Independant school interview?

[dobby2001]

My DD is in year 6 of a successful local independent school. She is sitting the entrance test for senior school (same site,same headteacher) next week.

We have now been invited to attend an interview with the head of seniors and headteacher to discuss our application for senior school.

Now call me thick but as she is already there and her current teacher only told us last week she is top of the class and has no need to revise for the exams I am really clueless as to what we will be asked about?

DH keeps asking me if we need to bring our bank statements to prove we can still afford it

Am I right in assuming its just procedural, a chat about DDs hobbies and interests, opportunity for head of seniors to get to know us and vice versa?

Or should I be avidly poring over old copies of the school newsletters so i know stuff about said heads that I can drop into casual chat and impress them with my outstanding knowledge of school life,thus demonstrating my commitment to future PTA support??

We were once interviewed at the same time as my son. The school is primarily a day school with a handful of boarders but we were looking for a boarding place. The master who interviewed us was confused by the fact that we had two addresses (neither near the school) and that my DS went to a prep school that primarily fed into Eton and Harrow never into this school. Basically what were doing there? When my husband explained that he was an old boy (he'd written it on the original application) they spent the rest of the time reminiscing; do you remember Smithers? Oh god yes hows he getting on? Etc. I thought it was a complete waste of time.

If school procedure is to interview all pupils and all parents of pupils who are candidates for Y7, then, however well the school knows you and your DD, they will want and need to interview the three of you. I don't know what you don't understand about this.

Don't be chippy at the interview (because you are a bit chippy in the OP!). Be understanding of the school's ethos and demonstrate that you are the highly supportive parents of a child who is devoted to her school!

if procedure is to interview. then you must go. If not it may affect your chances. go, be understanding and im sure it will be fine¬

How can you not know the procedure for transferring to senior school when you're already there?

Could you ask a parent from the year above what the normal process is? They're bound to know better than we do - we can only guess..

I wish I had never asked for advice now I had so much good help the last time i did

Bonsoir I have no idea what chippy means??? If you look at the time I posted it was late, I was tired and just trying to understand the independant secondary school process? My attempts at being light hearted obviously failed dismally I have never said I would not attend the interview, I totally understand it is part of the process, I just wanted to find out if there was any sort of format to these.
As for "how can I not know the procedure" well my DD only started at the school last easter. We had no interview then, she had a taster day following our open day visit, she was assessed and we were invited to take up a place,we filled in forms,paid our fees and that was that. We have never had any previous experience of private education so everything is new to us. I also work 8-6 so have no daily contact with the school except for Fridays when i get 5 minutes of saying hello to the two parents i know before DD comes out. Neither of those parents have older children.

They may want to know if you are going to be nightmare parents.

Ha Ha Grovel, DH might be but I spend my 5 minutes on Friday getting signed up for all manner of PTA stuff. As alot of the Mums don't work they always look shocked when I have to say "sorry but I cannot do tea for the governors at 2.30 on Tuesdays"

Sorry, dobby I was clearly harsh with my words earlier.

A quick word with the Head's PA might give you the info you need. Its hard to give specific advice on this as every independent school works differently.