacting the PGCE Admissions Administrator admissions@bathspa.ac.uk

For a full document list please refer to the following Direct Gov webpage: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Startinganewjob/DG_195811 which gives details of the documents required for your DBS/CRB application. Please remember we require the ORIGINALS.

Q. Are my documents safe in the post?

A. Send all documents by Special or Recorded Delivery which makes them as safe as can be. We will

return them in the same way. You can of course bring your ID to Newton Park in person where

we will check and photocopy it. The PGCE Admissions Administrator is based in Student Space, Main House, Newton Park Campus.

Q. I don’t have any Group 1 ID. What should I do?

A. You can provide FIVE pieces of Group 2 ID, one of which must be a recent proof of your current

address.

Q. How long will it take to get my disclosure back?

A. This can take approximately two weeks at the earliest, it all depends on the complexity of the

application and how busy the DBS (CRB) are.

Q. Is there any way I can find out how my application is progressing?

The progress of your DBS (CRB) can be checked on-line:

https://secure.crbonline.gov.uk/enquiry/enquirySearch.do. Please use the Reference Number of the

DBS application form and your date of birth.

PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR APPLICATION REFERENCE NUMBER BEFORE YOU HAND THE

COMPLETED FORM BACK TO US.

Q. Will I get my DBS check sent to me or do I collect it from the University?

A. The check will be posted to the address you state in section b as your current address.

Q. Can I get another copy if I have lost my original or it never arrived?

A. The DBS will only issue reprints if the original disclosure has been lost in the post, although you

can call them on 0870 9090811.

Q. Do I need to bring my DBS check in to the University when it arrives?

A. We assume that when we get our copy, you get yours too; we do not check. PLEASE KEEP YOUR

COPY SAFE – IT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY AS YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY AGAIN IF YOU LOSE IT!

Q. I have an application form from another counter-signatory. Can I use this at Bath Spa?

A. No, your DBS check must be from Bath Spa University.

Q. If I have a query, whom do I contact?

A. admissions@bathspa.ac.uk, Tel : 01225 875624 or 01225 875609

NOTES ON COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM:

Guidance on how to complete the DBS form can be found on the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/crb-criminal-records-bureau-check/documents-the-applicant-must-provide-

Read the instructions carefully and do not write anything on the back page of the DBS form.

1) Please use BLACK ink, and write in CAPITAL letters,

2) Every yellow box requires a response.

3) If you tick

YES

anywhere, please provide the relevant information in the boxes as requested on the form.

4) Section a, question a3: Please provide all forenames

question a7: If required please provide the dates in month and year format NOT

day, month and year.

question a17: Please answer the COUNTRY and NOT the COUNTY, ie UK

5) If you have put an X in question a20 (Do you have a NI number?) you MUST complete a21.

6) If you have put an X in question a22 (Do you have a passport?) you MUST complete a23.

7) If you have put an X in question a24 (Do you have a passport?) you MUST complete a25.

8) Questions a28 – a31: These do not require answers.

9) Question 32 – 37 Please be aware that the address given in this section is where your CRB declaration will be sent when completed, and is the address that requires proof of address.

10) Section b & c: Please provide a FIVE year address history, this means to the MONTH AND YEAR not just to the year.

11) Section d, questions 50 – 54 These do not requires answers

12) Section e, questions 55 – 57 must be completed.

13) Section w, x, y and z DO NOT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT THEY ARE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY.

14) Please be aware that if you have not completed the above process before registration you may not be able to register.

15) Identification documents and proof of address should be sent by secure post and will be returned the same way. If you wish to bring your documents directly to us, please come to Student Space in Main House, Newton Park Campus.