“I believe a well-rounded education will lay the foundations for your child’s success and prospects; I, therefore, support families to go from not knowing what to expect in the 11+ school interview, to being confident and well prepared to secure a place at your desired school”
– Sonya Moledina
Your son/daughter may be preparing for independent school 11+ entrance examinations. As well as English, maths and reasoning skills, the majority of leading independent schools also conduct an interview with your child as part of the selection process.
It would be disadvantageous for your child to be well prepared for the examinations but not know how to succeed at the interview stage. In my experience of highly competitive independent schools, once a student passes the examinations, approximately 1/3 of the students go on to secure the school offer at the interview stage.
I coach parents and children to be well informed, confident, and prepared for the 11+ school interview. My goal is for you and your child to open the outcome letters on results day and have the joy of reading ‘I am delighted to tell you, that you have been successful in gaining a place at our school’.
I believe in commencing school interview preparation at least four months prior to the potential interview as the skills required for success take time and with 100+ interview questions to consider, it is best to consider interview questions slowly and gradually.
Why I am well placed to support you
- I bring an abundance of personal and professional experience to support students through their 11+ school interviews. As a parent of two children, I navigated our way through the 3+, 5+, 7+, and 11+ independent school systems and have plenty of advice to share about what to do and mistakes to avoid in school interviews. My 13-year-old (who attends year 8 at the Haberdashers’ Boys’ School) also shares his personal journey.
- I have undertaken extensive research from former students regarding questions that arise and consulted school experts (school registrars, headteachers, senior school leaders, teachers, and tutors) to establish what schools are looking for and how prospective 11+ students can gain a competitive edge.
- My school interview support packages have been carefully devised to support students from making a good impression, answering typical interview questions, dealing with tricky questions to exiting the interview impressively.
- I have undertaken interviewer skills training; I am on the interview panel for medicine at a Russell Group university and am a Certified Etiquette & Emotional Intelligence Coach.
- To date, I have supported well over seventy students with school (and university) interviews, and my students have successfully achieved offers from St Pauls School, Westminster School, Haberdashers Boys and Girls, Merchant Taylors, City of London School, North London Collegiate, St Helens, and many other day and boarding schools in the UK.
- I host 11+ charity events annually (alongside other tutors) and these events to date have supported more than 250 students through their 11+ journey.
- I don’t know of any other organisation supporting parents on 11+ interviews from their own personal experience, or for the opportunity for your child to learn directly from former students about their experiences. The 11+ interview support I offer is comprehensive as caregivers are coached on how to support their child gradually over the months leading up to the interview and the child can also receive direct support from me alongside their parent(s), if required.
All membership options 1,2 and 3:
| School Interview Membership for parents for a 4 month membership |
|---|
| Starts on Monday 12th September 2022 until Monday 12th December 2022
If you would like to commence the membership any date after 12th September or your interview is earlier than December and you would like to receive two modules a week to finish the programme in 8 weeks or even sooner, please contact me on: info@etiquetteandemotions.com |
| You will be sent a new module via email every Monday with a pre-recorded video to listen to at your convenience. You can either watch this with or without your child. Each video lasts approximately 30 minutes. |
| The previous pre-recordings will be available to listen to any time ( you may join the programme any time after 12th September and the pre-recordings will be sent to you) |
There will be monthly live calls on:
Recordings of the live sessions will be available 48 hours after each live event. |
| You may be sent supporting documentation and a quiz to complete each week. |
Membership modules include:
| Session | Date: | Module: |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday 5th September | Introductory call to learn more about the membership |
| 2 | Friday 9th September | Your exclusive log in details sent with introduction |
| 3 | Monday 12th September | Why do school’s interview? What are schools looking for? Format of the interview A growth mindset, calming your nerves and comfort zones |
| 4 | Monday 19th September | First impressions, body language, conduct & general advice Tell me about yourself Recording achievements and other actions to prepare |
| 5 | Monday 26th September | Why do you want to come to this school? |
| 6 | Monday 3rd October | Answering questions Question types Describe a picture Mental maths Poetry BONUS: An English tutor’s advice on poetry/describe this picture type questions A maths teachers’ advice for answering mental maths questions 
|
| 7 | Monday 10th October | You and your family Your strengths and your goals Your current school |
| 8 | Monday 17th October | Sports, extra-curricular activities, hobbies, and interests |
| 9 | Monday 24th October | Philosophical Questions |
| 10 | Monday 31st October | Negative Questions |
| 11 | Monday 7th November | Moral and Debatable Questions |
| 12 | Monday 14th November | Book Questions |
| 13 | Monday 21st November | Current affairs/News |
| 14 | Monday 28th November | Group Interviews |
| 15 | Monday 5th December | The School Reference Actions/Next steps BONUS: Haberdashers School for Boys- ex 11+ student experience |
| 16 | Monday 12th December | The week and day of the interview |
Testimonials:
“Our son attended Sonya’s interview masterclass, which he thoroughly enjoyed, and the class helped him prepare for his interview which resulted in him gaining all offers. Sonya has been fantastic throughout the process and has always been available for help, support, and guidance, which has been much appreciated. Thank you, Sonya!”
Sonya was very meticulous in her preparation and her instructions to my son. She was methodical and patient and very encouraging throughout the timing of preparing my son which he found very reassuring and boosted his confidence which was greatly needed at that time" (Parent of a year 6 student who secured a place at his first-choice senior school)
"I really enjoyed taking part in the group interview task and found the tips that were shared really useful. I felt so much better prepared for my interview and was able to take it in my stride. I would recommend this class to anyone who has interviews coming up". (Testimonial from a year 6 student)
Membership Options:
| Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | |
| Video Explanation | |||
| Membership Investment | £97 | £297 | £347 |
| School Interview membership package for parents
16 pre-recorded modules released once a week from Monday 12th September 2022. If you sign up at later date, you will have access to the previous recordings. |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| A talk with advice from an ex-11+ student
This will be sent to you to view in your own time with your child |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live 2-hour online school interview masterclass for students (worth £45)
You will be provided several dates/options to select from |
✓ | (This is included in the platinum school interview masterclass listed below) | |
| 121 mock- in person or online- for students- worth £110
This will be arranged at a mutually convenient time |
✓ | ✓ | |
| Practice group interview online (worth £60)
Feedback scores & telephone call feedback to the parent |
✓ | ✓ | |
| Platinum school interview masterclass for student (either in person or online) (worth £85)
This includes: ·A 2-hour interview masterclass ·A Q&A session with an ex-11+ student ·Mini mocks acting as interviewer and interviewee with peers ·Feedback report to the parent |
✓ | ||
| Parent Bonus | Sign up in the next 48 hours to receive the following bonus:
Up to 30 min call with the parent to discuss school options (worth £50) |
✓ | ✓ | |
| Student Bonus | Sign up in the next 48 hours to receive the following bonus:
An additional 30 min one to one mock interview (worth £55) |
✓ | ||
| Value | £147 | £412 | £507 |
| Membership Investment till 31st December 2022 | £97 | £297 | £347 |
| BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW |
To prepare for 11+ examinations, parents or tutors may follow a syllabus or utilise structured books and resources, however, 11+ school interview preparation is an ambiguous process. The ‘11+ school interview membership package’ will provide guidance and a structure for you to support your child.
Interview preparation requires caregivers to nurture the child’s mind and cultivate thinking skills over time- it is not an overnight process.
19 pre-recorded sessions and 3 live sessions . Option one works out to be £4.40 per session (22 sessions/£97)
To download a free copy of the ‘most common questions asked in the 11 , 13 school interview’, please enter your email address below.
