Your Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status selection event, which includes an interview, will take place in person on our campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford or Peterborough, or online via Microsoft Teams.
Please refer to the interview dates on your Applicant Portal to determine whether your interview will be on campus or online.
The event includes:
We hold a number of selection events, and current availability can be found in your Applicant Portal. Here you'll be able to choose the date and either the campus you wish to attend, or an online event. Please:
Once you've chosen your date, you can amend it up to five working days beforehand through the Applicant Portal. At this point, only dates with availability will be shown.
If you've booked a place and are unable to attend, please contact us at [email protected].
At ARU we're looking to select dedicated and ambitious future teachers, which is why we hold interviews for all places on our BEd Primary Education with QTS degree.
Our selection process gives us the opportunity to select the best candidates, but also gives you the chance to get to know ARU and explore all that we have to offer. You'll have the opportunity to meet the course team and ask questions throughout the event.
If you have selected an online event via Teams, the link to your Teams selection event will be sent to you by email. This will be sent at the earliest two days before the selection event. Please let us know on the day of your selection event if you have not received a link. We would encourage you test your IT equipment ahead of your selection event to ensure a smooth start to the event. Due to the tight schedules we work to, we may not be able to meet with you if you do not join the event on time.
Please prepare a five-minute presentation focused on how you would use a children's book to support children’s learning. You'll present this during your individual interview.
You may wish to discuss:
If you have other ideas, please include these within the time limit.
Please do not prepare a PowerPoint or other visuals. However, you're welcome to bring along the book to share as part of your presentation.
All interviews are undertaken by School of Education staff and education professionals.
There will be two people interviewing you. At the start of the interview, you'll be asked to give a five-minute presentation (see above) and will then be asked a few questions about your presentation.
The interview is an opportunity for you to talk about your experiences and why you want to be a primary school teacher. You can also ask us questions at the end of the interview.
The interviewers will be taking notes so that we have a record of what you say. The interview, including your presentation, will take approximately 45 minutes.
At your selection event we'll ask to see photo ID as proof of your identity. This should be the same document that you've uploaded to the Applicant Portal.
Our interviewing team will check your ID, which can be:
You must bring at least one of these documents with you to your selection event.
If you are unable to provide any of these forms of ID, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.
Your selection event will last for approximately two to three hours. We cannot give an exact finish time, so please keep your post-event travel arrangements flexible.
Guests are welcome to make use of our campus facilities but won't be able to accompany you during the event.
There are several things you can do to prepare for your selection event:
We encourage you to allow plenty of time to arrive at your event. Due to the tight schedules we work to, we may not be able to see you if you arrive late.
All our campus buildings have step-free access and accessible lifts. There is limited disabled parking at each campus; please book in advance by emailing [email protected].
If you have any specific requirements related to the selection event or the process on the day, please contact [email protected] and let us know. We may need to offer you an alternative if we are not able to accommodate your requirements at your chosen selection event.
You'll be notified of the outcome via UCAS. You'll hear from us by the UCAS decision deadline.
If you're offered a place you'll need to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate; this will be one of the conditions of your offer.
We'll contact you with details of our DBS application process and other safeguarding checks after you've firmly accepted your offer. We will meet the cost of this initial application.
You will also be required to be occupational health (OH) checked. An OH check is designed to promote and maintain the health and wellbeing of our students, so they feel comfortable and secure and can work to the best of their abilities. The OH check enables adjustments to be made to ensure a safe and healthy environment during your studies and in placement. Our OH providers will be in touch with you directly to arrange a check once you have firmly accepted our offer (from April 2024 onwards). You will not be charged for this check.
Please reply promptly to all DBS and occupational health requests as failure to do so can delay your registration on the course.
You won't be able to re-apply to our BEd (Hons) Primary Education with QTS in the same academic year (including Clearing), but you can apply for future years.
If you would like feedback, our Admissions Team can provide details for those who specifically request them. This will not be detailed feedback but may help you consider areas of strength and those for development. Requests should be sent to [email protected].