On Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 January 2025, each of our Year 11 pupils had the opportunity to practice their communication skills in a Mock Interview with a member of the local community.

As part of our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guide (CIAG) programme, pupils had created excellent CVs in advance to support their interview.

First impressions count and you only get one chance to make a first impression. Standing tall, smiling, making eye contact and using a firm handshake are all positive forms of non-verbal communication.

Year 11s had the option of wearing smart or casual-smart attire suitable for an office environment. Leo, in a suit, commented "Can we dress like this every day?" An interview can be a scary proposition but our young people acquitted themselves well and it was lovely to hear their relief at how well it had gone and what they had learned about the experience!

Each pupil will receive feedback on their interview and we advise that they take this onboard, whether it was regarding content on their CV or suggestions on how to improve their communication skills.

Feedback from our pupils and our guest interviewers has been really positive. Our thanks to members of the local community who gave their time and expertise to support our young people. Comments from mock interviewers included "We won’t need to worry about our futures with these young people around - a bunch of stars!" (Andy) and "It was our pleasure – as always – a delight to meet your students" (Kate).

Useful Links:

• National Careers Service: Interview Advice
• BBC Bitesize : Careers : Interviews
• icould: Easy ways to shine in interviews
• Indeed : Interview Questions for Teens