SW London Private & Grammar: applying for year 7 in 2023

[QuiteAJourney]

Following up from
www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4716365-sw-london-private-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023-part-iii?page=40

Sharing the journey

Can you not mention the chess, cubs etc anywhere or is it very prescriptive?!

Experienced Mums, any tips about LEH interview? How was it last year? Thanks

Nothing to thank me for - my messages throughout the thread(s) bear witness to this spirit.
By now, beyond statements, it is quite clear the spirit in which different posters participate.

Rather prescriptive. Not about extra-curricular in general but specific types of extra-curricular and certain dimensions of it (for instance, nothing on Art Clubs at school just outside schools, nothing on sports not played in league / competitive setting, nothing on crafts, etc)

Well we would have been completely buggered with that! I bet Gary Barlow and Holly Willoughby's kids didn't have to fill that form in!

😂We need the humour (and back-on track conversations).

I wonder whether part of the rationale (however terribly pitched it is) is that, differently to other schools, Harrodian does not offer scholarships at 11+ so this might be a way of gathering information on some of the key interests of candidates that, otherwise, might have become apparent through applications to scholarship programmes.

Not yet. DS will be going on Thursday, slightly worried about the group activity. He's fairly quiet and I'm anxious he'll go unnoticed.

Ohhh Gary Barlow’s kids are there?

if I knew that I’d get DS to try more !! 😆

Pls don’t worry , quietness might translate as non-cockiness and self respect x

Agree. They will be looking for different personality types but, above all, the capacity to work with others. Also groups are of 4 only, with one member of staff observing.

Thank you. I'm guessing they should be used to the different types of personalities they will encounter.

We have ours on Thursday. Yes! Any tips would be most welcome. It’s our last one!!!

I heard something about being asked about things in the news, not sure how accurate that is.

Hang in there all - we’re almost done!

Also whatever way we’ve gone about this process I’m sure we’ve all just tried our best.

It’s been an eye opener to say the least hearing some comments! Hope some views are in the minority though!! ESP about there being too many of a certain race in a school. I thought those comments were particularly mean.

Good luck all

Great. That's much more reassuring, i thought the groups were larger.

Try not to worry. My DS didn't say much but really enjoyed it which is what they're looking for.

Glad to be of help. Honestly, I think that Emanuel did a really good job at making the kids feel at ease both during the group exercise and the interview (most DC coming back to the hall with quite a smile on their faces).

Of course !

it’s like work, a team has to have a balance when it comes to personalities

also judging from Radnor group activity , I think they re looking for kids who take on instructions, participate and respect their team mates!

good luck x

Thanks. That would be my DS. He'll probably really enjoy it and won't say much, but on the way home he'll tell me all the things he wished he was confident enough to say while he was there.

@Elite89 bless him, he sounds like a lovely boy. That's bound to come across in the interview where he'll probably be able to gain that confidence.

LEH interviews - expect some “think on your feet” questions -What would you take to a desert island? Would you give money to a homeless person? What is the definition of a good person? some questions on interests/hobbies/clubs/ why you want to come to school etc/inspirations/aspirations. Also maybe a logical puzzle/picture to comment on. If you get to this stage you should either get a place or a waiting list offer. Good luck.

@Notanotherone2 Thank you, this is really helpful.

Anyone have an idea about what they ask on NHEH and Queens Gate interviews?

please stop teasing the poor kid!

What’s NHEH? Notting hill and ealing?

@Workhar yes

NHEHS asked a variety of questions - DD was given maths problems plus comprehension plus general ones like hobbies, fav subject etc