Educator Interview: Sonya Moledina
- Gemma Louise Bull
- Sep 15, 2024
- 3 min read
An interview with Gemma Louise Bull
Sonya Moledina is the founder of Etiquette and Emotions. As an interview and etiquette coach, and an experienced parent, Sonya has a unique perspective on the 11+ journey.
In this interview, Sonya shares her top tips for success in entrance exam interviews.
Can you tell me about your own education background?
I attended a local comprehensive school growing up, so when it came to my own two children, it was a minefield navigating the competitive independent school system on the outskirts of London.
When did you start your education business?
I started my business just before the pandemic in 2019 to support other families through the process I had just been through with my eldest child.
What inspired you to start your business?
I was working in the corporate world as a project manager and noticed that people getting buy-in from stakeholders, and getting promoted at work, were people with elevated social skills. I feel that academic or technical skills are only part of the jigsaw and students also need emotional and relational intelligence for effective, fulfilling personal and professional relationships.
At the same time, my son was applying to independent schools through 11+ assessments and we learned from our own experiences about what schools are looking for, how to prepare for school interviews, mistakes to avoid, and what to expect at second-stage assessments.
What classes do you offer?
I offer school interview coaching online or in Northwood (HA6). I offer masterclasses such as the two-hour online school interview masterclass, critical thinking skills workshop, group tasks, and mock interviews. I use experience and feedback from my former 11+ students to keep the sessions up to date with assessment trends.
I also offer my signature workshop called ‘Confidence, Conversations and Charisma’ for children and teens as well as the ‘Emotional Intelligence Workshop’ for 8-12-year-olds.
Thinking about your most successful students, what strategies did they use to achieve their potential?
There are five key strategies used by my students to do well in school interviews/second-stage assessments:
At the open day, take note of what you noticed about the school, particularly in relation to your hobbies and interests. Also, research the school by visiting the website and talking to others. Successful students can confidently answer the question: ‘Why do you want to come to this school?’
Mind map your achievements, hobbies, and extracurricular activities in sports, music, drama, art, or other pursuits. Successful students demonstrate they are more than just impressive English and Maths scores.
Have a mock interview to practice articulating your answers to the most common interview questions.
Be natural and conversational; those who do well at interviews are authentic and treat the interview as a fairly informal conversation.
Expect the unexpected: students have been asked to describe a picture, analyse a poem, work in pairs or team and solve a maths puzzle or riddle.
What other tips do you recommend to parents who are preparing their child for the 11+?
It is an invaluable skill for your child to be able to articulate their opinion. Have discussions and debates around the dinner table or whilst doing the school run e.g. Should school uniforms be compulsory? Should footballers earn more than doctors? What is climate change? What is AI? Your child should feel their opinion is valued and build the confidence to share their opinions with reasons and demonstrate both sides of an argument.
Towards the end of year 5 and over the summer holidays, go through typical school interview questions and discuss what you want to share with the interviewer. Do not rehearse a script, so that you can keep the interview authentic and build rapport with the interviewer.
Anything else you would like to share?
For school interview support, please visit the page below or contact me at info@etiquetteandemotions.com
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