Last week the Parents’ Guild kindly ran a series of interview workshops over Google Meet for students in Year 13 as an part of our ‘Competitive Courses’ university preparation programme. The Higher Education interview landscape has changed dramatically in light of COVID-19, with face to face meetings being replaced by interviews taking place on Zoom and some universities even requesting a pre-recorded piece which you have to upload to a portal. Whilst the essence of the interview remains the same, students have quickly had to adapt to being interviewed remotely. With subject specific training offered elsewhere in the programme by course specialists, we were delighted the parents’ committee could support the girls with general training for the new virtual setting.

The team of experts from our parents shared valuable tips about how to ensure you have all of your equipment set up properly and how to present effectively to camera before asking our applicants a series of questions that certainly put them through their paces. They then offered feedback and challenged the girls to reflect on their own performance and think about their next steps to ensure that they are ready for the real thing. The sessions were the perfect blend of being both enjoyable and informative and we are very grateful for the parents for leading the workshops. The feedback from the girls was overwhelmingly positive and there was a tangible buzz in the Sixth Form Centre as the Year 13s reflected on their sessions. We are very fortunate that our parents are keen to share their expertise with the school community and plans are already well underway for their next event which will take place in the Spring Term. We have learned that the careers landscape can change rapidly and we are determined that our girls will be prepared to both embrace the challenges ahead and to make the most of the new opportunities that have arisen.

Miss Aherne, Head of Sixth Form and Mrs M-H Collins, Director of University Admissions