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Interview Techniques
Students at Hethersett
High School and Science College have been learning interview skills in a new
initiative involving parents and nationally known companies. Over 140 students from
Years 10 and 11 have been preparing themselves for sixth form, university and
job interviews by taking part in 20 minute mock interviews organised through
the school’s Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE) scheme. The idea has been to
give the youngsters experience of expressing themselves in an interview
situation where they are asked to talk about their school, their interests and
their futures. Such has been the
success of the scheme, which is the brainchild of Head Teacher Rosemary Allen,
that plans are already being put into place to repeat it next year. “In these times of
change young people need to be adaptable. Jobs are no longer necessarily for
life and anything that helps young people with interviews is worthwhile. It is
about being a well rounded individual and mock interviews help with this,”
Mrs Allen said. Companies and
organisations taking part in the interviews, which were held over a 10 week
period, included Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, Norwich Union (Aviva), Norwich
City College, John Innes Institute, David Weeds Tennis Academy, Sainsburys and
the Royal Bank of Scotland. A number of parents with experience of
interviewing also joined in. Annually around 90% of
pupils at the school move on to sixth form. Hethersett High School caters for
pupils from Year Seven to Year 11 inclusive. The mock interviews
have been organised and supported by local extended schools’ co-ordinator
Fiona Whiting, Head of PSHEE and Citizenship Mike Baldwin and Pastoral
Assistant for Key Stage Four Sue Frary. The feedback from both
students and interviewers has been very positive: “It has been a very
positive experience for everyone involved,” Fiona Whiting said.
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