Academic members of the Fettes Teaching Staff, along with Parents and Old Fettesians,  provided practice interviews for 44 current applicants to Oxbridge. 

Students from Balerno High School, Boroughmuir High School, Broughton High School, Currie Community High School, Firrhill High School, James Gillespie’s High School, Portobello High School, Queensferry High School and Fettes College were interviewed. There were additional students who requested support from beyond Edinburgh, from St Mungo’s RC High School, St Modan’s High School.

There were 30 applicants for Cambridge and 14 for Oxford. Areas of application included, Architecture, Biology, Classics, Computer Science, Economics & Management, Engineering, English, Geography, History, HSPS, Law, Mathematics, Physics, Medicine, Modern & Medieval Languages, Music, Natural Sciences and Philosophy.

Students registered for an interview and supplied a copy of their Personal Statement. All interviewers had academic experience and interrogated students on their Statement, discussed broader topics and reading as well as previously unseen material.  Students were provided with feedback to help them in their final preparation. Several students were offered ongoing advice and further interview practice.

‘My practice interview was incredibly useful and successful, thank you for asking. I was given help to prepare me for the actual interview. This made me feel more relaxed concerning the interview and gave me a proper idea as to how the actual interview may go. My thanks to you.’  Boroughmuir High School candidate applying to read Biology at Oxford.

‘My interview was very helpful and my interviewer very encouraging.’ Fettes College applicant, applying to read English at Oxford.

‘I found the interview enormously beneficial. I felt it challenged me and gave a me a realistic expectation about how the real interview would be conducted. I am enormously grateful for this opportunity.’ Portobello High School candidate applying to read Law at Oxford.

‘We are exceedingly grateful to staff and members of the wider Fettes community who have provided the Oxbridge hopefuls with rigorous support and guidance. The Oxbridge application requires thorough preparation and commitment from applicants. A practice interview not only helps students to finesse their approach to questions, it also helps to calm nerves so that they can perform at their best on the day.  I am delighted that we have been able to support students from Edinburgh High Schools and wider once again this year.  I hope everyone feels confident when their real interviews take place.’  Camilla Smith, Oxbridge Coordinator at Fettes College.