By Mrs Rebecca Miller, Head of Admissions at Dame Allan's Schools, Newcastle.
Entrance assessments, in many ways, are like mini job interviews for the young people hoping to attend an independent school.
They often have an in-person interview, an aptitude test, and that air of seeing if someone will be a ‘good fit’ for the organisation. I think you will agree, this can be somewhat overwhelming at 11 years old!
So, at Dame Allan’s in Newcastle, where I am Head of Admissions, we sought to shake up this process, removing the fear and injecting some fun along the way!
Step one was to launch a digital format assessment, replacing the old paper exams. This allows prospective pupils to complete their assessments in much less time, and removes the need for teachers to spend hours marking exams. Our digital exams also adapt to the level of each pupil, giving us a strong idea of their academic abilities, without causing undue stress or anxiety.
This new format also means that pupils can be assessed in a single day session. Previously, pupils would have to return on two separate occasions – once for the initial written assessment, which could take up to three hours – and again for an interview with staff members. Not only is this less nerve-wracking for pupils undergoing assessment, but logistically it is a lot easier for families too. We want to make sure that any prospective pupil will feel happy and comfortable with life at Dame Allan’s, inside and outside the classroom, and get to know them as individuals.
We also make sure that prospective pupils are warmly welcomed from the moment they come into the school. They’re met by volunteer Sixth Form ‘buddies’ who offer a vital friendly face and can help with any questions. Pupils also wear their own clothes to make them feel as comfortable as possible; previously assessment days required that pupils come in in their current school uniform, so this change is an indicator of our new, less rigid approach to assessment.
Arrival times are staggered to make the day less intense for the young people taking assessments. They are registered and put into small groups of no more than fifteen pupils to take their assessment.Following this stage, the children are divided further into groups of four. They will have an informal chat with a teacher to help us learn a bit more about them and their personalities and interests. During these informal chats, there will be an activity to take part in too – such as building a LEGO model. Not only is this a bit more fun, but it allows teachers to observe a pupil’s social and teambuilding skills in a discreet way.
Finally, pupils are welcomed into the Sports Hall to take part in a host of different activities designed to encourage conversation, teambuilding, and to blow off steam. These range from sports day classics like egg and spoon races, to obstacle courses, and logic puzzles – like working out how to ‘cross a river’ using limited materials.
All of this combines to make a fun-filled day that prospective families can enjoy, whilst helping our staff to get a true picture of all of the young people who attend. The result? Happier young people, glowing feedback from parents, and a national award win for our Admissions Team!
So, the next time you are evaluating your hiring and interview process, consider if there is a way you can inject a little more fun, and remove some of the anxiety. You’ll likely see rapid improvements for all involved.
Find out more at dameallans.co.uk