I need help about Westminster School Interview

[Pani6161]

Hi Everyone.
My son sat for Westminster 13+ exam in November and he has been invited for the interview in Feb. I am not familiar with the interview process at all. I would be grateful if anyone would share their experiences with me.Thanks

[Pani6161]

I have no clue why some of the invitation. I personally received it on 18th of December. Its so odd that they have sent out the letters in different time. I am already so nervous so do my DS.

[Pani6161]

originalmavis I have applied for KCS and Hampton as well. What about you?

[Pani6161]

Hopeless432 I missed the registration deadline which was in September. It was my fault however the deadline for 11+ was in October if I am right, so I thought that the 13+ is the same day.
I don't think at the interview, they would expect the 10 years old talk about the rocket science or politics, as you have said, academic is the matter. Westminster is highly academic school and that's all they are looking for. I may be wrong , it is just my personal opinion.

[Pani6161]

Hopeless432 yes I did miss the registration date which was in September. I don't think that the interview would be a big deal as surely they don't expect the 10 years old to talk about the financial crisis and politic. Academic is a matter for them. As you said, boys performance on written test would lead them in.
originalmavis The way that they have sent the letters is odd. some soon and some later. I got it on 18th Dec. Not sure what is the reason.

[originalmavis]

Thankfully we had this all last year, so are lucky to be in the fortinate situation of having two 13+ offers on the table (assuming DS pulls his finger out and does sone work for the exams).

[originalmavis]

Fortunate. (I can spell really...)

[Pani6161]

Ah sorry guys for duplication, my previous messages were disappeared somehow and backed again.

[originalmavis]

The letters do go out in dribs and drabs. No one can work it out bit tbe boys do tend to be grouped on the day by their school.

[Hopeless432]

Well l am glad to be doing my bit to shore up Westminster School with my registration fee. I will sleep peacefully knowing that perhaps my small contribution has in some way made the Westminster boys life a little bit easier (softer loo roll or something nice like that). Suspect my DS is there to chummy up as originalmaris explained so well. Of course you never know (except you do really).

[Michaelahpurple]

The last few years they about half the field at interview , down to about 250-300 boys for 150 places, although this slightly overstates the chances as this includes circa 66 westminster under boys, most of whom get places. There is no financial incentive for them to interview excess numbers as you paid your registration fees last year before the prescreening

[Hopeless432]

Can we take any comfort from the fact that they got through to the interview ? Hard to know how difficult the ISEB is. There could be a wide range of scores in the top 50%. Do only the top few in a class get through l wonder? Everybody is quiet in his class on the subject so l don't know how many got through. Looking for crumbs of hope going into the 11+ exams.

[Needmoresleep]

"Westminster is highly academic school and that's all they are looking for. I may be wrong , it is just my personal opinion."

I am not sure this is true, at least by the time they get to interview. When DS went for his SPS interview, albeit a decade ago, the person interviewing explained that they would be taking a certain number from Colet and a certain number of very very bright boys had aced the exams. This left quite a large number of bright boys chasing quite a small number of remaining places. All could cope academically and none should feel they had failed if they did not get a place. Essentially the interview would be trying to indentify which boys were naturally curious and would enjoy a SPS education.

Our son was not particuarly competitive but enjoyed learning and having clever friends. (Oh and no art, no music and decidedly B team football.) He was offered a place at SPS but accepted Westminster instead and completely loved it. I would treat the interview as a constructive process. They know a lot about your sons academic abilities and would not be interviewing them if they were not good enough. It will be about fit, so your sons should just be themselves and look forward to an interesting conversation. There are lots of good day schools in London and not all bright children do best at very selective schools.

[Pani6161]

Needmoresleep Thank you very much. you gave me a lot of hope. Will let everyone know about the result as soon as I hear from them.

[Pani6161]

Hopeless432: Have your son done the interview yet? Have you heard anyone get offer yet of not?

[Hopeless432]

Hi Pani, we have not had our interview yet but have had our heads turned by another top school so our focus is elsewhere now. Thought the open evening was so-so. No new info there and everyone seemed to be in the same boat as us - no clue as to whether their son has a realistic chance or how he did on the ISEB. Were they boarder line cases or near the top?

[Hopeless432]

Also, he did say that interviews go into early Feb and offers are made sometime after half-term. I have a date of early March for offer letters in my head from somewhere. Most people will know their day school offers by then except for SPS and maybe Eton/ Winchester. I think the registrar interviews ? I liked the head. They were all very impressive without being arrogant & the sixth formers we met were equally down to earth.

[Pani6161]

Thanks Hopeless432 . I didn't like the open evening and the boarding site was so depressing and cramp. 3 boys is tiny rooms without any nice outdoor area did not impress me at all.I liked the head tho

[Michaelahpurple]

The westminster letters all go out at once (unlike the drip feed from St. Paul's) so ages to wait yet. As I recall they come about 10 days into March , but they started interviewing a week early this year, so maybe that will feed through (I know this because they do all the Wus boys first)

[contraryMe]

DS had his interview at W. Felt the exam beforehand went well but that the interview was very rushed and was feeling that the whole thing had already been decided. Perhaps they decide on the ISEB results, use the exam on the day to check for consistency and the interview is just a screening? Anyone else experience similar? We are still awaiting SPS interview date.

[Pani6161]

Hi contraryMe . My son is having his interview next week, so have no idea how it is gonna be. will definitely let you know when it's done. I also heard that they more decide on the ISEB result rather than the interview. How did your DS find the written exams?

[contraryMe]

Written exams are fine. About in the range of other very selectives. He found comprehension just about okay and maths no problem. Yes, it must all go on ISEB and we didn't prep him so l doubt he's a high scorer. Never mind.

[Michaelahpurple]

I doubt they do it all on the iseb. It just doesn't give enough differentiation , especially in English

[flyingrainbow]

Westminster School is certainly looking at the consistency of the ISEB results, in relative to headteacher report with peer group of the same school comparison ranking, and short-test performance, then interview impression, background of the family and current school type, and so weight in careful and balanced judgement. Even the under school boys are not all able to transfer, and they need to go through exactly the same procedure as the external candidates.

[Michaelahpurple]

I

[Michaelahpurple]

I don't see how the background of the family could or should come in to it. It isn't like St Pauls's where the parents are interviewed too. How would they know about the family?