Alleyn’s interview questions and group activity

[Surfer1978]

We’ve just heard our son has got an interview at Alleyns this Saturday following the recent 11+

Was wondering if anyone has any intel on the types of questions and group activities from previous years’ interviews?

Congratulations. Same situation here & would love any intel!

Did anyone get the time allocation of Alleyn’s interview? We haven’t still, and they said it’s by end of today

We heard late today. We’ve got an early slot, done by 10:30am

Yeah, similar here. Interview only 10 minutes so they can't cover much.

Hey, how did everyone feel about the interview today?

Our son seems v confident about the group task (code breaking and paper tree building), less so about the interview! Suspect for him it may depend how closely the observers were watching the groups

Our son enjoyed the group task - he said his group of 4 were all good & they had 3 teachers watching them. Sounds like only 4 or so questions in the interview and I can't get much of a read on how he did.

They said they were interviewing 350, I guess to offer 150-175ish? Feels like a big reduction with not a lot of info!

Got an email from Alleyn’s about potential academic scholarship workshop and it’s said to be Jan 29 afternoon. We have another interview clash that afternoon. Anyone knows what it is, and can it be scheduled separately?

I don’t know what it will involve but I guess the email went to all interviewees and only 10 percent max (?!) will be invited back for it. I can’t imagine they’ll offer a different date but perhaps worth asking if your child gets asked on Tuesday?

I asked yesterday re numbers as well and was told they interviewed 350. I read on a similar board for last year they only interviewed 250 and offer around 120. Any intel on expected number of offers this year?

I was told there are 160 places and 46 go to junior school pupils. 120 offers last year has thrown me though, that must have been a very low ratio of offers/expected acceptances. Did they go to the waitlist?

This was only based on a post I saw on here in another thread this time last year. The exact post was this:

I’ve now heard from a few sources (including a staff member) that 250 were interviewed and well over 1000 took the exam. Just under half will receive offers. 120 in previous years.

Poster responded to another message saying they believed there were 100 spots for new students (with remaining from the junior school). I don't know how accurate those numbers are - just read it on here.

Here's a link to that thread --

Alleyn 11 plus 2025 | Mumsnet

Similar to you when they said 350 interviewed yesterday my stomach sank as those odds aren't as high as I hoped depending how many get offers.

I'm not expected an academic invite but we do have a drama assessment there on Tuesday this week. I assumed (but don't know) they invited anyone who applied for drama to that assessment. Unlike other schools we didn't pre-submit a video or CV or anything - just ticked a box saying we were applying for a drama scholarship.

I spoke to another mum whose son has interviewed and they were told the standard of applicants has been particularly high this year. Maybe this is what they tell parents every year, but anecdotally some very strong pupils from my son’s school were not invited for interview.

When is offer day for Alleyns?
It doesnt say on their website.

I think the 13th Feb along with most other schools.

If anyone receives an academic invite email would be grateful if you could post here. Not expecting one, but good to confirm - thanks!

Just came through.

Apologies if this is a silly question but does this academic scholarship workshop imply that the DC will atleast get an offer from the school?

I have no idea but I would like to assume it means there is a very good chance.

It is from 12.30 till 1600 so I can't imagine there will be a huge number of kids but who knows, this whole 11+ game is crazy.

I would assume they’ll be getting an offer unless they behave appallingly at the scholarship day 😆

My son got through to to the scholarship interview too, thrilled! I'm also hoping the odds of an offer are really high nowadays- would love any intel.

Also does anyone know what it's involved in the past?

I was told (by the head) that less than a third of applicants got an interview this year. If 350 is less than a third then that’s 1000+ applicants 😳

Re offers - last year may have been a bit unusually low offers-wise, as they had an unintended bulge year in current year 8 (it has 7 forms rather than 6). So will have had to be cautious with offers for current year 7. Year 7 & 8 share a building so would have been impossible to fit in another extra class the year after the bulge. This year however, that bulge year moves to the main building, so there might be more flexibility and more offers (this may be wishful thinking!!)

Makes sense.
thank you

Is there any idea how many people get called for an academic scholarship?

congrats to those who got the scholarship invitation! Gratefully we as well, but it indeed conflicted with DS’s another interview.. any advice whether it’s okay to ask the other school to reschedule the interview with such short notice, and be just honest about the situation? don’t want to offend either school.