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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Preps- Parent interview?

14 replies

ComingtoEngland100 · 18/02/2022 08:55

Hi Mumsnet,

I've heard some Preps require a parents interview before a formal offer of a place, especially in oversubscribed preps in London, where they choose you !

Is this true? Can an assessment place be withdrawn or is the interview of parents conducted at the same time?

Any help appreciated, so much of the prep school process is shrouded in mystery to 'outsiders'.

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pitterpatterrain · 18/02/2022 08:58

I have no idea. But I am curious!

My brain is pondering all weird and wonderful scenarios now

Maybe they are just asking for extra money. Perhaps they check whether your teeth are straight.

ConfusedaboutSchool · 18/02/2022 09:17

Not all schools interview parents but when they do its before the offer is made not after. Our school didn't interview but on the application form you had to put down lots of information about yourself. I think its a bit outrageous to be honest!

Original poster

ComingtoEngland100 · 18/02/2022 09:38

@ConfusedaboutSchool

Are they looking for what they define as 'the right sort?' Or do decent people who love their children and respect the school have nothing to worry about and it's not about a certain face fitting?

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ConfusedaboutSchool · 18/02/2022 10:24

I don't know and I think it might depend on the school.

I've heard that some schools are trying to favour a more interesting mix (not all bankers and lawyers) though I suspect there is an element of 'curating' the school community so its cohesive. I'd hope they'd mostly been checking to make sure you seem like you'll be involved and supportive as what happens outside of school is just as important if not more so than what happens in school.

Either way though, it feels rife with the potential for unconscious bias in the admissions process.

Original poster

ComingtoEngland100 · 18/02/2022 10:44

The unconscious thing worries us. Thanks @ConfusedaboutSchool All we can do is try and show we aren't going to be difficult and work with the school and fully support our child at home.

I've read things like some preps prefer one parent at home, or are strict on how far you live from the school, it's a minefield.

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fallfallfall · 18/02/2022 21:09

interviewing the parents might help establish if funding would be an issue. i'm sure many of the london privates have applications from people that when push come to shove can't pay.

7plus11plus · 18/02/2022 22:00

From our experiences 3+/4+ prep will definitely interview parents but not for older kids. We did go to Habs girls for 7+ interview but it was only 10 mins and they wanted to know if you were seriously considering their school.

Original poster

ComingtoEngland100 · 18/02/2022 22:24

@7plus11plus

Thank you. This is for 4+ prep. We've had name down for a few preps, others we're making sure we apply in time for assessment etc, but we keep hearing these stories and hearsay that our child might be ok, but we have to 'fit' too.

Have you gone through this at 3/4+ ? @7plus11plus ?

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7plus11plus · 18/02/2022 23:03

Yes we did for our oldest DS and that was 6-7 years ago! It was awful. Worst “job interview” ever. We did 7+ for DD instead! (No parents interview apart from Habs girls)

Original poster

ComingtoEngland100 · 18/02/2022 23:22

@7plus11plus

Yes we did for our oldest DS and that was 6-7 years ago! It was awful. Worst “job interview” ever. We did 7+ for DD instead! (No parents interview apart from Habs girls)

Oh God....But I assume you 'passed' the test with your DS? I think that's what's so nerve wracking, I don't want to mess this up for my DC!!!

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hampsteadmum · 19/02/2022 09:47

We had a parents' interview at the Hall in Belsize Park many years ago (around 9-10). Nothing to be afraid of. I suppose they are looking to see whether the parents would be supportive of their son's education, whether values aligned. For what is worth I had a super demanding career at the time, but I suppose I came across as someone who would support my son's education. DS was accepted. My working outside the home was not a decision making factor either way.

karmakameleon · 19/02/2022 10:03

If a school is that snooty, would you really want to send your children there anyway?

FWIW our prep doesn’t interview parents but I know from conversations with the Head that they are mainly looking for families that really want to send their children to the school and will support them once they are there. They like a mix of backgrounds (they could fill the school ten times over with children of bankers and lawyers). I’ve also heard stories of younger siblings not being admitted when the parents are “difficult” so they probably want to filter out the complete a*holes at this stage too.

Original poster

ComingtoEngland100 · 19/02/2022 16:53

Thanks all. This is demystifying the whole process.

A school that just wants to ensure parents are 'on board' is fine, I guess we are more quirky, academic, bookish people, rather than banker/lawyer types, so hopefully that helps, (unless liberal academic types quota is filled!)

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tiktokontheclock · 19/02/2022 20:00

We did one at Habs and I don't think it was for any of the reasons mentioned above, they're not trying to check how much money you have or whether you stay at home. What a load of rubbish. It's more trying to see if your values match theirs. Personally I think they try to weed out pushy parents.

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