The Trinity Whitgift Dulwich 11+/10+ thread 2014 pt2

[LadyMuck]

Anyone still out there?!

[JustAnotherUserName]

Well done. Knew you'd be along!

[Hipster1]

Boo! I have been lurking. Feeling for you all and remembering just how awful the process was last year. Good luck!

[dippingbackin]

Well done for starting part 2.

Just packing DS' bag for W sports scholarship tomorrow. Assume he will come back totally broken.

[LadyMuck]

He'll have a great time dipping. The boys I know are over the moon at the thought of call backs as well, so some of them might be getting 5 or more days off school in order to play extra sport. Good luck!

[dippingbackin]

So W might 'call back' some of the boys after tomorrow? Is that because they are borderline or outstanding?

[LadyMuck]

You need a sporty boy mum for that, but I understand that it is a good sign, certainly at Trinity.

[havinganightmare]

W call back for particular sports like cricket and hockey, which can't necessarily be fully judged on the assessment day (ie using tennis not hardball). Good luck to your DS. Mine loved the sports days and met some lovely mates. PM me if you want more info.

[LadyMuck]

I think that the important thing for sport in particular is to emphasise to your Ds that he has done very well just to get selected for the assessment day (think only a third to half of applicants get assessed). These days the sports scholarships are probably more competitive than the academic ones, and there will already be county players in sports such as cricket. They obviously look at fitness and potential, so it is far from over for those who haven't gone to clubs etc yet. But he definitely shouldn't feel bad if he doesn't get called back etc. it also should mean that he's passed his written test, which is also good!

[LadyMuck]

Teddington, you asked about movement post offer day (which should be received 14 Feb).

I think it is simplest to say that yes, there is frequently movement in offers at the Whitgift
Foundation schools, largely because it has one of the largest "pots" for awards, and also because of the amount of local competition including grammar schools. There will be movement for some months and most fee paying parents know that they may lose a deposit and a terms fees to secure the school they want, though usually I would say that it is still rare to go as far as losing a terms fees. Most decisions will be made by Easter, but there may be movement for one or two boys up to the beginning of July. Movement during the holidays seems to be rare except at 6th form of course.

[Teddingtonmum1]

Grrrrr so basically this could go on and on til September , seriously I don't think I'll have enough sanity to last that long !! Fingers crossed to get something firm time round and be happy with it ....

Looked at the scales for W is that per term it didn't specify even then it seems extremely generous , we sat CH even though ex was against it DS flunked it later admitted on purpose as didn't want to board ft ( could have mentioned before I paid the registration !!) and drove around to exams but I guess felt torn between us but they would not be drawn on what the fees could be which was a worry .
sorry sounding like a deranged loon but has anyone had a no thanks from W yet gave convinced myself if we don't get an interview letter by Saturday its a no as admissions indicated sending out letter til midweek this week .... More postie stalking

[LadyMuck]

I am afraid that Whitgift do not send out no thanks letters until very late in the process, if at all. But I would certainly think that if you don't have any post this week, you would be well within your rights to give them another ring at the start of next week.

I think that the Whitgift school places will be absolutely determined by end of their summer term (so 1st week of July), so not as late as September. Should any unexpected gaps appear after then, they will be dealt with through the 12+ process.

The three main rounds of movement will be a) when the other independent results come out (on the 13th of Feb), b) when state school offers come out (3 March) and c) when the first round of state school waiting lists get reallocated (end of March/early April).

For those of us waiting on co-ed schools the process has already started as many of the girls schools have or are sending out offers before the boys get theirs. Royal Russell, which is coed, have sent out their girls offers ahead of the reserve date (which was so oversubscribed they've gone for a second reserve date!). So some girls schools are already re-offering places and scholarships, before the boys know where they are ranked yet.

Whilst it probably sounds as if there is tons of running around, it is generally only done by a few families who fall on the boundaries of either getting a place or not, or getting an award or not. There will be plenty of applicants, indeed the vast majority, who will just return the paperwork with a sigh of relief.

[Seeline]

LadyMuck - I am interested in your comments re RR. Do you mean they had far more applicants than usual, or more girls than usual. Or have I completely misunderstood 'oversubscribed'? Just wondering as it's a possible for my DD next year

[LadyMuck]

Their first/main sitting was 7 January (clashing with Old Palace and Reigate Grammar), and certainly after that the girls offers were made last week (but not the boys - they won't hear until 13th Feb). Their "reserve" sitting was meant to be yesterday, but I understand that there has been a flood of late interest, so children are also sitting the exam today.

I think a lot of people found the Caterham papers much harder than anticipated, and of course there is no word now from Caterham until 13th Feb, so people may be lining up more back-ups than usual. Possibly also anyone with a no from Trinity might look at it. Equally I think Reigate is having another round of applicants, in part due to the uncertainty over Dunottar's future.

I'm not sure that I understand why the girls school process is so different. Presumably something historical.

[Seeline]

Thanks for clarifying LM. I'm dreading next year already....

[likeamum]

LadyMuck, you said "I am afraid that Whitgift do not send out no thanks letters until very late in the process, if at all."

It says in their letters they will notify boys "As soon as possible" is they are not being invited to interview!

Can any MNer clarify? add experience?

I'm afraid my DS didn't get through and it is really affecting his sleep, behaviour etc.. daily.. it is cruel to keep us hanging if they know he's not being invited to interview

[Hipster1]

I found Whitgift the most frustrating last year but perhaps this was just me. I applied for a scholarship (not sports) and one that really you have to see the candidate to judge... didn't hear a thing! Got invited to interview after the exam and mentioned not heard about the scholarship and was told "all okay still processing". Still heard nothing! Phoned... heard nothing. Eventually phoned again and was told "all candidates have been seen already". Still to this day I would never have been informed that he was not being assessed for the scholarship. He was seen by Trinity and all other schools for the said scholarship. This was definitely a deciding factor in choosing the school last year. I found the communication very lacking, especially considering the fees went up enormously last year at Whitgift.

This is not a "Whitgift is awful point", I have lots of friends whose children are thriving there. Just personally felt put off by the whole admissions process and lack of communication.

[JustAnotherUserName]

Yes - I posted on the earlier thread how awful W are (in this respect). They must know the angst it causes and - there is no way round this - THEY DO NOT CARE. Other schools can manage the process with letters one way or the other within days or a week.

They are just cynical, imho, they know that once people are in, W will have been forgiven for the angst-causing. And if you don't get in (and so will not forgive), well that's not W's problem....not a way of endearing yourself to people when you are competing against other schools.

[JustAnotherUserName]

I hope DS will end up with a choice at the end. W is losing points!

[MrsSteptoe]

Hipster1, I find that an incredibly sad story. I don't like to say this, because I know that Whitgift has many fans here and DCs are thriving there and so on... but to be really honest I find it indefensible that they would leave an 11 year old boy hanging. I find it hard to reconcile their policy, which seems a bit callous, with a good policy of pastoral care of the boys, but perhaps admissions has separate policies.

[Hipster1]

MrsSteptoe, he did get offered a place at W but I just felt that they didn't really bother to see the whole boy and even give him a chance to shine at his talent. All other schools did and therefore he got a better feel for those schools by spending time with them. After all the interviews and assesments he definitely had a preference. Thank goodness he got offered a place at his preferred school, which also happened to be my preference as well.

[likeamum]

11?! My DS is only just 9 1/2! It is all a bit much at his age

[Teddingtonmum1]

Just clinging to the fact that Basildon didn't hear for 3 weeks and got a scholarship that we still have a slither of hope but no I'm not particularly impressed. I think all the no's should get an email as soon as possible so you can move on with the next option.

[Brownsugar3879]

Just got a call from T to bring Ds for an interview next week! Finally!

[Brownsugar3879]

So, for anyone still waiting, hang in there.....

[Hipster1]

Great news Brownsugar!