You got your application in on time (well done) and you’ve got yourself an interview (boom!). Now you’ve got to get ready for it.

Interviews practices for teacher training vary from provider to provider. But one thing they all have in common: they are an opportunity to see if this is the right route for you, just as much as they’re deciding if you’re the right person for this training programme.

1. Pay attention 

The programme for the day of the interview will be different for every institution and every course. Read each letter and email very carefully and don’t make any assumptions about what you’ll be doing.

Whether you’ve been asked to prepare a presentation, teach a lesson or speak to a student panel, your interviewers will also be looking for you to have read and understood the instructions. Don’t overlook the small stuff in your rush to get ready.

2. Don’t overdo it

Whether you’re asked to prepare a presentation or deliver part of a lesson, you may have the option of picking the topic.

And in a bid to really impress your interviewers, you may be tempted to pick some sort of exciting showstopper. But pause for a moment before you do. 

Stephanie Keenan, a head of English and career-change teacher, advises candidates to reflect on their own strengths rather than going for something they think will be crowd-pleasing.

“I would say, if you get the choice of topic, choose something you feel strongly about and about which you have good subject knowledge,” says Keenan.

“This will enable you to communicate your passion for the subject you want to teach, and give you confidence and presence when talking about your chosen topic.”

3. Get your head in the game

It’s important to go into your interview with the right attitude. Nerves and negativity have the potential to overshadow your personality.

In order for the interviewers to get to know the real you in the interview, you need to go in with the right attitude.

Keenan recommends focusing on your intrinsic motivations.

“Be determined. I was absolutely committed to being the person that walked out with a place on the course,” she recalls. “Failure wasn’t an option.”

4. Do your homework

Whether you’re a career changer or fresh out of university, you will still have a pretty limited experience of the school system.

Rather than going in and feeling nervous about the gaps in your knowledge, brush up beforehand so you feel ready for whatever question they throw at you.

Check out our guide to everything you need to know about teaching in the UK and our Pedagogy Focus series.

5. Plan your journey in

In the rush to get ready, you could overlook the crucial part of your interview day: getting there.

If it’s an area you don’t know well, call the information number of the institution you’re applying to and ask for advice on entrances, car parking or public transport links. Anything you can do to minimise the stress of the interview day is worth trying.