The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013 continued

Burnt: " I requiescet causat meam"

mishareyo - btw I like that, the WCUSC.
(Whitgift Collective Utopian Supporters Club)

mishareyo - We all have opinions and are entitled to express them as you have done. Some positive some negative. I really don't want to get into this again on here, but my opinion is of a positive nature.
In expressing my opinion I have not put down others or expressed a view that W is better than any other school that someone else may have chosen. I have not 'attacked' anyone or said that others opinions do not matter or are of no value.
I have said in fact that I agreed with what the 'dissenters' as you called them have said but expect that the comments and issues would relate to any school.
I am at liberty to post what i want, i used the forum initially to connect with other parents experiencing the same thing as we were going through and further to relate to prospective W /T parents that feel the same way.
So your request for my 'propaganda campaign' to stop is rather contradictory to your statement about this being an open forum.
My 'rose tinted specs' are actually coloured by information mainly from existing parents. We would be stupid to contemplate a commitment like this if we did not value information from everyone. What wasn't kind is the way it was expressed, much the same way as the tone of your post actually.
I merely said that if a few more posters came forward the view would balance.
Don't really think you 'attack' was deserved, came a bit late, repeated countless post before, seems a bit anal - but hey to each to his own!

mishareyo....no one has shut down the dissenters of W...as you rightly say "this is an open forum and all information published is of value" regardless of its positive/negative nature ....but when it becomes personal, and is given in such a condescending manner... it ceases to be useful, as it is then based on hidden agenda's and gripes.

Most parents on this thread whether at W/T know that at some point there will be bumps/issues along the way...but it is how you and the school deal with it that is of importance !

Oh dear! Burnt your propaganda campaign really has to stop, had no intention of posting again and I'm sure you said the same!! We are all aware that you and your DS love Whitgift will be starting in September and I wish you and him the best of luck and good wishes. The issues raised by the dissenters provide valuable information for people both now and in and future years. Whitgift is a good option but if you have options whethe they are so called "top tier" or a good state option I would want to be well informed rather than looking at everything through rose tinted specs! As said the issues raised are real, this has been confirmed by my sons DS, as well as several poster on here including Mumsnet veterans like LadyMuck and allow people to research further and then make their own decisions. Togethr with your cheerleaders you have shut down the dissenters that dared to question your collective utopian view of Whitgift and impose your views again. This is an open forum and all the information published is of value.

This thread has been better then my current novel, if there are any t mums on here my ds will be joining sept and I'm looking into the school mini bus option just wondering what happens if he misses the bus !!! ( knowing my son he will ) do they have checks it may sound like a silly question sorry

Well done Burntout - you've forced my hand! My DS is currently in Yr 8 at W. He is really happy and regularly says how much he loves his school. I have found the teaching to be excellent and the teachers very approachable. I am particularly impressed with the twice yearly written reports which clearly demonstrate that they know my son. DS is fairly sporty but not 'elite' and plays at B and C level very happily. The music scheme designed to give every boy the chance to learn an orchestral instrument has been great - my son now plays an instrument in one of the orchestras. - I would never have imagined that!

It is a big school and there are obviously going to be gripes but for us its been brilliant - I know all DS's friends love school - I am sure they are in the majority too. I still go to the school and get a feeling of how lucky DS is to be there.

I was on this thread 2 yrs ago and found it really supportive - have dipped in and out this year.

Hope this adds a bit of balance!

Glad you are back on the right track Burntoutdad .

Well said Fatal, i think that's how we all felt. Shame really but yes pls don't stir it again. Visited today and still have no doubts, spoke with some mums casually who could not praise it enough and said that the large majority of boys just do not want to leave there. Something else I learnt is that once you are a whitgiftian you are welcome whenever and can go and get advice and information and there is an (unofficial) network of old whitgiftians that will help with anything they can throughout your further studies and career.
Iluv - there aren't that many negative comments here just three or four of the same type of comment, which as ive said before and Fatal and others have said could apply to any school. Taking exams elsewhere also isn't news to me I have heard of this practice (Not necessarily in W but elsewhere) years ago and hadn't really thought about it too much as I would hope that we would be warned enough to take corrective action. I can understand annoyance if anyones DS was actually in that position, but ill worry about that when the time comes. I have heard of parents who's DS is struggling a bit to do all the work and as far as i can tell the school are doing all they can to help and have homework sessions etc to push them in the right direction. you can call form tutors anytime and they will even help on weekends if needed (so ive been told).
By all means listen to the opinions of others but remember here you have read a few bad things and a LOT of good things. Wish some more of the existing parents would comment and im sure if they did positive would outweigh negative.

Sorry couldn't resist another post, visiting the school with Ds and wandering around at leisure set me off on the right track again - it just feels right for my him which is all I care about .

iluv - I wouldn't think twice tbh. There's nothing 'revealed' on this thread that doesn't happen in virtually every other school in the country to some degree or other. It would be naive in the extreme to assume that W is immune from occasional bit of disruptive behaviour etc. We're talking about a school of 1000 adolescent boys, after all! It's how the school handles it that counts.

It's not what's been revealed on this thread that bugged me (well, the 'just ring up and get a place' stuff was highly irritating but also preposterous so...) it was the patronising way in which it was done by some posters. Oh, and the implication that my state-educated, bursary-receiving son might be the source of the aforementioned disruption... but I don't want to be accused of stirring it all up again so shall just leave things there

Don't be worried iluvmyboys it IS a great school. Every child's journey through school life is different. I have many friends whose DS's have attended or still attend W. undoubtedly the school has been great for all.

Just after accepting W offer, I read so many negative comments on the school. Really worried now, if I made a mistake. There is nothing we can do now, but I hope it all works out for the good..

Thanks Seeline. Your comment re "having barely crossed the road by himself.." struck a chord! DS has bad habit of only looking left.... Will add Green Cross Code to "training" days!

Fondofuk I actually went to a State School (and not a good one either) but if it happened there, all those years ago, you can see why it still happens at the Independents when League Tables in the 'Internet Age' are so much more accessible... gosh I now sound really old - O Levels and the 'Internet Age' .

kimalima Thanks. Sounds like this must be a long-standing practice at indie schools who "want" to stay high on league tables. Another watch point going forward! Anyone will have to ask exact headcount and look at English/Match exam enters!!!

Also shows pupils who are asked to sit outside are not necessairly failing, trouble-making ones! You are the testimony...

Fondofuk I'm actually meeting my friend whose son sat an exam at Croydon College for Dinner on Saturday night. I'll ask if she minds me releasing further details. But I do need to check-in with her first. Although perhaps a W parent will be able to respond before that time.

On another note way (way way) back when I took my O Levels I sat my English Literature exam at Croydon College not my secondary school. The school did not want to enter me as they considered I would fail. In hindsight I had (at that time) not even read most of the required literature. My dad paid for the exam out of his own pocket (rather than my state school paying). I passed and got an A! However, I did pull my socks up and study hard.

Clanger My DS started in the Junior form at T in Spetember (even though W is actually much closer to us). Having barely crossed the road by himself previously we too were worried about the travel aspect. I have to say that most mornings/evenings I still act as taxi, but there are occassions when he has used public transport. He takes the train to East Croydon and then one of several buses up to T. In the evening he prefers to take the bus to EC and then walks round the corner to the Fairfield stops to get a bus which stops right outside our house. We practised this several times over the summer, and he has some notes written down which he keeps in his blazer The deal is when using public transport is that he lets me know beforehand, and that he keeps his phone on whilst travelling. This has worked fine, and he is happy to do it. The 466 stops just outside EC and takes you straight to W so that would be a definite possibilty for your DS - I am sure lots of the boys would do the same trip.

Re GCSE thing again. Can anyone help?

(1) W exam results on website shows 177 sat for English & Math for 2012 results. What is total headcount of year 11 now (or last year)?

(2) Mechanism : Can't still see "sitting exam elsewhere physically" means his scores are not registered under W? Wouldn't this "entering" require identity of "current school"?

Assuming 200 in year 11 (no exact number) and they are all B,C,D..., it will drop thier A*/A ratio from 73.5% to 65%, which is still not a disaster....

Anyway if this is the case with W. I reckon many other schools would be doing the same thing.

And a "normal" question. Around 30 or so boys do IB there. What is the usual difference between IBers and A-levelers? (targeted Univ destination?)

Ohhhh, just couldn't stay away!

Re: the Croydon College thing. When I was at school eons ago, this happened. I distinctly remember a couple of my classmates taking their GCSEs elsewhere, am sure of it. They weren't removed from the school or excluded from any other aspect of school life though. I agree it's not a great thing. But when so much emphasis is placed on league tables you can see why it might happen. I'm not defending the practice in any way but all the talk of 'top tier', 'second tier' etc on this thread alone just proves the point... a certain type of parent will always consider league tables before anything else. And schools, particularly fee-paying schools, are always going to want to present themselves in the best possible light; league tables rightly or wrongly are a huge factor in this.

May I also respectfully suggest that the poster who wanted to start the 2014 thread considers a name change before she does so? It's hardly a secret that these threads are read by the admissions team

Morning all,

I spoke to a former teacher yesterday who worked at another T/W competitor and farming of poor GCSE boys was common place to ensure they had a good placing on the league table.

I asked Mr Beck re this years fee increase and if this was a one off or a standard increase. I was told it was one off and usual increase is 3-5%. Asked if I could have that in writing and I just got a chuckle as if it was the most absurd request.

20k in a few years was a big factor in the no decision

Actually i think I better say A BIG SORRY to all the W parents. I have reread what I wrote and I think I was out of order to say it has ended up small minded etcetera. This thread has actually settled down and I realize that my comments could be seen as actually stirring it all up again. I just wanted to get some things off my chest about the schools. I think I got carried away with my literary comparisons and wanted to end with a bang. Sorry sorry sorry. We are interested in Whitgift despite my comments because we do like the facilities on offer and our DS1 is not superbright. He loves sport (tennis). God you must all think that I am a deeply confused mum. I think I must be! And we haven't even seen the school yet. If my Hubby read this he would make sure I had nothing to do with choosing DS1's school! This business about Croydon College does need to be sorted. Could an existing parent please call and find out please as suggested???
I am determined to start the W&T thread for 2014. I hope all you lot can come on and tell us good things about the schools. But PLEASE get the school to do something about the promo video!!!
I can confirm that the 119 is a reliable service and popular with W boys. Happy schooling!!!

Hi. I think having failing boys sit GCSE at another school is a FRAUD if it is true. But I can't believe how it can be possible. A Whitgift boy suddenly turns into a Croydon college boy only if he sits exam there??? "Entering" exam wouldn't just mean exam location in my common sense. And why would Croydon college allow this??? I asked this to a current teacher at a 6th form college in another part of London, but she has never heard of this kind of thing.

Can just someone pls call whoever high person - HM, head of admissions, etc at W and ask this straight away? Why wait until Open morning?

I don't care about 'too much sports' thing. - they still send some boys to Oxbridge and good London univs (known to outside UK) That's enough to create atmosphere to perform academically.

But I DO believe playing around exam results that accused way IS a serious FRAUD.