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what should he wear!

12 replies

Labro · 14/12/2012 07:10

Sorry for slightly odd question! Ds has his first ever pre test for senior school in January (never done this before so all new to me to!) and the information says they need not weae school uniform, so what sort of thing should he wear? It also says that there will be an interview, probably paired up with another child, with the headmaster - what sort of questions should he expect? (Its for RGS)

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middleclassonbursary · 14/12/2012 08:03

It seems to me that your prep school isn't being very helpful you made this comment on another thread; "until a few weeks ago had left me very much out in the cold whilst focusing on the fee payers!" usually your head would happily advise you about the above as well especially if they feed into RGS. IMO you cant go far wrong with school uniform, you've got it so no extra expense although if like many children even those with lots of money his shoes are falling off his feet you could invest in a new pair and its likely to be to at the very least fairly smart. Much better than buying something smart e.g. a suit (wince) especially at this age.

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Labro · 14/12/2012 08:14

Thanks,
head has been really helpful, they don't naturally feed into RGS, think my comment was as a stressed mum, not sure I was asking the right questions of the right people

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LIZS · 14/12/2012 08:41

Smart casual is the norm but best avoid jeans and any garish logos. As to questions , make sure he has a couple of news stories to talk about , favourite book, hobbies, any achievements (does the prep school let them choose work and present a portfolio with examples and certificates).

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meditrina · 14/12/2012 08:48

I'd recommend he wears cords or smartish trousers that are not jeans, plus a shirt and jumper or a non-logo sweatshirt that still looks pretty new.

For interview, don't try to prep answers too much, but worth checking that if he is asked something like 'What's the let book you read?' or 'What's your favourite hobby?' he knows what he'll say, and has something to say about them.

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happygardening · 14/12/2012 09:17

Has your head not done at least one "practice" interview this is pretty standard stuff. He is likely to be asked why he wants to go to the school what his hobbies interests are what subjects he likes dislikes is good/weak at, talk about a book you've recently read your favourite author. It's difficult not to come out with standard heard it before answers but on the other hand your DS should avoid trying to be clever and different unless he geninely has these interests because it's likely that the person doing the interview will ask more in depth questions. For example my DS is very interested in 20 th century art in particular Picasso and the Surrealists and talked about this interview with the interviewer they talked about why and what painters he liked what he understood about the paintings, the influence of Freud etc and psychiatry and can we justify as a nation spending money on art when so many have so little (he was only 10 yrs old at the time) on the other hand he is com

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happygardening · 14/12/2012 09:20

Has your head not done at least one "practice" interview this is pretty standard stuff. He is likely to be asked why he wants to go to the school what his hobbies interests are what subjects he likes dislikes is good/weak at, talk about a book you've recently read your favourite author. It's difficult not to come out with standard heard it before answers but on the other hand your DS should avoid trying to be clever and different unless he geninely has these interests because it's likely that the person doing the interview will ask more in depth questions. For example my DS is very interested in 20 th century art in particular Picasso and the Surrealists and talked about this interview with the interviewer they talked about why and what painters he liked what he understood about the paintings, the influence of Freud etc and psychiatry and can we justify as a nation spending money on art when so many have so little (he was only 10 yrs old at the time) on the other hand he is completely non musical and he's completely up front about this he's never tried to pretend anything else!
Good luck.

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happygardening · 14/12/2012 09:43

Im notoriously anti school uniform but agree you cant go far wrong with school uniform its not going to upset anyone even if its completely ridiculous the school will know its not your DS's fault!!!

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surreygoldfish · 14/12/2012 14:08

My son did this last year and has just completed his first term (great school). He wore jeans and a decent top on the day. He really doesn't need to wear uniform or wear clothes he wouldn't already have - all the teachers dress down to make the boys feel very relaxed. Don't over prep for the interview, they are looking for boys to be themselves - again they seem to go to great efforts to put the boys at their ease.

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happygardening · 14/12/2012 15:55

Definitely don't over prep for it we never practiced anything at home (but then we're slack parents) and as I said above I think he had one practice interview with the head.
At the school interview mentioned above we turned up completely unprepared as the interview was moved and we were asked to attend with 6 hours notice we were off out and just rocked up. In the waiting room were boys with "portfolios," poems and frantically reading passages of Mallory all looked terrified there were 9 applicants for every one place and my DS was a rank outsider but we still got offered a place (which we then turned down).
Just tell your DS to be himself becasue thats the person there going to get if he goes there and thats the boy you and he want the school to want.

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Happymum22 · 21/12/2012 17:01

Assume you are talking about RGS guildford?
if so, it is an incredible school so best of luck to your son.

DS (over 10 years ago now) went in trousers which wern't jeans, a polo shirt and non-logo jumper. I remember panicing but at the end of the day, they aren't really going to care what they know is simply what the 10 year old boy's mum has dressed him in!!

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IvySquirrel · 30/12/2012 19:44

Agree don't over-prep, they want boys to be themselves.
My DS1 wore jeans and a nice jumper type thing 2 years ago, and DS2 will be wearing similar in two weeks time!
Don't wear school uniform, he'll stick out like a sore thumb.

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Labro · 14/01/2013 12:24

Just wanted to say thank you! There was a HUGE variation on what they were all wearing (anything from jeans and trainers to some VERY distinctive prep school uniforms that you'd be able to see 100 miles away!)

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