Hello I've had two do interviews (one got a place, the other only waiting list, neither went to the school). Despite being four years apart, the process was identical, even down to the thing they made in DT.
I think they run it as a very structured process so that it is transparent and fair i.e. every child has a similarish experience, though with different personnel (both interviewers and interviewees).
There were two boys and two girls, two interviewers. My successful child volunteered to be the first to answer questions, after a pause when no one else stepped forward. My unsuccessful child is much less articulate and confident (other is confident to the point of bumptious). Questions weren't difficult and mostly about activities, hobbies etc. I can't remember if there were any academic ones - might have been something based on looking at a map. Nothing that a child who's got through the exam should be thrown by.
Both children came out very buoyant and having enjoyed the whole day, especially my unsuccessful one. A pupil at the school said that they were looking for 'jazz hands' and that is certainly born out by the outcomes of our two. I think they were right to reject the one they did as I think it would have been too big an environment.
I think there were numbers of applicants/interviewed/offers on a thread last year. I suspect it's much, much easier to be offered a place if you're a girl. My successful one was an August born, super confident, state school applicant - I kind of figured that if she'd done well enough in the exams to get an interview, she was pretty likely to get a place.
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