Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Admission Interview Guidance
Congratulations! We have assessed your application and found that you meet the minimum academic requirements for the course, or are predicted to do so.
It is now time to book the next stage of your assessment.
The final assessment of your application for an Initial Teacher Education course at Leeds Beckett is a live interview with a member of the academic team.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE COURSE YOU ARE INTERVIEWING FOR HERE
We look forward to meeting you and presenting the opportunities we have to offer. Good Luck!
At least 48 hours before your interview:
- Please create a video (MP4) which will feature all of the following skills (clear mobile phone footage is sufficient and it should last no more than 2 minutes):
i A gymnastics or Dance performance
ii Net/wall game
iii Sending an object (e.g. throw, push, kick)
iv Receiving an object (e.g. catch, trap, control)
v Movement that involves agility
vi Playing a specialist sport (optional)
This footage allows the interview team to observe your own physical movement, your ability to model good quality movement/skills and any areas of expertise you may have.
Once this is ready, you MUST send a link to your video (via your shared folder or unlisted on Youtube)to ITERecruitment@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. The Subject Line MUST read:
“PE Interview Practical Video”
If sharing a link please ensure settings are set to “anyone with the link can access”.
Ensure you save the video file as your full name as seen on your application.
- Prepare notes on how the skills you show in the video, as well as your learning on your degree course, support your understanding of, and ability to, deliver the PE curriculum in KS3 and 4.
- In your online interview you will be asked to share the video on Teams with your interviewer as a basis for your discussion of this.
- Please be aware you should be ready to discuss your knowledge and understanding as if the interviewer is a non-specialist.
- Prepare notes on the following topics either using your experiences of working with children/pupils in any context, and/or from reading Core Principles of Teaching and Learning at LBU Initial Teacher Education
- How have your experiences as a pupil and beyond that, helped you decide you want to be a teacher?
- How have your experiences shaped your ideas of what it means to be a teacher?
- How much do your own experiences reflect what is in Core Principles of Teaching and Learning at LBU Initial Teacher Education
- What is the role of a teacher in an English secondary school?
- What would be your approach to teaching in an English secondary school?
- Familiarise yourself with the key points of KCSIE Part 1 “Safeguarding Information for all staff” and make notes
- You will be expected to use your notes to support you in answering questions about welfare and safeguarding
- You should also consider the key things you would be expected to have knowledge about in relation to this as a student teacher
Top Tips for preparing for your interview:
- Check the preparatory tasks carefully and in good time before the interview
- Check your connection to the internet, camera and microphone and find a suitable place to be in while on the Teams meeting
- If you are applying from outside the UK, check the local time difference very carefully and be aware of when the UK changes to British Summer Time (BST) – we advise using the internet or world clock feature on your mobile phone. Leeds will be the same time zone as London UK
- When considering what you will be asked to discuss as listed above, use the STAR method to prepare your notes
- Situation: Set the scene.
- Task: Explain the challenge you faced or might face
- Action: Detail what you did and why (this is where your value shines through)
- Result: Highlight the positive outcome and what you learned about the situation or yourself
You should have received a separate email with your interview link 24 hours before your interview. If you haven’t received this, please check your spam/junk emails or contact us at ucasadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
Your interview is online, via MS TEAMs. We strongly suggest you use a laptop/PC to connect, rather than your phone; check that your camera and microphone are in working order. Dress in smartly for the interview, as smartly as you would for a campus-based interview day. Find a comfortable space where you are unlikely to be disturbed and be mindful of what will be in the background when your camera is on; (if you download the MS TEAMs App, you can add a digital backdrop of your choice).
Please check that your contact details, including telephone number, is correct on your application form. If you do have updates to your contact details, please let our Admissions Team (on the email above).
All applicants will be assessed on:
- Spoken English, clarity, articulation and grammar
- Their professionalism and capacity to become an effective teacher through the course applied for
- An understanding of the role of the teacher in English schools
- An understanding of how educational issues fit in English society at large
- Their understanding of and commitment to the safety and well-being of all children
- An understanding of the requirements and approaches for the relevant age-related curricula
- Their understanding of the role of a teacher and how they have developed skills already to help them in their journey to become one, including resilience, self-reflection, working with others and time management
At the start of the interview you will need to show your interviewer a form of photographic ID, such as your passport, driving licence or school/college ID card.
If you are successful following your online interview, we will process an offer of a place on the course via your DfE Apply portal. If you are unsuccessful, we will also notify you via this platform.
If you would like feedback following an unsuccessful decision, you should contact us at ucasadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk to request this.
References
For PGCE applications you should ensure that you have your referees ready before applying. After the interview, if you get an offer, you need to supply a reference from two people via the DfE Apply site ASAP to secure your place. This should be an academic referee and a referee who can speak about your professional
work/volunteering/experience.
If you accept your place with us, before you are due to start your course you will receive a ‘Welcome to your Initial Teacher Training course’ document. This document will support your transition into your first Semester/Phase 1 placement, starting your journey to achieving Qualified Teacher Status. It will also address the essential competencies in fundamental English and mathematics agenda.
All ITE courses require you to provide evidence of your GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications as well as other qualification. You will need to show your original exam
certificates at enrolment. If you do not have these, please order them as soon as possible from your awarding body since this process can take some time. Please also check that you have certificates for the exact qualifications that you have listed on your application form since a decision will have been made specifically upon these. For example, we cannot accept all equivalencies for our QTS courses. If you are unsure about the qualifications you have, please e-mail our UCAS Admissions team and they will be able to advise your further: ucasadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
You will need to provide evidence that you have met ALL conditions of your offer by Aug 25th 2027 in order to enrol on your course.
Please note all our courses require full-time attendance during placement.
Our PGCE courses can be studied part-time and full-time, and you should ensure you have selected the correct mode of study on your application. Please contact us if this is wrong via ucasadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Should you wish to make us aware of any learning needs, or if you require reasonable adjustments to enable you to take part in the selection process, please email ucasadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk as far in advance of your interview as possible.
You can apply to live in University accommodation from Spring 2027, as long as you have selected Leeds Beckett University as your firm choice. Further details about the accommodation the University has to offer and how to apply can be found on our website:
Please note that in line with requirements set out by the Department for Education, all successful applicants for Initial Teacher Training courses must undertake several safeguarding checks (including an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check and prohibition and disqualification checks) to ensure applicants are not prohibited from working with children, as well as a successful medical fitness check, before commencing the course. If you select Leeds Beckett University as your firm choice, we will send you further details in the summer about completing a DBS (formerly Criminal Record Bureau) enhanced check and the occupational health screening questionnaire.
Please ensure you keep your contact details up to date with us. Please notify Admissions of any changes by emailing ucasadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
What do I need to do when I get my exam results?
Please send a copy of your official final results to us at ucasadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk as soon as you receive them.
You will also need to complete any health checks and DBS information you are sent.
Exam Certificates
Please be aware that you will need to show your original exam certificates at enrolment. If you do not have these, please order them as soon as possible from your awarding body as this can take some time. Also check that you have certificates for the exact qualifications that you have listed on your application form as a decision will have been made on these. For example, we cannot accept all equivalencies for our QTS courses. If you are unsure about the qualifications you have, please email our UCAS Admissions team and they provide advice ucasadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
When will my course start?
PGCE (all courses and modes of study) start on 6th September 2027. Your induction information will be available from late summer via our online welcome website. Further details will be sent nearer the time.
Course attendance
Our courses require full-time attendance during placement. All students are expected to maintain high levels of attendance throughout the course in line with meeting the set professional standards. Our PGCE courses can be studied part-time and full-time. Please ensure you have selected the correct mode of study on your application and contact us asap if this is incorrect ucasadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Useful Contact Details
The Admissions Team is based at Headingley Campus. If you have any questions prior to or following your interview, please contact:
0113 812 3113
Our Accommodation Office will be pleased to assist you if you are interested in finding accommodation in Leeds for the duration of your studies. The office can be contacted as follows:
0113 812 5972
The University has a team of staff who can offer advice and guidance to applicants on a range of issues, including disability advice and student money advice: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/student-support/
Funding/student Loans: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/money-advice/
Disability Support: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/disability-advice/
General Information: Student Administration for Initial Teacher Education courses: education@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Course specific information: Jennifer Holly (Academic Admissions Tutor All Routes) ITERecruitment@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Open Days and Applicant Days for Campus and Accommodation Tours: Details of our Open Days and Applicant Days are here: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/open-days/
You can also look around our campuses and all our halls of residence with our virtual online tour: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/virtual-open-day/campus-tour/
