Interviews for a private secondary, how many do they normally have to go to?

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

ds did "really well" in his entrance exam, he had an interview today (head of year 7 and someone else) and has been asked to come back for a second interview with the head and to have another look around. Is this a good sign?? We applied to this school last year (for the junior school) and were refused as we were told by the head of the juniors to keep him in the school where he was being badly bullied for stability . I don't know what it all means!! Does ds have a bit of a chance? The school meets his needs perfectly. ARGH!! Do they not realise how stressful this is for a parent or is this some sort of initiation ceremony????

[Madsometimes]

I know nothing about these things, but it sounds promising to me. I assume that he did not get a second interview last year...

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

Nope, I don't think it's normal to have 2 interviews, it's like the bloomin fort knox of secondary schools

[claig]

definitely in with a good chance, they wouldn't waste the head's time otherwise. I know that for job interviews sometimes the two interviewers will disagree about a candidate, and then the candidate is often called back to see someone senior, who will make the final decision. But my guess is that this probably isn't the case here, and your son has still got a good chance.

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

I hope so, I'm quite nervous for him. They teach all the subjects he wants to do (philospohy from year 7), it would be really good for him. He'd be so upset if they said no again.

[thirtysomething]

belle is this NHS? If so they usually do the interviews at the same time-you see the Head and DS sees Head of Y7 and one of the senior teachers.

[claig]

what is the head like? does s/he seem ok? unfortunately personality always comes into these interviews. If your son feels comfortable with the head, then it will be mutual and that will help.

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

Yes, how did you guess thirty?? The head wasn't there today so he saw the head of year 7 and the philospohy dude. We have to go back to see the head and so ds can have another look around (he was honest and said he remembered little about the school from when we looked around last year)(sigh)). I didn't realise they interviewed the parent/s!!

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

We've not met the head, he was interviewed by the head of year 7 and someone else, I was asked to join them after about 5 mins, could have cut the atmosphere with a knife, I didn't feel very relaxed. I just told ds to be honest.

[thirtysomething]

Yes, usually it's all done simultaneously but I think they've finished the official interview week so maybe that's why it's different this time....it's not an interview that you get as such with the Head(though I was quite anxious!) it's more of a chat where you get a chance to ask questions about the school and I guess show that you understand the ethos and are supportive of the academic pace etc. The only questions we were asked was why we wanted to send him there and if it was our first choice school.

I remember your threads from a while ago about the school situation....

The Head is really, really lovely - very easy for the boys to relate to, DS instantly felt at ease with him and once the boys are there he's very present around the school and makes an effort to get to know them individually. I think at the interview stage the academic credentials are sorted - what they seem to be looking for at interview is evidence that your DS will get involved in the life of the school and thrive on all the non-academic stuff too-they are keen on all-rounders and generally boys who can keep up with the academic pace and all the other activities on offer too. We have been absolutely delighted with the school and DS is really thriving there. I cannot recommend it highly enough! Good luck to your DS and let us know how he gets on!

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

Thankyou. Ds is a really bright boy, I knew right away that he'd feel respected there as this is really important to him. He's running the chess club at his current school, he likes debating, philosophy, latin and playing warhammer so I think this school will be really good for him. He's like a sponge academically, he learns really quickly so spends alot of time having nothing to do, this has been a problem along with the bullying. I believe he'll be really happy here, we've not looked anywhere else as we fell in love with it last year, I was gutted when the head of the junior school turned him down, it wasnt due to his academic side, just that he should stay at the junior school he was at for another year for "stability", I just couldn't do it to him, he was being bullied quite badly and was becoming withdrawn. Academically he wasn't getting anywhere at all.

I'm really pleased that you are happy with it, it's really reassuring. Ds needs to feel respected for him to be happy, I really hope they can do this for him. I'll keep you posted.

[thirtysomething]

My impression is that they respect all the boys and the boys respect each other. Despite its very academic reputation I've found it incredibly nurturing. The pastoral side is second to none. Each boy is assigned a tutor that they will keep throughout the school barring staff changes - he or she is separate to the form teacher and only has a few boys in each year to look after, so he gets to know them really well. You can call or email the tutor with the slightest concern and the channels of communication are always open. DS recently said that if he had a problem he'd have loads of people he could go to - tutor, Head, form teacher, head of year, and also loads of older boys he's got to know through the tutor group. There is a lovely attitude amongst the older boys and they are encouraged to lead the younger boys by example. DS has made friends with a Y10 boy who walks the same way to the bus stop as him - he's found out loads of useful info this way. In other schools I suspect a Y10 boy wouldn't deign to be seen talking to a Y7 but they have a very different attitude there.

Good luck to your DS he sounds as though he would settle fantastically there. It's definitely worth stressing his chess etc and any positions of leadership/initiative he's shown at his current school. Also maybe try and spin the extra year as a positive thing if you feel he's really matured in that time?

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

Thankyou. Fingers (and toes) crossed for him. He does have a tendency to pick up new concepts within minutes and complete the work in about 10 mins which means he has nothing to do during the lesson as he's waiting for everyone else to finish. He's been in trouble for reading whilst he's been waiting, then in trouble for playing with his pencil case, now he day dreams, is this something that would cause him problems do you know? How much should I mention about his previous schools as this has been an ongoing problem? He has moved about a bit, partly through this, partly through bullying, I just don't know if it will do him any favours if I mention all the problems. He does need a little help socially as this doesn't come naturally to him, he's fine once things are explained to him but not all of his teachers have bothered to do this, they have been more of the telling off type which has made him paraniod that he's being told off every time he's asked to do/not to do something. He has been really miserable in the past. I just don't know what to mention. I really don't think he has aspergers, he's caring, considerate, empathetic, has eye contact etc. The current head thinks ds's brain works too quickly and doesn't always give him time to think about what he should/shouldn't be doing IYSWIM.

[thirtysomething]

Well it does sound like academically he will cope fine - the pace is very fast and there are some boys who are brilliant at maths and scientific concepts and they seem to do very well there.

The only thing i wonder though is how will he cope in terms of the discipline? They are quite tough in many ways in terms of behaviour in class - you can get lines/detention for not paying attention or chatting to your neighbour. DS was never ever in trouble at primary school but he is a bit chatty and this has earnt him a couple of short detentions for chatting whilst teacher's back is turned....it has already paid dividends as he's learnt not to chat in class. However there are a few boys who don't sound naughty as such but just find it difficult to concentrate for a whole lesson and they often get warnings etc...DH went to a similar school and said the discipline here is nothing compared to the school where he went but it's definitely a step-up from DS' old school....

On the other hand he will thrive on the academic side and there are plenty of opportunities for extension work and doing clubs at lunch times for subjects he particularly likes...

Good luck!

[claig]

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny, I wouldn't mention any of the problems unless the head specifically asks about it. If the head brings it up then I would not go into too much detail, I would try and keep it to a minimum. The school probably already knows about some of the bullying problems from last year. Going by what thirtysomething has said, it sounds like this phase with the head could be just a formality, and a chance for you to ask some questions. I think it looks like your son is probably nearly already in. Good luck on the day.

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

I have only mentioned that he learns very quickly so spends alot of the lessons with nothing to do, the head of year asked if this was the main reason why he's moved schools so I said yes, then she said that there was no way he'd be bored there as there was soo much for the boys to do. Behaviour wise I've not had many complaints about him from his current school, the only one this week was about him pretending to be a bird in the playground and he 'flew' to the teacher when she asked them all to come to her. It was really hard to back his teacher up on this one.
He was singled out at a previous school for his behaviour (not really behaviour, more of a lack of social skills), he did need some support with his social skills that he didn't get at all, he'd nag children to see if they wanted to play, rather then give him a strategy he was told off instead and I was just told that he had been irritating the other children. Once I found out that he'd been asking them to play every few minutes ('incase they changed their minds')and went through it with them he's not had this problem at all. If he had recieved this support at school aswell as at home it would have prevented months of this. It helps if it's a rule for everyone as he feels singled out because of the tellings off he's recieved at previous schools. I have been working through this with him though and he's 'getting it'. It's just helpful if everyone's singing from the same song sheet IYSWIM and everyone's told off for the same things. He can multitask very well, it can look as if he's not paying attention when he is (I don't know how me manages to evesdrop on a conversation, listen to the TV and read a book at the same time ), I can do somethings with him to make it look like he's concentrating when he is (but it looks like he's not).

Thankyou

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

He got in!!

[LIZS]

Good news, hope this one is the one for him.

[claig]

fantastic, well done!!!! I hope he really enjoys it there. He must be proud as punch and he deserves it.

[marialuisa]

Congrats to your DS. I know some bright boys who are very happy there.

BTW are you planning on using the school bus? If so check how many people regularly use it from our end. It crosses route with DD's school bus in one of the villages towards our way and i have yet to see anyone on it-although spotted plenty waiting in LE.

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

There's a couple of boys from an old school who use it from here, they are lovely, well behaved and responsible, it leaves here at a little after 7am though so it's a long day, I'll collect him once a week so we can go for a pizza after school.

I really, really hope he'll be happy and this is the one. I really hate him moving around, I know that it couldn't be helped but it seems like a school that will stretch him academically and give him the pastoral care that he needs.

Thankyou

[thirtysomething]

Fab news Belledechocolate!! Am sure he'll love it there! Am really pleased it's worked out for you both!

Re your fees question on another thread they did go up a bit this year (around £500 I think) which is probably about normal for that kind of school - if you call the bursar they should be able to give you exact figures. in terms of extras so far weve paid around £13o per term for the school bus (both ways); £200 per term school lunches (but they can take a packed lunch) and probably around £150 over all on uniform but lots of stuff eg school rugby kit will last 2 years at least (and then they can stop rugby....). There's also a few school holidays but by no means everyone goes on them....

So glad it worked out for you!

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

Thankyou. I have until the 1st to pay the deposit, I wasn't expecting them to accept him right away as we were told that he needed to look around and have another interview so we wouldn't hear whether he had a place until March, I stuck the deposit back in a 30 day interest account so I don't spend it. I can't get it out yet, on March 12th I can . I'll give them a call on Monday. It said on the letter that they will not decide on the fees until May, I don't want to be in the position where I've paid £800 to register him and the fees are more then I can manage. The school bus works out cheaper then me taking him every day and coming back here so we'll use that.

Thankyou.

[sunnydelight]

I kmow I'm a bit late but just wanted to say a big congratulations, I remember reading your posts before. I hope your DS loves his new school. From my own experience I know that finding THE RIGHT school for a child can make a huge difference to both their school experience and eventual outcomes.