Spencer Academies Trust Hosts Year 13 Medicine Mock Interview Day
Spencer Academies Trust recently brought together a group of Year 13 students from five of its sixth forms for a Medicine Mock Interview Day, designed to support and prepare aspiring medical students for the competitive application process.
The initiative, introduced in 2023 by Executive Director of Post-16, Susan Sharp, continues to go from strength to strength. Last year’s workshop resulted in 15 successful medicine offers. This year marked a record level of participation, with 27 students taking part in the mock interviews and a total of 57 students across the Trust applying to study medicine.
The event was carefully designed to mirror the multi-mini interview (MMI) format now used by most medical schools. Students rotated through six interview stations, each featuring a different scenario, including role-play exercises. These stations tested a range of skills essential for a career in medicine, such as communication, empathy, ethical reasoning, and problem-solving.
Executive Director of Post 16, Susan Sharp, was delighted with the workshop: “This was our most successful MMI day yet, with the highest number of students taking part and four NHS staff, including doctors and a nurse! It was great to welcome back two former Spencer Academies Trust students who are now studying medicine and were keen to support our current applicants.”
She added: “It was so inspiring to see friendships being made with students swapping tips and advice. They performed really well, and we were very proud to see how mature all the students were, and how receptive to feedback they were. Last year we had 17 successful applicants, and we are hoping for even more this year - the best of luck to them all!”
One student from Arnold Hill Spencer, Muhammed Khan said: “Everyone gave great tips. I learned how important it is to focus on a small number of points in depth, use a clear framework, and apply the four pillars effectively.”
Another student from Derby Moor Spencer, Jennifer Kamesh said: “The session was really useful and I learned a lot from the feedback. Having medical professionals involved gave us a realistic insight into working within the NHS.”
We’re so proud of our students and wish you all the best of luck with your medicine applications!
