School of Education

Key information on the programme including key dates for 23-24 (e.g. induction, term dates and placement dates) will be available here shortly.  

Qualifications

Please ensure you have listed all relevant pending and completed qualifications in the ‘Qualifications’ section on the UCAS application form. This must include completed English and Maths results and a pending or completed degree which meets the required entry requirements for this programme.

Application Documents

Please use Applicant Self-Service to upload documentation in support of your application. Any required documents will be listed in the ‘To Do’ section. If this section is blank, we do not require any documents from you at this time.

Interviews

Interviews are normally held between January and March. Invitations are sent by email to applicants throughout this period with further information about the date and format of the interview. Interview dates are not allocated in order of preference or by the date you submit your application. We aim to have communicated the outcome of your interview to you by the end of March.

UCAS Decision

When a decision is made on your application, you will be able to see the decision on the UCAS Track service at www.ucas.com. An email from UofG will follow within 24 hours of the decision being updated on UCAS.

If you require any further information in the meantime, please contact us and remember to include your UCAS Personal ID.

Things to note:

The selection interview will take place via Zoom. A Zoom link will be emailed to you by your interviewer prior to your interview date confirming the time of your interview. Please monitor your junk/spam folder for this email. The interview will last approximately 1 hour including the reading task. If you have not received the Zoom invitation email by the end of the working day prior to your interview date, contact the School of Education on education-ugandite@glasgow.ac.uk.

Please have photographic identification available (passport or driving licence). This will be checked prior to your interview. We only accept current and original documentation, not photocopies. You are not required to present any of your academic documents at interview.

Watch the introductory video before your interview. This will give you further information about the PGDE programme and information on what to expect at your interview. The video can be accessed here. 

Accepting your Invitation

You must accept this invitation on UCAS Track at www.ucas.com.

If you have not updated UCAS Track to indicate your intention to attend your interview, it may not be possible to interview you.

Declining your Invitation

If you decide you no longer wish to be interviewed, please decline your interview on UCAS Track at www.ucas.com.

Applicants who do not decline on UCAS Track will be unsuccessful.

Re-scheduling your Interview

As the School of Education interviews a significant number of applicants within a constrained timetable, re-scheduled interviews are not permitted unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances.  Any requests for a reschedule can be made by replying via UCAS and choosing ‘R’ and sending an Enquiry Form.

Interview Outcome

You will be notified of a successful or unsuccessful outcome of your interview via UCAS within 5 working days. If you do not hear from us within 5 working days, it means your application is still under consideration. We will communicate a decision to you after all interviews have been completed and by 18th May 2023.

Please have copies of your official qualification certificates ready. We will ask for these if you are made an offer.

Dress Code

As the interview Is online, we do not require you to dress in business attire however please do dress smartly.

 The interview programme consists of:

• An introduction by School of Education staff
• Photographic Identification check
• An individual interview
• A written task

This programme is designed to provide applicants with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities in a number of areas. The criteria for assessment of each element of the selection process are detailed in the interview guidelines below. 

The interview programme, including your written task, lasts approximately 1 hour.

1. Individual Interview

Applicants should relate their answers to their past experiences of studying, working, classroom experience and/or any involvement of working with children.

Applications will be assessed on the fluency and confidence of their responses, showing clarity of thought and a capacity for logical progression. In responding to the questions, the interviewers will looks for the applicants’ knowledge of the areas raised and for their capacity to analyse their own education and experience and relate this to the role of the teacher.

2. Written task

Applicants will be required to write a short personal statement of approximately 400 words on a teaching related topic which will be emailed to you directly after your interview.

Applicants will be assessed on their ability to communicate clearly and correctly in written English.

Interview Questions

Applicants will be asked either a) or b), but not both parts.

Q1. Students come into teaching from a wide range of backgrounds. What experience have you had that is relevant to a career in primary education?

Q2. Communicating is an important aspect of the role of a teacher.

a) Can you describe a situation where you had to explain something complex to a colleague, customer, friend or peer? Which problems did you encounter and how did you deal with them?

b) Can you outline strategies for effectively explaining a complex idea and relate them to your work or studies?

Q3. The job of a teacher is both demanding and challenging.

a) Tell me about an occasion, from your studies or employment, when you found yourself under pressure and how you dealt with it?

b) Can you describe a situation where the pressure of workload has been high and explain how you managed the pressure?

Q4. The School of Education at the University of Glasgow has a particular responsibility for the preparation of teachers trained specifically for work in Catholic schools. Do you intend to gain the additional qualification to teach in Catholic schools while you are here?

Yes -      Religious education and faith development are important aspects of Roman Catholic schools in Scotland. How do you think you can contribute to the religious education and/or faith development of the children in your care?

No -       Religious and Moral Education is an important part of the school curriculum in all schools in Scotland. How do you think you can contribute to the moral and/or religious development of the children in your care?

Q5. Primary Subject question

a) Curriculum for Excellence challenges teachers to engage children in a wide range of subjects. Can you explain how your degree and/or wider academic studies would help you in meeting the challenge of the curriculum?

b) Primary teachers need to be able to teach a range of subjects from Expressive Arts to Science and Mathematics. Can you explain how the subjects you studied at school and/or your personal interests (Hobbies) would help you in teaching a range of subjects.

 The interview programme consists of:

• An introduction by School of Education staff
• Photographic Identification check
• An individual interview
• A written task

This programme is designed to provide applicants with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities in a number of areas. The criteria for assessment of each element of the selection process are detailed in the interview guidelines below. 

The interview programme, including your written task, lasts approximately 1 hour.

1. Individual Interview

Applicants should relate their answers to their past experiences of studying, working, classroom experience and/or any involvement of working with children.

Applications will be assessed on the fluency and confidence of their responses, showing clarity of thought and a capacity for logical progression. In responding to the questions, the interviewers will looks for the applicants’ knowledge of the areas raised and for their capacity to analyse their own education and experience and relate this to the role of the teacher.

Applicants for French, German, Italian and Spanish should be prepared to take part in a short conversation in the foreign language as part of the individual interview.

Applicants in Art and Design ware required to bring a piece of their own original artwork to discuss at their individual interview.

2. Written task

Applicants will be required to write a short personal statement of approximately 400 words on a teaching related topic which will be emailed to you directly after your interview.

Applicants will be assessed on their ability to communicate clearly and correctly in written English.

Applicants for Modern Languages should write in their chosen foreign language.

Interview Questions

Applicants will be asked either a) or b), but not both parts.

Q1. Students come into teaching from a wide range of backgrounds. What experience have you had that is relevant to a career in secondary education?

Q2. Communicating is an important aspect of the role of a teacher.

a) Can you describe a situation where you had to explain something complex to a colleague, customer, friend or peer? Which problems did you encounter and how did you deal with them?

b) Can you outline strategies for effectively explaining a complex idea and relate them to your work or studies?

Q3. The job of a teacher is both demanding and challenging.

a) Tell me about an occasion, from your studies or employment, when you found yourself under pressure and how you dealt with it?

b) Can you describe a situation where the pressure of workload has been high and explain how you managed the pressure?

Q4. The School of Education at the University of Glasgow has a particular responsibility for the preparation of teachers trained specifically for work in Catholic schools. Do you intend to gain the additional qualification to teach in Catholic schools while you are here?

Yes -      Religious education and faith development are important aspects of Roman Catholic schools in Scotland. How do you think you can contribute to the religious education and/or faith development of the children in your care?

No -       Religious and Moral Education is an important part of the school curriculum in all schools in Scotland. How do you think you can contribute to the moral and/or religious development of the children in your care?

Q5. Subject question

a) Thinking about the modules and courses that made up your undergraduate degree; was there one subject in the degree that you enjoyed most. What was it and why?

b) Ask alternative subject question, which will allow the applicant to talk about their knowledge and passion for their subject.

An invitation to complete online Placement and Criminal Records Checks Questionnaires will be emailed to applicants who have accepted their offer (i.e. at C/F or U/F UCAS status) in mid/late June. 

Catholic students who intend to undertake the Catholic Teachers' Certificate (CTC) concurrently within their studies are required to provide a Priest Reference Form.  The completed Priest Reference Form should be completed and returned to education-ugandite@glasgow.ac.uk before the start of your Programme in August.  The form can be found below:

Priest Reference 2021-22