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P1 Interview Guide — Direct Subsidy & Private School Complete Guide
The P1 interview is a key assessment for DSS and private primary schools, and also for knock-door places. This guide now covers interview formats, child expression and manners, picture storytelling, reading, maths, group play and parent interview essentials.
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Applications, interviews and the first year of primary school.
New · structured preparation
Start the complete 12-week English interview course
Use five short sessions per week to build natural answers, listening, early literacy, picture talk, group language and calm recovery. Weeks 1-4—20 complete sessions—are free.
Interview Preparation
Use the filters and checklist to produce a first draft, then verify the details with EDB, CHSC and school websites.
- Check school facts against CHSC and the school website.
- Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
- Check school facts against CHSC and the school website.
How To Use This Page
Use the filters and checklist to produce a first draft, then verify the details with EDB, CHSC and school websites.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Check school facts against CHSC and the school website.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
Decision Checklist
Use the filters and checklist to produce a first draft, then verify the details with EDB, CHSC and school websites.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
Practice Workflow
Use the filters and checklist to produce a first draft, then verify the details with EDB, CHSC and school websites.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
Verification Notes
Use the filters and checklist to produce a first draft, then verify the details with EDB, CHSC and school websites.
- Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
- Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
- Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
- Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
Interview Preparation
Use the filters and checklist to produce a first draft, then verify the details with EDB, CHSC and school websites.
- Check school facts against CHSC and the school website.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
Portfolio Preparation
Use the filters and checklist to produce a first draft, then verify the details with EDB, CHSC and school websites.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Check school facts against CHSC and the school website.
Interview Preparation
Use the filters and checklist to produce a first draft, then verify the details with EDB, CHSC and school websites.
- Record the decision, evidence and next action in your family checklist.
- Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
- Check school facts against CHSC and the school website.
What should parents verify first?
Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
How should we use this page?
Check school facts against CHSC and the school website.
What is the safest next step?
Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
How often should we practise?
Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
Where should official facts come from?
Practise briefly and regularly, focusing on natural responses.
Next pages
Keep momentum
Sources
Official sources to verify first
Rechecked against official sources on 26 July 2026. Until 2027 cycle dates are announced, confirm every deadline with the latest EDB notice.