Bedford Academy - Mock Interviews 2024

Over a number of years Castle Rotary has developed a strong relationship with Bedford Academy of Mile Road Bedford.

One of the events we have supported over many years is their Mock Interviews which this year took place on two Tuesday mornings in October. Nine Interviewers from Castle, together with two corralled from Bedford Rotary booked in to the school hall at 8.45am to share their life experience with Year 11 students by way of five, one to one interviews over the morning. The following week a team of ten interviewers, all from Castle this time, conducted a further five interviews each with a fresh group of students.

Some Rotarians attended both sessions and some just one Tuesday. Also for the first time this year we were supported by two “guest” interviewers from the wider Rotary family, Julia Cain and Vanessa Coleman, Paul’s wife and sister in law – this may give others food for thought for future events.

Julie & Nicola of the Careers Department of BA comment, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the Rotary gang for supporting us at the mock interviews over the last two Tuesdays. Our students thoroughly enjoyed it and we hope you did also. Valuable events such as these would not be possible without the amazing support from people like yourselves who kindly give up their own free time”.

And from the students – “I was a little worried and did not know what to expect but the person that interviewed me put me at ease and I felt comfortable talking to them and feel more prepared for future conversations”

And – “I found this whole thing really useful and it has made me think more about the fact I am in Year 11 and will leave school next year. It has definitely helped my confidence speaking to an adult I did not know”.

This really is a most worthwhile event to be involved with as it centres around providing time to help young people by sharing personal experiences, not about money or fund raising – it is also rewarding and well supported by the Club membership.