A record 90 old boys and other friends of the School this year conducted more than 150 individual university mock interviews for pupils as part of the QE Futures programme.
This tally does not include the many mock interviews held by QE teachers, both for their own students and for pupils at three other schools, nor does it include a range of other interview support measures for aspiring medics, Oxbridge candidates and others in Year 13.
The programme aims to build on last year’s record of university success, with 54 boys securing places at Oxford or Cambridge and with 55% of all QE leavers receiving offers from a university ranked in the QS World Top 5.
Assistant Head (Pupil Destinations) James Kane, who leads the QE Futures programme, said: “We seek to provide detailed preparation for all our students applying to university, maximising their chances of obtaining offers on the most sought-after courses at some of the world’s top educational institutions.
“Last year, a record 90% of QE applicants were called to interview at Oxford and Cambridge. Many exciting course offers have already been made this year, with a very strong number of Oxford offers. We await further news and will then support students with confirming their preferences. We are most grateful to all those OEs and other friends of the School who support the process so generously. ”
As an introduction to the interview season, in November Gwyneth Hamand, the London Outreach Officer for Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, delivered an in-School workshop for 50 of QE’s Oxford and Cambridge applicants, giving them insight into what to expect from the interview process.
That was followed by a visit from Old Elizabethan doctors and entrepreneurs Kavi Samra and Paul Jung (both 2008–2015). The pair held interviews in School over three days for all 33 medical applicants as part of the QE Futures Pathways to Medicine programme.
Separately, Mr Kane and Head of Biology Gillian Ridge together led a session with 20 aspiring medics, taking them through mock Multiple Mini Interviews. (MMIs are used by medical schools to test a wide range of skills and assess potential candidates.)
More generally, Year 13 students have been undertaking mock university practice in lessons, and developing their confidence and articulacy during a series of inter-class debates.
Among those who have benefitted are two pupils applying to read Mathematics at Cambridge. Shreyaas Sandeep said: “I found the mock interviews to be extremely helpful, as they provided a unique insight into the process and helped me understand which areas of the subject I should focus on.”
Classmate Saim Khan added: “The mock interview was an excellent opportunity to get firsthand experience in the university admissions process from someone who had been through the exact same steps only two years prior. The OE who interviewed me was very knowledgeable, more than willing to help, and extremely thorough!”
QE staff liaise with teachers at The Henrietta Barnett School and Highgate School to provide the respective schools’ pupils with mock interview practice. In addition, QE teachers give their time to provide online mock interviews for students from Ashmole Academy in Barnet.
- The next major event in the QE Futures calendar is the School’s Careers Convention on Wednesday 12th February. Like the mock interviews, the convention is always heavily supported by Old Elizabethans, who provide current pupils with the benefit of their individual experience and with sector-specific careers advice.