AN interviewer who took part in a Bromsgrove school's mock interview day for Year 11 says the concept, and standard of the students, has set the benchmark for others to follow.

In previous years, representatives from local business and enterprise have visited South Bromsgrove High School to conduct one-to-one interviews with all 335 Year 11 students.

This year, with coronavirus restrictions in place, the school moved the whole exercise online, with a number of interviewers impressed by the smoothness of the transition.

Students joined the interviewers for a video call lasting up to 20 minutes that included questions, feedback on performance and advice for the future.

The students said the experience was of great benefit to them and they got a lot of a pointers of how to improve, such as learning to sell themselves better.

Mr Clark, careers lead, said, “We are so grateful for the interviewers who have volunteered their time to support our students in this way.

"It is always an invaluable exercise in giving the students a chance to practice their interview skills, especially in the new normal of online working.

"This cohort missed out on their job shadowing opportunity last summer, due to lockdown, so it has been very important to give them the chance to learn how to conduct themselves in an unknown situation.”

The school’s careers programme will be utilising online video later in the year with alumni talks for the Sixth Form and employer “visits” for Year 9.