Year 10 Mock Interview Day
On 22 January, Coombe Wood School hosted a successful Year 10 Mock Interview Day. Local business volunteers, many of whom regularly conduct interviews as part of their professional roles, provided students with one-to-one interview experiences. In advance of the event, students attended Civil Service led workshops on CV writing and mock cover letters during their Computing lessons, with additional preparation for verbal interview skills provided during Tutor Time.
Feedback from the day showed that 80% of students had never previously taken part in an interview. Before the event, 27.1% of students reported feeling nervous, 40.7% felt indifferent, and 32.2% felt confident. Following the interviews, confidence levels increased significantly, with 72.9% of students reporting that they felt more assured. Students particularly valued the feedback from experienced interviewers, which offered insights beyond those typically available in the classroom.
Students reported that the mock interviews were highly effective in preparing them for future pathways, including Sixth Form, college, apprenticeships and employment. While managing nerves and responding to unexpected questions were noted as challenges, these experiences highlighted areas for development and will help shape future sessions.