Acing your Sixth Form Interview

Hi,

I’m Alix and it’s my mission to help as many of the next generation as possible work in jobs that meet their passion and purpose, making them happy and fulfilled adults. Providing hand holding and support where they may not have any.

So, grab a coffee and snack and join me in making sure you’re one of them…

Today, we’re looking at the transition from secondary school to sixth form, which marks a significant point in your educational journey.

The sixth form can be either at the school you’ve come up through, and taken your GCSE exams at, or it can be at a different school altogether.

In this article, I’m assuming you’re moving to a different school, although, if you have to attend an interview at your current school, all the strategies here can help you shine and increase your chances of securing your spot.

Right choice…

Firstly, make sure going into sixth form is the right path for you.

Choices having completed your GCSEs are wide and varied, so be careful not to stay on for sixth form just because it’s familiar, less scary or your friends are.

Note: when I reached where you are I had no idea, support or anyone asking me what I wanted to do. I stayed on for sixth form at the school I’d been at because my friends were.

If I’d had any guidance, been more mature, or known about the choices out there, I’d have realised that going to college would have been the right move, not taking A levels that were of no use to me but then, I didn’t have my book ‘I am Choosing my Options’ (due to be published on 16th August 2024) to guide me the two years’ earlier!

So, be sure sixth form is your right path by reading my article ’Exploring my Options after GCSEs’ first which will guide you in questions to ask yourself before making that decision.

Passion and purpose…

If you read my book, you’ll find out why it’s critically important to identify your passion and purpose and how to narrow them down. Look out for it and check if your school and local library are getting a copy.

This, along with planning your goals (if you don’t know about goals see my article ‘Why, How and What Happens When you set Goals’), will make you confident in knowing sixth form is the right step for you.

So, having reached the decision, let’s move along.

Application process…

As you’re reading this article you’ve decided that going to sixth form is the right path for you and have (hopefully) read my article ‘Choosing the right sixth form for you’ so you’ll already have spent time investigating which school offers you the best option(s).

Note: it may be that more than one school excites your interest and, if so, apply to all. This will keep your opportunities open. You only have to make a final decision once you’ve received offers and got your exam results.

If you’re applying to a different school from the one you’ve worked up through, you are likely to have already completed an application process, itself a pivotal moment in your academic journey.

This will have asked for your grades (or predicted grades), test marks and the extracurricular activities you’ve taken part in.

All these play a significant role in a school’s decision process.

Level up…

Each stage of your educational journey builds on what you’ve already learnt. Your predicted, or final, grades will confirm that you’re ready to study to the next level.

Depending on what they are, the extracurricular activities you’ve done can demonstrate that you have commitment and/or are a team player, with schools looking for both. So, having considered your application, we move on to the interview.

The interview offers you a unique opportunity to stand out from all the other potential students’ applications they have in front of them and allows you to make a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

You’ll be able to showcase your potential, aspirations, and suitability for their sixth form programme.

Excelling at any interview requires a combination of preparation, self-assurance, and effective communication skills.

However, it is also a two-way process. It’s your opportunity to see, if the school isn’t one you’ve already studied at, how up to date their facilities are.

Remember that the online pictures and brochures will not show the total picture, they’re not going to put unhappy students or unpainted labs in them – go and see for yourself.

You can meet some of its staff and get a general understanding of its ambiance (atmosphere), ie whether the current students seem happy.

But let’s start with you…

You...

Personal hygiene is, naturally, important. Make sure your hair is washed, nails clean, your clothes and shoes/trainers presentable.

Avoid strong perfumes or body sprays – they’ve been known to induce headaches in interviewers – not the lasting impression we want to leave…

Think about what you’re going to wear in advance, but first check out the prospectus.

The pictures will give you an indication of acceptable clothes, ie they wouldn’t have put pictures of students in that weren’t wearing them as the prospectus itself is there to tempt you to choose their school!

If you’re unsure, aim for smart casual.

Make sure your clothes are clean and ready to slip on, you don’t want the stress of having to find a top when the bus you’re catching is just pulling round the corner.

Non-verbal cues…

It goes without saying that you must not be late. At this stage of your education, you’ll be taking fuller responsibility for turning up for lessons on time. They won’t be scheduled one after another and if you can’t make it to one interview on time, how can the school expect you to arrive for all your classes in a timely manner?

So, check out the journey – be early, it’ll give you time to look round, not be stressed and possibly having to run to the interview, making you red-faced and sweaty, neither being the impression you’ll want to give.

Non-verbal cues speak volumes. Pay attention to your body language, as it can influence the overall impression you leave on the interviewers.

Offer a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, and sit up straight.

These signals convey confidence and professionalism.

And smile.

A smile is a great equaliser, it transcends language barriers and age and gender, but make sure it’s genuine and reaches your eyes.

Two-way interview…

Remember the two-way idea.

As you walk through the school look around. Is it clean? Are the students happy? Do they seem to mix freely?

You want to fit in to avoid any stress generated by feeling the ‘odd one out’ while you’re studying, so check out what the students are wearing.

Copy it if you decide to go there so you fit in immediately - you can always introduce your own quirky (I mean, personal!) fashion sense later.

Sixth form is a serious business and minimising anything that could be stressful from the beginning will help you settle in.

Facilities…

If you’re taking science, ask to see the lab. Is the equipment up to date? Is it clean?

Are there magazines lying around? Are they current?

Can you see the room allocated to sixth formers?

How about the library?

Are there computers available for research?

Interviewers…

Are the interviewers relaxed? Note their body language.

What type of language are they using – conversational?

Do they speak quietly so you have to strain to hear?

Do they have an accent and, if so, can you understand them regardless?

Note 1: when my daughter was studying for her GCSEs her science teacher had such a strong accent it was next to impossible to follow her. As my daughter was at an online school, she was able to record the lesson and replay it later and, having listened in on a couple of sessions, I had the same issue. It could be that it would have been easier in a classroom setting, it could be that if you had a strong interest in the subject it would have made it easier to understand the technical terms, I don’t know, but the bottom line was that, fortunately, my daughter didn’t need science for her career so I told her not to waste time studying for the subject and concentrate on the others for her exams and, although I wouldn’t recommend that for anyone else, it was the sensible decision at the time and I have no regrets (and hopefully she doesn’t either)!

It’s critical that you can both hear, and understand, your tutor.

Note 2: another example I want to quote to balance out the above, is that I was in a café working on articles and two men were sitting fairly close to me. One of them had an accent that I simply would have bottled up and taken home with me if I could, it was so very relaxing and memorable, and I could have listened to him reciting the telephone directory all day.

An accent is not a bad or good thing, but if you’re studying you must be able to understand a teacher to learn what you need to.

Research, research, research…

Before stepping into the interview, arm yourself with thorough knowledge about the school.

Understand its history, mission, academic programmes and extracurricular opportunities. This demonstrates a genuine interest.

Moreover, being informed allows you can think about anything original that particular school offers and ask insightful questions about it during the interview, which can set you apart as an engaged applicant.star

Be you…

Be genuine, ie ‘you’:

While it's natural to want to impress, remember that being genuine trumps perfection hands down.

Admissions committees are looking for students who will both fit in and thrive at their school and their decision requires you being yourself so that they see the real you.

Avoid giving answers you think the interviewer wants to hear; instead, provide natural, honest responses that reflect your values and personality.

When they accept you, they’ll have already considered your fit with the other students, which, in itself, will give you a confidence booster for your first day.

Display enthusiasm…

Passion is infectious and memorable.

Let your genuine excitement about what the school can offer you to meet your passion and purpose shine through.

What attracts you about this particular school?

How will it help you achieve your goals?

Speak about the programmes, teachers, or opportunities that genuinely draw you.

Discuss your long-term plans, ie whether you plan to go on to university, become an intern, take up an apprenticeship or plan to be an entrepreneur.

Enthusiasm not only makes you a memorable candidate but also indicates to the admissions committee that you’re likely to contribute positively to the school community.

Reflect on your journey…

Stories connect individuals. The interview is a chance to tell your story, the one behind what's written on your application.

Your journey through secondary school has shaped you, and the interview is your chance to share this story.

Reflect on your academic path, ie how you read my article ‘Exploring my Options After GCSEs’ to re-confirm the subjects you wish to study at their school to further your personal journey. (Just a little ‘plug’ for me…)

What excites you about the subjects you’re looking to study?

Reveal your academic accomplishments, growth, and any experiences that have influenced your decisions, using compelling anecdotes (stories/examples) that illustrate your character, resilience, and adaptability.

Don't be shy about discussing your strengths and accomplishments by identifying challenges you've faced, and overcome, and how they changed you.

Perhaps you led a group of students to achieve the best result in a school competition, or worked with your colleagues to perform an experiment, correctly anticipating the result. Use ‘I’ to show you headed up the team (if that was the case) then ‘we’ to demonstrate how you worked as a team.

This showcases your academic accomplishments, possible leadership potential, and involvement in projects, making you a team player.

Highlight the challenges you've overcome and the lessons you've learned. This reflective approach demonstrates your self-awareness and ability to learn from your experiences.

Focus on how these accomplishments have contributed to your personal growth and allow your interviewer(s) to see your potential to contribute to the school environment.

Articulating your narrative will not only allow them to understand you more but also make you more memorable.

Integrate these stories into your responses to effectively convey your points. Well-told stories captivate the interviewer's attention and offer deeper insights into your personality.

Prepare thoughtful questions…

Towards the end of the interview, you'll likely have an opportunity to ask questions.

Use this time wisely to demonstrate your interest and curiosity.

Ask questions that go beyond surface-level information, such as inquiries about specific research opportunities, use course-specific words.

Is there funding allocated to improve, for instance, the science room, if you’re going to be studying that?

What were last year’s results?

Did the students then get into the university of their choice?

Are they a feeder school linked to any universities?

What is the staff turnover? This will let you know whether you are likely to keep the same tutor(s) throughout your school study.

What are the likely class sizes for the topics you’re applying for?

What is the school's track record in helping students secure internships and job placements.

Does the school have partnerships with reputable companies and organisations?

Having already checked extra-curricular activities, you could ask whether they’re generally heavily over-subscribed. This is to show you want to interact with other students.

Thoughtful questions not only showcase your engagement but also gives you insights into whether the school aligns with your aspirations (again, the two-way thing).

Practice makes perfect…

Just like any skill, interviewing benefits from practice.

You could conduct mock interviews with family members, or mentors.

Practice answering common interview questions while maintaining a conversational tone and keeping your body language positive.

Seek constructive feedback to improve your communication style and presentation.

Practice will help you nail down your responses, manage nerves and make you comfortable with the interview format, making it less scary on the day. Though remembering that you’re also interviewing them can help.

Follow up…

After the interview, take the time to express your gratitude by sending a personalised thank-you note to your interviewer. Express your appreciation for their time and reiterate your interest in the school.

This simple act demonstrates your professionalism and consideration, leaving a positive impression as your application is considered.

Conclusion…

In conclusion, the sixth form interview is an invaluable opportunity to present yourself beyond the confines of your written application.

Remember that the interview is not only a chance for you to present yourself as a worthy candidate for the programme and the admissions committee to learn more about you but also for you to assess whether the school is right for you.

By conducting thorough research, crafting your narrative, practicing diligently, demonstrating enthusiasm, highlighting strengths, mastering storytelling, asking thoughtful questions, focusing on body language, being you and following up, you can position yourself as a standout candidate.

Approach the interview with confidence and let your genuine self shine.

With the right preparation and mindset, you can navigate the school interview successfully and inch closer to your dreams.

I’d love to hear how you’re getting on and, where possible, if we can help more.

Lastly, I wanted to both wish you luck and say that I know you can do it.

Success is waiting for you!