The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013 continued

Zato yes we did that and have never regretted the decision. Not at w but most schools offer this sort of scheme so worth enquiring if you have some cash set aside. Just knowing you are paid up and just have an incidentals bill each term to cover makes budgeting easier.

Has anyone tried paying 7 years up front ? W and T get money upfront and the parents lock in current fees. Maybe a strange request but just a though

Thanls

I have made my appointment with the school shop - very helpful man, he said appointment spaces were filling up, so maybe give them a call.

Not sure if anyone is still around.. I was wondering if W did indeed have the second entrance exams? This is not meant to stir things up, merely a curiosity.

Should we go ahead and make appointments with the school shop for fittings or do we wait until we get the relevant letter/s?

My son is doing French and Italian. He is currently doing French and Latin at his prep school, but can't wait to drop Latin!
He hates it!
He's done French for 7 years already, and was hoping to give up that one too.....but no such luck.

hippy - glad to have another boarder here. I emailed W and they would come back to me soon with advice. they have about 20 year 9 boarders out of about 30 or so new yr 9 joiners. The letter seemed to be too much geared for incumbents though.

Hi
I've been lurking for months with great interest, and decided to register!
I, too, have a ds starting at Whitgift this September in Year 9. He will also be boarding.

We did receive, a few days ago, a letter from W about language choices and creative arts choices.
The only 'new' language the boys can start in Year 9 is Italian. They have to carry on with one language they are already studying (or indeed can carry on with two languages they may be studying). They must study two languages in total in Year 9.

Hope this helps

fondofuk - it seems nobody has been in a similar position - but the school must have dealt with it before and will be able to give advice. It would make sense to me to do Spanish rather than French in your case, but I'm no expert (as you can see from my own question on languages).

DS starting year 9 from sep and thinking of swiching from french to spanish. Been in england for just over 2 years and even still picking up english and so his french is at minimal. I know from my experience that spanish is way easier to a non european language speaker. Seems like at W boys start spanish from yr 7 or 8 so still bit worried if he can make it up ready for gcse action in 1 or 2 yr time. Any practical experience on this pls?

morange - thanks so much for the info! Will definitely opt in the contact list. Hope to see folks from the thread soon.

Yes, thank you all for sharing your wisdom!

I'm a worrier, but I'm beginning to think DS (and I) may just make it through the first term.

racegirl - would be deeply thankful for your feedback on buttons - that does sound perfect.

Thanks morange..thats exactly the kind of useful and practical information that I've been longing to hear .

.... and there was an induction/information evening for parents too (no kids) - can't remember when that was but possibly June time - talk and info from Headmaster and various Lower School staff followed by a glass of wine or two in the garden after..

Johnny - there is a contact list for Upper First (probably they do the same for Lower First) which is produced by the Whitgift School Association - you can opt in or out of supplying your details. They say "The purpose of the list is simply to help parents and boys to discuss homework, identify others who live nearby to share travel arrangements, develop friendships, and so forth." It has been very useful. Someone posted about meeting other parents - it's obviously very different from primary school on that front but most parents we met pitch side once the squads are sorted, there were a few social events in the first term for parents (quiz etc), also met parents via friends DS has made in his class and he made quite a few on the induction days, school bus, sports teams etc In the week before term starts there were 3 days of induction for new boys - encouraged to attend but not compulsory - bit like the sports course with a variety of activities from golf to orienteering, with library induction, music etc added. Then on the Friday afternoon all the new boys came in dressed in school uniform to meet their form tutor, be shown around, see their classroom/locker, told what to bring to school etc and then there was a tea outside in the quadrangle for all the parents and boys and teachers. So by the time they had their proper first day at school it was not that daunting at all. Not sure if same arrangements this year but remember getting a letter around this time with info on all sorts of things, including info on uniform and booking an appointment for that etc - letter will also come in due course re language choices

I think O2 have an "auto top up" option although I don't use it. DSs get a text each time they use any credit that tells them how much they have left. They tend to send me a text with their last remaining pennies and I top up online for them :)

burnt_ this happened to me! I was able to top up his phone up remotely (Orange were very understanding with the lunatic mother-me!)

Hi.
With the naming stuff ordeal I have ordered from these people www.easy2name.com/product.htm?product=easytags
I've never used them myself but a friends son has them on everything. You basically get named buttons with backs and a small hand-held applicator. You load it and the button clasps (like an earring) to either the lining or a label (or whatever you choose) and can't come off unless removed by the same applicator. Obviously you'll still have to sew on the big name tapes by the sounds of things but everything else will be easytagged in seconds!!!! You have to buy the start up kit but then the buttons aren't extortionate considering the ease of applying them and they are all reusable.
I'm hoping they live up to my expectations as me and sewing are not best of friends and I have experience of my ds losing jumpers and not getting them returned and have heard people just cut the labels out (at his primary school)- this won't help with jumpers but blazers and bags etc might make it back to us.
I'm off to the second hand sale on Saturday to see what I can get as back up for the inevitable "mum..... I can't find my shoes/sock/top/shorts/jumper" (delete as appropriate)
When the tags arrive I'm going to label his current school uniform (as I can reuse them) and I'll let you know how it goes.
Re: Phones. Cheap and cheerful as he has a iPod touch (bought from saved up chore money and Xmas/birthday money) so he has that for all the apps, games, FaceTime etc and he won't be allowed that to school.
Right off into the blizzard!!!!!

The only issue I had thought about with PAYG is the chance of them being out of credit the one time there is an emergency (god forbid!)

Just checked Nayims website looks good and they do alterations as well - perfect.

Thanks lfs2126 that's really useful.
Soup - love the I phone finder idea and I do need to upgrade mine....

croydonmumtods- I think the embroidery firm is nayims embroideries on Stafford road wallington

Ladymuck - another reason for letting him have your old iphone is that you can track him using "find my iphone". Not that I did this with DS1, oh no no no. :o Very useful for planning the timing of dinner!

Croydonmumtods - sorry typo should have read used that company last year they are very good, but need to book early

Croydonmumtods I used that last year, they are very good but book early

The Tesco mobile have a capped contract option so ds cannot go over his very generous number of minutes and texts.

There is a huge variety of phones in the first few years (from none through to the very latest £500 model). Just to warn you. There is peer pressure. Sadly for ds I think teaching resilience is valuable.

The Samsung Ace is cheap for a reason. Its internal memory is very very limited, so if your ds likes apps then be wary! photos and music can be stored on an sd card. But I've found the phone so frustrating that ds will get my iphone when his contract finishes. If only because I know how it works!