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The Art of Interview by

Explore. Prepare. Succeed.

Quintessentially Education is an education consultancy committed to helping families make informed decisions about their children’s futures.

Rooted in our student-centred ethos, our team of experienced educationalists strives to foster a love of learning whilst supporting students in developing the tools they need for academic success and future progression.

You may already be familiar with us through enquiries we’ve made on behalf of current or past clients, or from school visits where you have kindly welcomed us. We hope to collaborate with you on this programme to enhance the support already in place for your students’ senior school preparations.

Visit our website to learn more about our services.

Our mission

To help students become familiar with the unfamiliar before their senior school interviews.

Schools do an excellent job of preparing students for their transition to senior school – from school selection to ISEB pre-testing. However, parental feedback consistently shows that preparing for the formal interview remains the most challenging part of the process. Because students are familiar with their teachers, it can be difficult to effectively simulate a real interview environment within schools.

Through The Art of Interview, students will experience a new approach to interview preparation, concluding with a formal mock interview with someone unfamiliar to them. We provide a meaningful experience that complements existing school support, helping students feel excited and enthused about their move to senior school.

What is The Art of Interview?

The Art of Interview is a three-stage course designed to prepare students in years 5 and 6 for their upcoming senior school interviews.

Delivered in schools, the programme strengthens the support schools already provide, with the added benefit of exposing students to independent interviewers.

of our clients agreed that a formal mock interview helped their child feel more confident.

97% of our clients recommend students experience a formal mock interview with an unknown interviewer. 92% of students said they better understood the application process and what to expect during the interview. 89%

Knowledge, skills, and behaviours for future success

Aligned with our ‘explore, prepare, succeed’ ethos, The Art of Interview is centred around exploration and preparation – ensuring students thrive during their transition to senior school. The workshops are designed to equip students with essential soft and practical skills they need for both present and future success, in the classroom and beyond.

Knowledge

Students will learn how to ask relevant and considered questions about their target senior schools, speak confidently about their hobbies and interests, and demonstrate knowledge and awareness of current affairs.

Skills

Students will develop their articulation and vocabulary, the ability to think on the spot and respond to unfamiliar questions, as well as vital reasoning and justification skills.

Behaviours

Students will learn about appropriate body language, how to make a strong first impression, and how to develop their confidence and sense of self.

Programme overview

WORKSHOP ONE

Confident communication

This workshop will equip students with the essential communication and reasoning skills required to excel in their senior school entrance interviews. Led by our team of experienced teachers, the session will include a role-play activity, reasoning tasks, and group debates – These activities are designed to help students think and speak with purpose, while familiarising themselves with interview appropriate behaviour.

WORKSHOP TWO

Current affairs & critical thinking

This workshop will help students develop knowledge of current affairs, the tools to analyse news stories, and how to think outside of the box. By delivering activities like those experienced on senior school assessment days, this session will improve children’s research, reasoning, critical thinking, collaborative group work, and presentation skills.

WORKSHOP THREE

Formal mock interview

Using the soft and practical skills they have learned in workshops one and two, students will attend a one-on-one mock interview with an unfamiliar interviewer. This workshop will allow students to apply their learning in a simulated real- life setting. Teachers and parents will receive feedback reports upon completion.

Inclusive resources designed to inspire

Students will take part in a range of interactive tasks – individual, paired, and group-based – to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours they need to feel confident and prepared. The accompanying student workbook also serves as a useful revision tool ahead of the interview day.

Created by experienced teachers and consultants, the resources include sentence starters, visual aids, scaffolding, and extension activities to support and challenge all learners. To ensure the content is tailored to each school’s cohort, we ask teachers to share a class list outlining any individual learning requirements – such as SEND or EAL – so we can adapt the materials accordingly and ensure every student is supported.

The Art of Interview team

Dr David Smith Charlotte Faber

With a career spanning over three decades in education, David has worked as a deputy headmaster, head of department, housemaster, and history teacher at some of the UK’s leading independent boarding schools, including Stowe, Sherborne, and Sevenoaks.

Charlotte was the headmistress of London’s prestigious Garden House Girls’ School from 2013–2017. There, she helped students reach their full potential, achieve excellent academic results, and secure places at top London day schools and UK boarding schools.

Our team of educationalists brings a wealth of knowledge and experience within the senior school sector. With backgrounds ranging from heads of admissions to senior school teachers, chartered education psychologists to leading tutors for 13+ entrance exams, this bespoke programme has been crafted in collaboration with industry experts.

Here’s a small sample of some of the experts involved…

Victoria Wagner-Hall

Having spent 15 years in education, with roles including head of year, head of department, and senior teacher, Victoria’s passion for an individualistic approach to teaching and learning led her to become a full-time professional tutor.

Simon Northcote-Green

Formerly deputy master at Dulwich College from 2000 until his retirement, Simon has a rich educational background. His career included involvement in the admissions process at Dulwich College, teaching at Marlborough College, directing programmes at Phillips Academy, and inspecting for the ISI.

Location and logistics

We are committed to providing tailored and convenient solutions that meet the needs of both students and schools.

Our team will travel to your school to deliver these workshops at a time that suits the schedules of your students and colleagues.

For optimal preparation, we recommend running the workshops in close succession, either at the end of year 5 or the beginning of year 6. This timeline gives students time to learn, practice, and refine the skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to excel in their upcoming senior school interviews.

Fees

Following a successful launch in 2024 with our founding schools, we are delighted to be extending The Art of Interview to more partners this year.

We invite interested schools to get in touch to explore the benefits of becoming a founding school and joining us in our mission to help students thrive academically.