Preparing for Boarding School Interviews

An interview is one part of how a boarding school decides whether it can offer a place, and one part of how a family decides whether the school is right. Formats vary a great deal: some schools meet every applicant in person, some use a video call, some interview parents separately from the child, and some rely mainly on written references and tests. This guide describes what interviews are generally trying to find out and how to prepare without turning them into a performance. It cannot tell you how a particular school conducts its own, and it does not suggest that preparation affects the outcome.

What the school is trying to understand

A boarding school has two questions. First, would this child do well in the academic programme on offer? Second, would they cope with living away from home, sharing space with others and following a routine? The conversation is usually built to explore both. Expect questions about interests, favourite subjects, how the child spends free time, how they feel about being away from home, and what they would like to try at the school. The staff member may also be gauging English comfort for a pupil whose first language is different.

Parents are usually asked about the child's character, previous schooling, any support needs, and why boarding is being considered. Schools generally appreciate honest answers about difficulties, because information shared early allows the school to say whether it can support the child.

Preparing the child

Preparation is best understood as familiarity, not rehearsal. A few ideas that tend to help:

• Talk through the school's website together beforehand, so names and activities are not unfamiliar.
• Practise introducing themselves, in a relaxed way, in the language of instruction if that is not their first language.
• Encourage the child to think of one or two questions of their own, such as what a normal weekday and weekend look like.
• Explain that the interview is a conversation, that there is no single right answer, and that it is acceptable to say "I don't know" or "can you say that again?"
• Make sure the child actually wants to board. A child who is quietly unsure should have the chance to say so before a place is offered.

Avoid scripts. Interviewers meet many children and tend to notice memorised answers. A child who describes a real interest in their own words is usually easier to talk to.

Preparing the parents

Parents should prepare too. Decide before the meeting what you most need to know, and write the questions down. Useful topics include supervision outside lessons, contact with home, medical care, pastoral support, and what the school does when a child is unhappy. The sister guide on questions to ask during a school visit expands this list.

Be ready to describe your child accurately, including strengths and areas where they need support. Bring requested documents, such as previous school reports, and ask in advance which ones the school wants. Bring a list of any dietary, medical or learning needs, since these affect which boarding house is suitable.

Interviews by video

Where families live abroad, interviews are often held online. Check the technology in advance, choose a quiet space with decent light, and have the child sit where they can be seen and heard clearly. Time zones matter: confirm the time in both locations in writing. If an interpreter or an adult is needed to assist, tell the school beforehand so the format can be agreed.

Interviews, offers and visas

An interview is not an offer. Schools typically make decisions on the whole application, and an offer may be conditional on results, references, health information or payment of a deposit. If a child will study abroad, some visa rules begin only after the school has made an offer.

As published by GOV.UK on the date accessed, the Child Student visa requires an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Child Student sponsor, and a suitable place to live, among other things. Check the page for current wording. In the United States, the Study in the States site says that before a school issues the Form I-20 it must receive the student's financial evidence. IRCC states that a letter of acceptance is generally required for a minor's study permit application, and Immigration New Zealand states that the education provider must be a signatory to its Pastoral Care Code. The sequence therefore tends to be: application, interview, offer, acceptance and deposit, then immigration documents issued by the school, then the visa application. A school cannot guarantee a visa, and an interview does not create any right to one. Always check the official pages of the destination country, because the details differ.

After the interview

Ask when and how the school will respond. If you have a choice of offers, compare schools on the same questions rather than on how the interview felt. If a place is offered, read the enrolment terms before paying anything, including what happens to deposits if a visa is refused or the child does not travel. Do not rely on verbal assurances about refunds.

Check before you decide

• What format will the interview take, who will be present, and how long will it last?
• Does the child take any tests or assessments, and are results shared with parents?
• Does the school interview parents separately, and what documents should we bring?
• What are the possible outcomes of the process, and by what date will we hear?
• If an offer is conditional, what are the conditions in writing?
• What are the deposit and refund terms if a visa is not granted or plans change?
• Which documents will the school issue for immigration purposes, and when?