SW London Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2023 (Part II)

[QuiteAJourney]

Continuation of the thread
SW London Girls' Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2023

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4643252-sw-london-girls-private-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023?page=40

Looking forward to continuing the journey with all of you!!

All this preparation since year 4 for just getting into a secondary school. It’s wrong on so many levels. I keep reminding myself that there exists a world outside of London where normal schools exist and where 10 year old children are not judged and they continue to blossom in a mixed cohort.

My oldest DS had an interview at an independent school some years ago. They asked for his opinion on a picture. He answered but they clearly wanted more from him and he ended up feeling very under pressure. He came out so down hearted.

DS had interviews at Hampton and Latymer amongst others. Didn't really do any prep and I'm not sure it would have been much use anyway. He was quite interested in current affairs at the time which was useful as both interviews asked about things that were going on at that time. Pictures in both, had to read a passage out loud in one ( can't remember which).
Asked him what he was up to the rest of the weekend etc etc. what he liked about the school ( LU he said the underpass under the A4...).
He didn't really have a clue what the pictures were but managed to make up something. Didn't really see to be right or wrong answers.
State school boy, not really any preparation at all.

I think that most of us are 'circling' around a similar space on the interview issue:

• make DC aware that the interview is important and an opportunity to present themselves, including by not being mono-syllabic!
• there are some common questions that can be brought up in conversation so the DC (I think that works better than a full practice as, tbh, they are unlikely to take it seriously with us!)
• explain that the questions do not have a right / wrong answer, the interview is interested in how they think (that applies from 'favourite book' to 'explain the picture') and that the more information they can give on that, the better
• It is useful if they know about current affairs (The Week Junior or watching the news is useful)
• Knowing about the school and having a view about what they like about it helps. Our DD visited all the schools and decided to take notes (we were quite surprised at the time as it was completely her idea) - that is now proving helpful as she is honing on things that are important for her.

As previously said, it also depends on the interview. DD has had a few already and they have all been 10-20 minutes and quite gentle (of the 'getting to know you type') and I think the same applies to the ones she already has scheduled (KGS) or she might have if she is called to that stage (Emanuel, Harrodian). I have heard of other interviews that sound more like 'Google-type job interviews' but, even for those, the advice above (especially on the interviewer being interested in your way of thinking and the more information you give on that the better) still applies.

That's a brilliant post @QuiteAJourney & echoes everything I've been told re interviews. The schools are not trying to catch anyone out - simply observe the child's way of thinking, so the more relaxed (and less rehearsed) they are, the better. One school actually said at an open day "There's nothing we dislike more than a child coming in with a pre-prepared speech, so please don't do it". Personally I think it's impossible to do exam practice with your own child (it certainly would be with mine!) but even little things like teaching them eye contact, handshakes and smiles when they say hello can help a lot (not least with their own sense of composure in the room).

@LondonMum20222 - you are very kind.
Interesting comment from that headmaster - as somebody that has interviewed quite a few people for jobs, I agree on the over-rehearsed. It does not sound natural, you do not get a feeling for the person and, hence, you are going into uncharted territory in terms of whether there is a "fit" or not. I can see why schools would not been keen either.

@QuiteAJourney Exactly. If you're going to spend 7 years with this child in your school, you want to get a sense of who they really are, not the parroted lines they've been taught to say!

The problem with over rehearsal is that you can often end up answering the question you wish you’d been asked rather than the actual question that has been asked.

The other things with over rehearsal is that when asked about things you haven't prepared you sound dreadful and hesitant, because you don't have a word perfect answer!

I think the point of rehearsing, is not to have memorized answers, but to feel confident giving responses to questions, some tricky or ones you might not be able to answer. This way they do not go completely blank during the interview when caught off guard.

This is a question more for parents who have been through CLSG process or parents in a similar situation this year - we have a clash for their interview date and want to request them to shift it. Is this possible given they say in the letter that this is inflexible? We have a clash with another school date which only offers a single interview date. Looking for some advice here

@tamu1234 we had various clashes and the schools always were happy to move them. They just don’t want people just saying it is inconvenient and asking for moves. If genuine reason they tend to be pragmatic.

DS has a group interview in January. I've found it hard to get any insights as to what this might look like or how to prepare for it. Group interviews seem to be far less common. I'm guessing they may have to discuss ways to solve a given problem in a group and the teacher will assess how they interact...does anyone have experience of this type of interview?

@WildBactrian worth mentioning the school when trying to get more insights. Group assessments can differ quite a lot between schools (my DD has done a couple so far and they were different from each other and has one scheduled for WHS that we understand will also be of a different format)

@QuiteAJourney it's Sevenoaks School.

@WildBactrian maybe worth, in addition to posting here, setting a specific thread about it (especially as most people on this thread are more focused on SW London and less likely to know about that specific school).
Good luck!

Thanks, I'll do that. My best wishes for all our children going through this challenging time.

Happy Christmas to all! Hopefully we'll all have good news in regards to interviews and places for the DC in the new year!

Thank you! Merry Christmas! I must admit, I am feeling quite nervous. Wish we could find out already!!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas!
Wishing all a restful period before the "fun and games" start again!

Merry Christmas! I’m a lurker (went through this last year) and just wanted to say that, while it’s impossible not to worry, they do all seem to end up at the right school for them in the end. Also, my dd will be helping out at the SPGS exam day in January, and I know that she and her friends will do their best to make it fun and not too stressful. The lunch is usually excellent, too!

Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully you have managed to relax a bit yesterday and today - we switched off our phones yesterday, it was a revelation!

Thank you HighRopes - I'm sure the girls at SPGS will do their best to set at ease our girls. We had such nice experience at the open day.

From experience, do you have an idea what the order of the papers will be - English, Math and Comprehension? Thank you in advance!

@FriendlyMom From memory, English and Maths in the morning. Then lunch and an activity, then the comprehension paper.

Thank you @HighRopes!