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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

clashing interview dates

35 replies

Vik1234 · 20/01/2017 13:29

What to do...Yesterday I received a call from the bursar at Latymer Upper saying that my son had got through to the interview stage to be held on 28th January and that letters would be sent out on Monday. I am delighted naturally, but I didn't think to ask what time it would be (the information would be in the letter) and the conversation moved on to discussing the bursary application. In the meantime I was called by St.Dunstan's inviting my son for a scholarship interview, on 28th! at 8.30 in the morning. I mentioned that he had just been called for another interview on that date but she wasn't forthcoming with an alternative and since Latymer never mentioned the time, I agreed. Latymer was always the preferred choice, but St.Dunstan's has shortlisted my son for scholarship. I don't want to offend either school...any advice??

OP posts:

Maxam · 20/01/2017 13:30

offend the one you want least :)

I think its perfectly acceptable to say you've got a clash and request a different time.

ifonly4 · 20/01/2017 14:17

Most schools will expect you to be considering/applying to more than one. I'd phone Latymer Upper now and ask what time has been scheduled. If it doesn't suit, you could politely explain the position and ask for a much later time/another day.

We applied to two for scholarships and had to confirm to each of them our first and second choice. DD was offered two scholarships, so it didn't put the second choice school off knowing that.

fleurdelacourt · 20/01/2017 15:13

am intrigued - where do you live that you applied for these 2 schools? !

trumpscooters · 20/01/2017 16:48

I agree with Maxam. These schools know you're applying to more than one school so do be honest but make sure your favourite knows you'd accept their offer if it materialises.

Allthebestnamesareused · 20/01/2017 17:24

Also maybe the other will be at the end of the day and you might be able to make both?

Original poster

Vik1234 · 21/01/2017 09:39

Thanks for the reassuring advice. I think I have to accept the interviews in the order in which they come in but make it clear to Latymer that it doesn't reflect the order of preference - I was put on the spot a bit because I wasn't expecting them to call!
Fleurdelacourt - we live in SE London but close to a tube station so it's easy to get to Latymer. We've also applied to Alleyn's - haven't heard anyting yet but their interviews are also scheduled for 28th! We're not counting on that but it might end up being one busy day on the 28th!

OP posts:

PlumT · 22/01/2017 19:10

Great news about interviews. Does anyone know if a scholarship interview is a good indication that an offer will be made (regardless of whether a scholarship is offered and presuming dc doesn't completely screw up interview!)?

fleurdelacourt · 23/01/2017 08:59

OP -Alleyns is a longer process this year though - interview plus group activity so could be a couple of hours - might be tight to fit that in as well as 2 others?

ifonly4 · 23/01/2017 10:29

Is it for an academic scholarship or another one? Have the school given you an initial indication of whether they feel he should apply or haven't you had the opportunity for an initial discussion.

My DD applied for two music scholarships. Prior to application it as suggested she do an initial audition, and they would then confirm whether or not she had a chance and to apply. Both schools indicated she should apply, and both schools offered her a scholarship. However, from the start we could tell that one school particularly liked her and wanted her to succeed at her audition and entrance exams (luckily that was the scholarship she really wanted as well) - they just happened to be the one who made a much better offer!

Original poster

Vik1234 · 25/01/2017 11:28

Got the interview for Alleyn's! Also on the 28th!!! (3 in one day!) Fortunately they are at very compatible times as all schools say that they can't offer any alternative. Basically we have an hour to get from St.Dunstan's to Alleyn's (assuming it doesn't overrun) and we will go by taxi. But I'm worried in case of any traffic hold ups or unforeseen problems. Although St.Dunstan's is back up, it's an interview for academic scholarship - I don't want my son to miss out on any of the interviews! So I decided to call Alleyn's to explain this, just in case they could offer an alternative or any advice in the event of a hold up. I explained that Alleyn's is the main one that we are really holding out for but I had to accept the interviews in the order in which they came in. But now I'm thinking I shouldn't have called them?? I'm terrified that I'm going to somehow mess things up for my son (luckily he has a much cooler temperament than me!). Any advice?
Like PlumT, I'm also wondering if being shortlisted for academic scholarship means that you will most probably get an offer from the school even if not the scholarship...

OP posts:

PlumT · 25/01/2017 15:08

Vik1234, that's great news. We didn't get alleyns even though my eldest is there so a bit disappointed although St Ds prob a better fit for my youngest. They're only about 10 mins from each other so you should be fine to get there on time. I wouldn't worry about making the call to alleyns - they are human and understand clashes and probably appreciate it when parents are honest. Best of luck with all your interviews. Alleyns is fantastic school - we couldn't be happier with it for our eldest.

Bluejeans66 · 25/01/2017 16:16

Didn't you say LU was your preferred choice? Hope you manage to get their in time!

Bluejeans66 · 25/01/2017 16:17

there even!

Original poster

Vik1234 · 26/01/2017 10:49

PlumT - thanks for your message. Good luck to you too for your youngest one.
Bluejean66 - My son fell in love with LU but I feel Alleyn's would be a better fit for him. Both are excellent of course but we'll see what offers come in.
Good luck to everyone undergoing a similar process. Children seem to take it within their stride... I think it's the parents who worry more!

OP posts:

MrsPatmore · 28/01/2017 15:53

Vik, how did you manage getting to all three schools? It must have been a hectic day! Ds had an academic interview at Alleyns on Friday so I'm also wondering whether that means he has a place?

fleurdelacourt · 28/01/2017 16:17

Op- your ds had an academic scholarship interview if it was yesterday - so yes he definitely has a place I'd say?

How many were being interviewed yesterday?

MrsPatmore · 28/01/2017 17:23

Fleur, around 30 altogether on the Thursday and Friday. Ds found it difficult as he's not gregarious and I don't think he mustered up the requisite amount of enthusiasm! Not sure how many places there are altogether for 'outsiders' or whether all 30 scholarship candidates get an offer and the left over offers are picked from the Saturday candidates. I guess if you have a sibling that would help?

Noitsnotteatimeyet · 28/01/2017 20:05

Unless your child is really obnoxious in the interview or assaults the HM then anyone invited for an academic scholarship interview is pretty much guaranteed to be offered a full fees place.

There are six 'Sadlers' scholarships, a few plain academic scholarships and a few academic exhibitions. The scholarships are for a fixed amount (£3000 max) so that will be eaten up by fee increases pretty quickly...

fleurdelacourt · 29/01/2017 08:48

Apparently Alleyns interviewed 280 - but am struggling to see how that's right. There's no way they got 250 kids through their system yesterday.
And yes all 30 (barring head butting the interviewer) will get an offer. But Alleyns will over offer so if they have 80 spaces for non junior school kids I'd expect around 160 offers

PlumT · 29/01/2017 09:14

i think an academic scholarship interview is a positive but I don't think it's a cast iron guarantee of an offer as many of these schools use the interview process to see who will be the right fit for the school. Still, fingers crossed.

Original poster

Vik1234 · 01/02/2017 11:25

Further to my previous message (3 interviews in one day!)...an amazing thing happened. On Thursday evening, Alleyn's called to say that they'd reviewed my son's case and realised he should've been invited for academic scholarship interview! on Monday!! Great news! An afterthought obviously as I know the scholarship interviews were scheduled for Thursday/Friday. A question for Mrs Patmore/Fleur - were your children interviewed in a group or one-to-one? My son was interviewed by himself but I know he would have come across better in a group. Like your ds, Fleur, my son is also not so gregarious in one to one (full of life in other settings!). His conversation skills are weak - example, they say 'thank you for coming', he grudgingly says 'thank you' because he's not sure what to say - could be interpreted as lack of enthusiasm. Even asking his name, he hesitates, as if he's not sure of the answer. But once he has a task to get on with he gets stuck in. I wasn't there for the actual interview so I'm hoping that was the case. Anyway, the point is I had a chat with the main lady - I asked if having a scholarship interview meant there was a very high chance of getting an offer, even if not scholarship. She said that the only reason they might not make an offer is if they felt the child did not really want to got to the school. I hope that answers a few doubts. I did explain that my son was uncharacteristically shy in certain settings, so I hope they make allowances for that and judge him on his academic ability. By the way, any strange questions? - son was asked how he would describe the colour yellow to a blind person and what he would do if a penguin turned up at his front door!

OP posts:

PlumT · 01/02/2017 12:00

Well done to you and your son Vik, that's fantastic news. As I've said before A is a brilliant school...cannot fault it. Re ac scholarships, we asked the same of the head at st ds on sat and he said offers wouldn't necessarily be made to all AS candidates (gulp) but I guess they have to cover their arses in case someone was clearly not the kind of child (or parent 😳) they are looking for. The wait continues...
I think those interview questions are genius...certainly couldn't prep for those! Let us know how you get on next week x

Original poster

Vik1234 · 01/02/2017 12:10

Yes I'm sure they just want to cover themselves in the event of some extreme cases (we had a giggle speculating what those extreme cases might be...) Even if you son didn't perform his best, the fact that he was shortlisted for scholarship definitely bodes well. Best of luck to you too, fingers crossed!!

OP posts:

MrsPatmore · 01/02/2017 15:29

Vik, sounds like our sons are very similar. My friend's daughter was asked similar questions to the ones you've posted. Good for getting children to think on their feet! Ds had three interviews, each approx 15 mins duration. Very daunting and not asked the colour or penguin questions. Alleyns not his favourite school but hoping he didn't say that in case it's the only offer he gets!

fleurdelacourt · 02/02/2017 08:33

Vik - congratulations - so he ended up just having the scholarship interviews? Am sure that that equals a place. One headmaster told us that ds was up for an academic scholarship - and commented that short of ds assaulting his interviewer it was a done deal!!

Yes we had those weird questions. Quite funny really - I thought interviewing had moved away from that type of thing? we also had one about getting water up a mountain - not quite so abstract but in the same vein?

The Saturday session did include a group exercise but it was story telling rather than a group interview.

8 more sleeps until we know - eek!

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