Help please: ‘Interests’ on independent school application form

[Dashie]

Thank you in advance for any advice.

What is best put on the section for ‘Interests’ on an independent school application form.

We are applying for secondary school for my son and for various reasons feel that a local independent school is the best option for him.

We can manage the fees with careful planning but have been advised that he should apply for an academic scholarship, which would help reduce the financial pressure a bit!

I assume that ‘Interests’ listed on the form will help direct topics in his interview. We have no idea how many items to list and in how much detail.

He enjoys lots of different hobbies but not to at a competitive level, eg climbing, cricket, swimming.
He loves reading and learning history. Should we be more specific about which areas in particular interest him? I’m sure most people put ‘reading’.
He has an impressive depth of knowledge about random things such as flags of all the countries, kings & queens of England, Pokemon!

Any advice would be very gratefully received. We are brand new to this and he is at our local (lovely) village primary school, which has not offered support on independent school applications as I know a prep school probably would.

Thank you

Have you looked at the school’s Scholarship Policy? Most schools clearly set out how academic scholarships are awarded eg. top performing student in entrance tests. With regard to interests, I would be more specific than “reading” - put any particular genres or books. Be honest as this is likely to be a question at interview and it then becomes obvious if the details on the form were aspirational rather than truthful

I think we put 'enjoys reading a wide range of fiction and non- fiction' or something like that- covered everything from Beano, Pokémon and the odd 'proper' book! Also put down a few sports even though not particularly strong at any then! ( also state primary!).
I think a couple of things were discussed at interview but I don't think it really mattered ( I think the report they asked for from school asked about things they did at school, eg choir etc, but they know preps will have a lot more on offer.)

I think the interests question is to ensure that your DC will play a full part in the life of the school and also so that they have something to talk about at interview.

I think my DD was asked which of her activities was her favourite and what activity she was most looking forwards to at the secondary school. My DD has broad interests, but none at a stand out level and I think that's fairly normal. We just made sure she could talk about everything that was on the list.

What does the senior school pride itself on? Presumably these things are part of the reason you’ve chosen to apply? Do they dovetail with your son’s current interests - or is he keen to take up activities they offer that he hasn’t yet had an opportunity to engage in? Hold that in mind as you answer the questions.

Yes, be specific about areas of reading.

For each of his sporty things I’d give an indication of how long he’s been doing it, what his most recent achievement was (official or otherwise - winning a medal or overcoming an obstacle), and what he’d like to achieve next.

Does he sing, act or play an instrument? If not, would he like to? What and why?

But pp are right - do not embellish!

I conduct these interviews. I speak to a lot of children who love maths, piano and Harry Potter.

The interview is his chance to show what an asset he will be to the school. They will be interested in the sports that they offer, plus anything that is a bit different. So, cricket and also climbing. If he could talk about climbing, what he’s done, why he enjoys, that will be good at interview.

re reading, I would like to hear which period of history fascinates him, what he has read about that.

Thank you, this is all very helpful.
There is only a small box with three lines in for text so they clearly don’t want too much information. Just brief ideas.

@Michaelmonstera yes, the potential scholarship children are picked based on results in the entrance test, so not for some time. We have to hand the application form in now though.

@onemomentintime @SausageinaBun it sounds as if your children are similar to mine. Not playing sport at county level or anything like that but (we think!) a genuinely nice and interesting person.

@Gruach thank you those are some good tips. He won Most Improved Player in the local cricket team so we can put that rather than just ‘cricket’.

@NancyJoan thank you, it’s incredibly useful to hear from someone who actually interviews. He did enjoy Harry Potter! but prefers what I suppose could be referred to as ‘historical fiction’, but for children. Baring in mind there are only 3 lines, how can we write that? ‘Historical fiction sounds a bit pompous for an 11-year-old!

If I had to engage with a hundred ten year olds over the course of a week, I'd probably be very interested in one that didn't say reading, chess, yet another opening batsman or studying the metaphysical poetry of goat herders in deepest nowhere. So I'd welcome the chance for a kid to talk about rock climbing because they like it and that they see lots of wildlife or interesting geology/think rappelling is the best bit after getting to the top and feeling the wind blow through their face and hair, rather than their doing it with a view to becoming an Olympic Champion.

Something vaguely more academic would be a particular theme in history - like the giant fossilised turd of Yorvik giving an idea of the diet at the time - or how he made his own battleaxe out of an Amazon box and the inside of a roll of wrapping paper and took out three vases/gave the next door neighbour the fright of her life before Dad suggested that he looked at trebuchet manufacture instead and Mum said trebuchets are fine but we are not doing ballistas.

@NeverDropYourMooncup can I steal your interests? Goat herders and fossilised turd of Yorvik it is then!
I completely understand what you’re saying though, all the children applying with be bright and have hobbies. He needs to have things on his form that make him seem different, in a good way, and that he is happy chatting about. Thank you.

This is true. My favourite interviews are with children with quirky but passionate interests; however, I don’t think that is something you can fake. On a general level, I am continually amazed by the broad level of talent that some children display at Year 6 - for some this seems to dissipate somewhere between year 9 and 11 whilst others go on to have golden lives.

Mahjong? 🤣

@Dashie Sorry, you didn’t direct the question to me - but of course ‘historical fiction’ doesn’t sound pompous for a child! (Full disclosure, I recall talking an awful lot about Georgette Heyer and Jean Plaidy at a similar interview a long time ago.)

@Michaelmonstera he has challenged himself to be able to name all the countries in the world and recognising all their flags, maybe this is a good thing?! He’s almost got it!
And makes comments such as: that building was built in 1752 when xxx was on the throne.
Definitely a true passion and not faked!

@LemonSwan not quite! He taught himself rubix cube though 😆

@Gruach you have good taste in books!

I was 12!

(But what I wouldn’t give to regain, for even half an hour, the sheer, full blooded immersion in a book that one has at that age. I wish your DS happy reading! Though he has the disadvantage of an Internet childhood.)

@Gruach That feeling of being able to read for as long as you want. And reading the best books for the first time!

Are there particular Kings and Queens that he is interested in?

If so, mention which ones and why?

If so, now and just before the interview take him to the places like Castles, palaces, battleground or homes that are associated with that person. He will be able to talk about that person in a more informed way

If it is Queen Victoria then go to Osborne House on Isle of Wight

If it is Charles I then Carisbrooke Castle also on Isle of Wight

These are both IMHO and IME both wonderful places to visit anyway 🙂🙂🙂🙂

If it is the flags, did he enjoy the Olympics due to seeing all the flags from the world and knowing which were which?

My dc had big academic scholarships after mainstream primary. It’s not about the subject matter the interest question is just an ice breaker to get conversation flowing so they can assess oral language skills. What swung it will have been their academic ref (ahead of peers in all subjects at primary) and equally strong high scores in English and maths entrance tests. They are looking for bright all rounders. Mine had few interests but did bag top grades at gcse / A levels with relative ease. I’m pretty sure that’s what the school was looking for at age 10 and they could have talked about rubix cubes for all the interviewer cared. I don’t think they are looking for kids who can recite facts they will be looking for higher level language skills eg reasoning, prediction, inference, irony. There was quite a bit of humour/banter in dc interview. So just choose something they will feel relaxed talking about because it’s more their conversation skills and how they think on the spot that is being judged not what they do in their spare time. Talking about a museum trip etc would be perfect. Interests are what the sport and music scholarships are for. Academic scholarships are for kids they hope will boost exam results in 5/7 years time.

Was that day or boarding @JJ8765 ? During our most recent round of school interviews (within the last handful of years) potential to do well at public exams was expected, of course, but for full boarding schools they really did want pupils who could hold their own in conversation and who would bring something to communal life.

Historical fiction sounds a bit pompous for an 11-year-old!

If that is what he likes, that is what you should put. If there is enough room put a recent title he's enjoyed. Interests can also be anything from boardgaming to metaldetecting to looking after pets to travel to visiting the local National Trust house to crafting, as well as the obvious sport, dance, reading, music, plays. If he did something for a local science fair, put that. Baking? Ditto. And so on.

Thank you all for the advice and suggestions. So helpful.
Now, fingers crossed that it helps him get a place 🤞