Godolphin & Latymer interview acceptance rate

[kenzo002]

My DD is fortunate to have the opportunity to attend an interview at G&L. However, I am unsure how best to help her prepare for it.

From what I’ve heard at her prep school, most of the girls who took the consortium exam received interview offers. Do you know how many girls are typically invited for interviews?

It seems like a fairly high number, and I’m a bit concerned about how challenging the interview might be. I would greatly appreciate it if you could share any advice, experiences, or information you may have.

My guess would be that it is a 50% chance when you get an interview. My dd goes to G&L and it is a lovely school. I get the impression for the very academic schools the exam scores matter the most for entrance. I felt like decision was made before the interview....and interview is used to confirm the dc is suited for the school. For my dd the interview was just 15 minutes and basic getting to know you questions....nothing tricky. She also had to sort some images (no right or wrong answer here).

I would like to say, once you are in the school, at least in the early years there is no pressure. They say do not focus on scores (which you rarely ever receive any!). DD is very happy there. Good luck!

I posted this on another thread: last year there were about 50-60 girls an hour for the whole day, so quite a few were interviewed. But G&L have to over-offer quite a bit as not everyone will accept (eg most SPGS students also had a G&L offer that they turned down) so I would imagine at least 2:1 offers to places, probably more.

The interview was very relaxed and no "difficult" questions - more an opportunity to see how girls respond. DD found it fun and relaxed. Then a short group exercise, but seemed to be very little monitoring of that.

Good luck! As @SamPoodle123 said, I'm sure the decision is largely based on test scores, with the interview just to confirm places / red flag any candidates they really don't feel would be a good fit.

@11PlusCraziness Please can you share the details of the group exercise last year, what type, how many girls per group, any specific tasks they were asked to do. Many thanks

Group activity isn’t an exercise and not assessed - it’s designed to give the kids a nice experience of the school. The school is selling itself to your daughter as well as your daughter trying to impress the school.

I agree that they want to give a taste of the school, however, some group activities are assessed. DS said at Latymer there were two adults sitting in the back taking notes. Not sure about G&L as when my dd did her interview two years ago they did not have a group activity.

Last year we were told there would be a group activity as part of the assessment and there were two teachers sitting in the room taking notes during it. DD just said they didn't seem to be writing tons down.

Would you mind if I asked you, as you seem to know quite a bit about GL, if who the teachers are matter for the interview? Some girls were interviewed by the maths/English teachers, we had teachers that do non academic subjects. Does that mean the first girl was more of interest to the school?

Furthermore, I could not work out any order to the interviews. All the girls we knew were spread throughout the day in no apparent logic.

TBH I think how they organise the interview plays no part in who gets offers. One girl in my dd same time slot did not get an offer (I know the mum)....so it is completely random on how they group them. As for the teachers, I am not quite sure if they might put you with someone for example if you were weaker in an area and they want to be sure. My dd was interviewed by a Spanish teacher. I think it was random. DD also said the teacher was very neutral and serious, so it was hard to tell. The other schools she interviewed at, she felt very confident she did well. But for G&L she was not sure from the teacher being very neutral. I think it can be hard to tell really. Good luck!