Brit School Interview - bad signs

[croydonmum]

Well DD had her interview and workshop today for admission to the art stream in year 10. She thought the workshop could have gone better. In the interview they asked lots of questions about school work but virtually nothing about art. So she didn't really get a chance to demonstrate her commitment. I got the impression they had already made their mind beforehand which was frustrating.

DD was a bit upset - interested to know if anyone else had the same experience.

What gave you the impression they had already made their mind up?

My daughter had an interview for a competitive art college last year. She wasn't even sitting GCSE in Art, or anything creative! The interviewer gave her a really hard time 'how will you cope up against A* GCSE students?'

Only 1 in 4 get in and I didn't think she would stand a chance to be honest, but she had her heart set on it. After the interview though she felt the negative questionning meant they didnt want her. She got a place.

Did she have to take a portfolio along too?

Well to me that would say they are confident about her art, but not about her school work (which they are reasonably hot on, aren't they?)

She brought her portfolio along and they looked at it while she was in the workshop so she wasn't able to talk them through it. Don't know how it compared to the others. She thought she didn't do as well in the workshop as the other kids.

I would have expected more art related questions - as that is what the application form mainly consisted of. Her school did a good reference for her with a lot of information, but most of the questions were about school work rather than academic (she is a considered an able student).

I thought they either thought her art was so poor she wouldn't get a place or that they had already decided she would get a place based on art but were probing the general school side of things.

To be honest it was so stressfull I feel like it was me being interviewed not her!

Thank you for taking the trouble to comment x

Now it's all over, try and relax. It's good there was a portfolio involved though - gives them chance to assess her fit with the school.

Whatever the outcome, they can't take her talent away.