PGCE Primary interview information and tasks

September 2025 Entry

Primary (Age 5 – 11 Routes)

  • General Primary
  • Primary with Physical Education

Primary (Age 3 – 7 Route)

Congratulations on gaining an interview!

We are delighted that your application has been successful so far and we are really looking forward to speaking with at interview.

Why study with us

We are exceptionally proud of our Primary Education programme and the fantastic experience our teacher training students gain while studying at LJMU.

As an institution, LJMU has strong, long held relationships with partner schools across Greater Merseyside and the Northwest, meaning that we’re able to place our students in schools that are a commutable distance from where they live. These schools work with us to give you the best possible support and training to reach your full potential as a Primary teacher.

These are some of the comments from last year’s PGCE cohort:

"I have thoroughly enjoyed the sense of community that has been encouraged throughout the course. I feel that I and many other trainees have greatly benefitted by being able to regularly share ideas and discuss difficulties with one another. I have never felt alone on this course or that I have had nobody to turn to as all trainees have been encouraged to be supportive to one another."

"Throughout the year I have felt fully supported personally and professionally during both of my placement experiences by both my ITT school mentor and my LJMU Liaison Tutor."

If you have any questions about the interview process or studying at LJMU, please don’t hesitate to contact the Admissions Team – applicantsupport@ljmu.ac.uk

Best wishes,
Sarah Hindhaugh
Programme Leader and Head of Primary Programmes

Please read this webpage very carefully.
It explains our entry procedures, gives you a good idea of what to expect and confirms the tasks to prepare in advance, in order to give you the best chance of succeeding on the day.
Although our selection process is rigorous, please do not be anxious; we are a friendly and welcoming community who genuinely want you to succeed in your choice of a career in teaching.

Important:
Interviews will be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams. Your booking confirmation will include a Microsoft Teams link to join the interview at the time chosen.

Please ensure you have a form of photo identification at your interview e.g. passport or driving license (a provisional is also acceptable) and that you have a device you are confident that you can access Microsoft Teams on. Your name must be visible, and your camera must be turned on and we must be able to hear you. You must also have your photo identification available for the start of your interview.

If you are successful, a condition of your offer will be to provide clear and legible copies / pictures of your GCSE English Language, Mathematics, and Science certificates (or equivalent), two references (guidance for references) as well as your honours degree, if you have already completed this. You will be emailed information with a link on how to upload/send these to us once your offer has been processed.

If you believe you hold an equivalent qualification, please ensure you contact the LJMU Admissions Team prior to your Interview Day to ensure that we accept it. It is vital we confirm that your qualification is equivalent.

Assessment and interview

There are two elements to the Interview:

Prepared task: Interview Task

Please prepare before Interview. (All Applicants)

The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education makes some key suggestions about how to choose quality books to use in the classroom with young readers.

These include:

  1. We should use books written by use a range of authors which represent our diverse society. We should not rely on common texts or our own childhood favourites (however good this might be!).
  2. Choose books with quality artwork which either complement or extend the story.
  3. When selecting information books, select texts that present information in a variety of interesting ways.
  4. Over time, select a range of books that reflect diversity in all ways – race, heritage, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic class, status, religion and culture. Allow children to see themselves reflected in the books at times, and through other books, to see into other worlds.
  5. Select books that draw children in - that have a rich plot line – that make them care what is happening. Books should be emotionally appealing.
  6. Select books with rich language.

Task 1

With reference to Centre for Literacy Criteria above, select a text which represents quality children’s literature, prepare a section to read aloud (up to a minute) and be prepared to explain your choice.

Task 2

Be prepared to explain why you chose this children’s text linked to the criteria.

Response to Interview Questions

You will be interviewed individually by a member of LJMU Primary team.

Each candidate is asked the same questions. We are seeking to find out why you want to teach and what qualities you feel you have to offer. We will also explore work you have undertaken in primary schools and how this has informed your understanding of the role of the Primary teacher. Each interview will last approximately 20 minutes.

All judgements of the individual interview will be based on the following criteria:

  • Understanding of the full role of the primary teacher.
  • Potential as a teacher in a range of school contexts.
  • Communication skills, expressing views and values clearly.
  • Academic ability and potential – realistic view of what the PGCE will entail.
  • Awareness of the primary curriculum and of assessment in schools.
  • Awareness of children’s social, emotional and learning needs and their implications for teachers.

Interview checklist

Please make sure that:

  • any equivalent qualifications are checked prior to you attending interview by emailing a copy of them to applicantsupport@ljmu.ac.uk quoting the course you have applied for and your application number
  • you have access to Microsoft teams, and it is set-up on your device, with your full name visible
  • you are in a suitable, quiet space and will not be interrupted
  • your device is charged and power supply is available on the day
  • you have your photographic identification ready
  • you have prepared your book task for the individual interview outlined above

What happens after your interview

Following your interview, we will make a decision as soon as possible as to whether we can offer you a place on the course. Our overall decision on your application is based on all elements of the assessment process. We are looking for a balance of knowledge, skills, experience and commitment, which will give us the confidence that you have the potential to complete the course and progress to a successful career in teaching.

We will update DfE Apply on our decision. DfE Apply/LJMU will generate a notification to you, letting you know the University’s decision. We will make a decision in as timely fashion as possible after interview.

If you are successful after interview, please ensure you read your conditions of offer carefully and subsequent deadlines included for completion. All conditions have to be evidenced prior to enrolment onto the programme.

Offer conditions

Any offer is usually conditional on your achievement of specified entry requirements. Your offer will include:

  • Achieving a 2:2 or above in your honours degree (or equivalent as confirmed by ECCTIS formerly NARIC for overseas qualifications).
    If you have already achieved your degree, we will require a copy of this.
  • Copies of your GCSE English Language, Mathematics and Science certificates or equivalent (you must check any equivalence with us as not all are acceptable for teacher training courses).
  • Two references (Guidance for references)
  • Obtaining a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
    LJMU will contact you separately once you have made LJMU your Firm choice usually from May 2025 onwards. If you are part of the DBS Update Service and have a DBS Enhanced certificate working with children, we can accept this if you send us a copy to verify and you must remain on the DBS Update Service for the duration of the course.
  • Successful completion of Medical Clearance process (LJMU will contact you separately once you have made LJMU your Firm choice usually from April 2025 onwards).

Please note:
You will be contacted following any offer being made with how and when this information will be required for completion and how to send this information to LJMU.

All conditions have to be evidenced prior to enrolment onto the programme.

Once you make your decision

Some conditions can only be moved forward once you have made your firm decision to study at LJMU. In addition, once you have made us your firm choice, we view you as an LJMU student. We will provide pre course tasks for you to work on in advance so that you are fully prepared to start your PGCE usually sent from April 2025 onwards.

DBS Check and “Fitness to Train to Teach”

If you are successful at gaining a place on one of our teacher training courses, the receipt of an Enhanced DBS (formerly CRB) will be a condition of offer for your course. The DBS Check will be undertaken by the University and will be sent to you from May 2025 onwards.

Please note:
This is a multi-stage process that can take several weeks/months, so we advise you to engage with this process as soon as you receive the invite to complete the DBS to ensure that you can enroll and start on the programme.
All applicants for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) programmes must satisfy the Government requirements regarding ‘Fitness to Teach’. You will need to complete a Health questionnaire, which we will send to you. The LJMU Occupational Health Unit will process your form and is responsible for confirming that you are cleared for practice. On occasion this may involve an appointment with the Occupational Health Unit, which you would be required to attend.

Visit LJMU in person

There will be opportunities to book onto a LJMU Campus Tour to see the LJMU facilities at any stage of your application and information on how to book on will be available via your LJMU Applicant hub.

Useful contact details

LJMU Admissions Team

If you have any questions, please contact us:

Accommodation

If you require accommodation during your time with LJMU (once an offer is made and you have accepted it), please contact our Accommodation Office:

Student Advice Team

LJMU employs staff that can offer advice and support to students and prospective students on a range of issues such as student funding and support for students with a disability, this includes any support you may need as part of the interview process.

Disability

Funding and Money Advice