St Paul's 13+ interviews

[Chocolateteacake]

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.

Oh and given the cult of 'banter' I think he sounds like he would fit right in!

My SIL is called Pauline (childish snigger)...

Any boy I've seen at exams/interviews for such schools (when I've been chauffeur /moral support) have been very earnest looking types - studious and serious looking little chaps, with slicked down hair and side partings rather than tiggers! Godson looks like Tarzan in comparison.

I'm glad they are more Tigger than Just William...

I think even my DSs managed to look quite decent for interview - haircut, polish shoes, do up blazer buttons, scrub fingernails etc. But I was worried for DS2 as they knew him well from him attending school events for his big brother as a whirlwind type of boy. And Ds1 (who ultimately did superbly and got a place at Oxbridge) never got a school report that didn't simultaneously praise his enthusiasm in class and deplore his lack of work and application.

I do think SPS know exactly what they are looking for - it's about academic spark. And either you have it or you don't - you can't fake it at interview and being any or boisterous doesn't stop it coming through.

Having said all of which, I am sure all the schools your godson is looking at are equally great and it's important not to get too hung up on one particular one. Yes Sps is a great school but if I were going to be bottom of the year there I would much rather go elsewhere and be in the top half or whatever. I firmly believe there is no 'best school' just the best school for your kid.

Ffs *shy not any

'simultaneously praise his enthusiasm in class and deplore his lack of work and application' That's godson!

Still no date... I had less stress getting my last job!

They write about two weeks beforehand so it's crazy to anticipate it so early and be driving yourself crazy as you may have a long wait unless you know for sure godson is top of the applicants from his school. My DS had a mid-march appt so we heard at end of feb and he was the second or third from his school - last went in October. Just be glad you know it's coming.

Another one with 2 weeks' notice - we had the letter just after spring half term.

You know it's coming -one less thing to worry about!

Parents at our school keep their cards pretty close to their chest, and you know how kids are (meanwhile, outside exam centre)
'So, DS, is Fred sitting this exam?'
'No. Yes. No. I think so. We haven't discussed it. No. I think he isn't'
'Hi there Fred, good luck with the exam...'

We've just been given an interview date for St Paul's with the usual 2 weeks notice but it's looking like my husband and I can't get the time off work - anyone know how amenable they are at people changing interview dates?

Our son got an interview date for early March, together with another at his school and the rest are waiting for a date. And yes they are the top in CAT tests but maybe they got an early date because SP knows that we also apply for 11+ schools too and we have to give an answer sooner than the rest.
WS results are out soon, before the interview date + offers are out from Kings etc already so the kids are relaxed.
There's nothing you can do to prepare. At WS he was asked about the book that he read, whether it was a book they study at school or his own reading at home. The Maths questions were very deep (25 min vs 15min SP) but manageable.
We will just have to trust the school to find out our sons' true potential through the interview.

Red - get in the phone first thing! The admissions bod there is very nice and they must realise that all the parents aren't landed gentry or ladies of leisure with nothing else to do.