Interview at westminster

[IndeCandidate]

What do you guys recommend? children in formal / casual ?

the email says if we get invited it will be 20 min so any idea on questions ?

Warm regards And many thanks in advance

Sorry not done this interview but schools round here that interview kids tend to go in their current school uniform. I could have that wrong!

Some boys turn up in a suit but that is definitely a small minority. Just go in a polo and nice jumper, trousers and clean shoes. Westminsters are chosen for academic ability and relaxed, confident, erudite thinking, not on tailoring. So, don’t worry too much, unless it makes him feel better.

Is this for 11+?

Ds went in school uniform which was quite informal. Given a poem to explore, a short session with a maths teacher who 'taught' a concept then have a question based on the concept. Then interview with both heads - usual stuff, what are your interests, what books do you read. My Ds was a very shy boy but academic and was offered a place.

Thank you

@Lightsabre thanks a million. That’s really helps . I was so confused that do we need to go for specialist tutors who are charging£150 per session which I surely can’t afford. Was feeling so guilty to let him go unprepared.
what a relief. Thank you.

then it means interviews wouldn’t last 20 min , isn’t it? Must be like 30-40 min

@ItsACrater n @CrankyP thank you so much

is written paper for second round very hard ?any idea which papers we can compared it to ? We were thinking to let him try one or two before exam just to give him timed practice.
will the invigilators announce 30 min /10 min
So that kids don’t get distracted n leave half the paper

DS went for Great school entrance so was training at his prep for roughly a year in advance plus the school knew he would arrive prepared at 13. For 11+ doing a few practice tests can’t hurt I guess but it’s too late for a big work programme. I am sure the school would be used to boys not being polished at that age and very experienced at seeing a potential fit.

@CrankyP thank you for encouragement

Hi all. Would you be able to advise whether there are any group activities or interviews in pairs as part of their process? We were really not expecting to get to this stage for Westminster and now very lost! Thank you for any tips.

From the email they sent us, it looks like it’s a one on one interview where they have to present on a topic they’ve done at school that they’ve found interesting or challenging. It doesn’t mention any group interview or interview in pairs.

@crazymama123 is if for 13+ or 11+?

we are only told abt 14th Jan written exam n interview date only if clear exam on 14th .
but no further requirements revealed on interview as such

Interesting. We’ve been given information about both the exam and the interview. We’re doing 13+ so I don’t know if that’s the same for you?

Ds sat the exams and interviews several years ago for 11+ entry so the format may have changed . He's a sixth former now.

He was also preparing for the super selective grammar schools so had been tutored for approximately a year prior to the WUS exam. We had a good idea that he would do well in the exam as he'd sat the Sutton grammar/Wallington mock tests in Year 5 and was in the top 10 for both. He also had Cats test at his primary school in year 5 and 6 and was consistently 135-141 across the board so we knew the academics/test weren't going to be a problem. Having said that, he was quite intimidated on the second test day as there were pupils who'd flown in from places like Hong Kong and a fair few chauffeurs and Rolls Royces.

It was the interview we were less sure about due to his shy nature.

@crazymama123 ok must be different process for 13+ as we are doing 11+

Wish you all the best

@Lightsabre - that what scares me as we are very average family n very average income n I hope school atmosphere is accommodating to bright kids from different backgrounds.

are children from middle class families locked down upon or bullied? As we cannot afford that lifestyle

I couldn't say I'm afraid OP as ds didn't actually take up the offer of the place. We applied for a bursary but sadly it wasn't high enough for us to accept. I think it would have been the perfect school for ds though but he went on to achieve 11 x 9's in his GCSE's so did amazingly well academically but I guess it's all the extras like world class speakers etc.

Of the dc we know who are/were there, almost all are from wealthier families or have parents with professional backgrounds; finance, law etc. However, we work for local government earning not that much and there is a significant intake at 11+ of boys from state primary schools. Unfortunately one boy we know, from an Indian background did experience bullying in the junior school and left to go elsewhere. The boys we knew all seemed nice and polite.

@Lightsabre thank you so much for honesty. I really appreciate.

bullying due to economical/ financial reason is one thing which worries me .

I didn’t even apply for bursary as I goto know u hardly get any benefit n I thought my boy who has not been prepared will not clear ist stage anyway . He surprised us . Too late to ask for bursary now …

I don’t think he can clear stage2 as it seems stage 2 eng part is very hard n in state school he has not been taught of that level at all .

interview seems much more relaxed in Westminster n more about judging child ability based on his natural ability than tutored but let’s see if we ever get to interview stage.
comp is giving me nightmare

I attended Westminster for sixth form (albeit 20 years ago) and nobody cared about wealth…they were very very focused on academics. I had two of the best years of my life there!

I think the format is different in 13+ and 11+. For 13+ after passing ISEB, you will sit written papers and be invited for interviews as well. The interview is with 2 teachers lasting 50 minutes. For 11+ you need to clear the 2nd stage written test and then be selected to go to an interview, which is much shorter.

We are doing 13+ and by looking at the duration of the interview, this part must be given significant weight (plus perhaps the school reference), whilst for 11+, it is the written papers and ISEB which are the principal deciding factor.

@Justarrivedlondon thanks a lot . Very helpful
@DelurkingAJ that’s encouraging . If our child is destined and gets it , we will be really working very hard to pay fees. All we want is positive atmosphere n opportunities to learn .
even local grammar school is no dairy take n loads of bullying so as long as it’s abt financial background rest is part of growing up n maturing .

Meant fairy tales n not dairy take

lol .. apologies for typos

Sorry, reread the email, 13+ interview is with one teacher (not two as said above) for 50 minutes

Also, for 13+ interviews, you need to bring 2 exercise books out of Science, English, History, Geography, and RS, for discussion. Quite different from 11+ interviews I suppose.

So helpful everyone. We are also in the 13+ group so that explains why things might be different than the 11+.

it makes sense that the 11+ and 13+ cohorts are very different. 13+ students are at prep schools so they must judge based on the student’s performance, the head master’s reference and the prep reputation for delivering prepared students to the Great school. It’s no good having a boy start 13 if they have to teach him Latin and French from scratch and get his maths up to speed. It’s too much for him and the school. 11+ boys will have 2 years to get ready so it’s more about raw ability than knowledge, through that ability should be already showing in good knowledge and interest.

WUS 11+ exam second stage happened today.

how was it your kid reaction .
mine came out saying eng was hard. he was not sure if maths hence asking to get a fever so idea for my sanity.

Yes. Most said Math is easy and English is hard.