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Original poster

St Paul's 13+ interviews

37 replies

Chocolateteacake · 06/02/2015 11:57

Had anyone got a date yet?

My godson is waiting for a day/time and his mum is getting worried clashes with any potential acceptances from other schools that do the pre-testing doo-dah.

OP posts:
WorkingItOutAsIGo · 07/02/2015 16:17

Alba my sense when DS1 did it was he was called for interview in age order and as a youngster went quite late in the year. I think the pre-test was done differently as fellow mothers across several prep schools all told me the super-brightest boys were called first (mine not one of these!). The early boys all got offers, the later boys were less likely to. A difficult situation for the school however they organise it.

Offtotheraces · 07/02/2015 13:56

...was refunded !

Albagirl · 07/02/2015 13:55

Maybe it's all changed with the pre-test , but my DS now at SPS was the last in his year to be interviewed . The last 4 interviewees were all done in 2 days all got places . Some earlier pupils were waitlisted . I thought that up till May/June everyone had an equal chance with declining odds thereafter ? . my deposit was by another school .

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 07/02/2015 00:33

Err no. School says completely random. Data says otherwise - state school boys first, then cleverest boys in the year in order.

Original poster
Chocolateteacake · 06/02/2015 23:41

Maybe its in batches by school like Westminster?

OP posts:
pineapplechick · 06/02/2015 20:18

DS didn't apply for St Paul's but has several friends with interviews next week. Rumour has it that the strongest candidates are given early dates, and this certainly seems to be the case with his year/cohort, but we also know someone who had an interview in June last year and was offered a place so who knows?

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 06/02/2015 19:11

Bless them, there's much more stress to come! And this issue isn't one worth fretting over as most people by definition won't get their SPS interviews before deadlines for other schools. It's a moving feast for the next year as people all have interviews at different schools at different times so some people are sorted quite quickly and some are still without places at the end of the year.

Realistically, if they receive offers now then they should be delighted and not stressed, as this is a good quality problem to have. Much better problem than if they don't receive offers...that's what they should actually be fretting about! But don't say that to them!!

ladygrinningsoul · 06/02/2015 18:09

They may be asked to pay a deposit elsewhere very soon, but if the other school is a member of HMC it is fully refundable up until the end of December this year.

Original poster
Chocolateteacake · 06/02/2015 17:58

So they may end up paying for their backup school a deposit whilst waiting for an interview date?

And even if they get an offer now, it's only provisional anyway as they need to pass the common entrance? I'm assuming these are set by the schools individually (like it was in my day).

No wonder they're stressed!

OP posts:
WorkingItOutAsIGo · 06/02/2015 17:11

Aha I understand. The way the boys' schools work is that generally they are co-ordinated on their timetables so they all ask for a final decision - which means a large cheque - at the same time. This is Sept in year 8 for us I think. But on the way to that date most people preserve options at several schools which necessitates a number of smaller deposit cheques. So your friends perhaps need to accept that they are very unlikely to have all the information they need in March and may have to preserve a safety net whilst they wait for SPS if that's their first choice. HTH.

Original poster
Chocolateteacake · 06/02/2015 14:31

The boy has sat for a couple of other schools and they have said that they will let them know by early March. Not ideal if you have to make a decision!

OP posts:
WorkingItOutAsIGo · 06/02/2015 12:51

Last year, which may not be the same as this year, interviews spread from January to October so she probably needs to calm down! If there is a clash of interview date they will just offer an alternative. For 13+ there shouldn't be a need to rush any decisions.