The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013 continued

Italy trip is on according to the email I was sent.

Sorry and Croydenmum

I sent off the acceptance letters for the boys for Whitgift and have received confirmation that they will start in September. So far for Whitgift 10+ it looks like just you and I Burntoutdad

Croydonmumtods - Re Donkeys. If we had a joint venture using our usernames we would be 'BurntoutCroydon'.... on second thoughts maybe not a good idea!

Croydonmumtods ----I think we've done the same research ...defintely sold on W now for sure!

Aspimum/Burnoutdad ---although an added expense, the school bus to me is also of a huge benefit to me...because I know that I will no longer have to do the dreaded school run in the morning if I so wish, but know my Ds will get to school safely in the morning ( without mucking about at the bus stop and getting himself into trouble...which is of great concern to me).

I could go on...but I need to go and do some work...I just think W is great!

And another thing ; When Victor Moses (ChelseaFC) was chosen to play for England in his GCSE year W insisted he had a personal tutor to ensure he kept up with his school work and negotiated this with the FA.

Burntoutdad & Aspimum..just to add, that what makes W so appealing to us, is that the former W student Olympic discuss player L. Okoye ( and there are other boys like this as well) was actually offered to study Law at Oxford (but deferred taking up place until after the Olypmics).. so although a sporty school W seems to nurture, encourage and support these boys to work hard so that they can aspire to be the best that they can be, and strive to get into good universities as well...which might not happen in a good but ordinary state school. I was very impressed also with the views and ethos of the Headmaster.. he seems to really care about the boys ( have a look at the W website-latest news section)....there is a link of Headmaster being interviewed on Sky news a few weeks ago commenting on Michael Goves u turn on GCSE fiasco...Theres a lot to consider, but hopefully this thread will help make it a little easier for you to decide what best to do in the long run.

racegirl & eyes - certainly this year the Junior form has 44 I think, in 2 forms.
I didn't find uniform costs too bad for T. It's all available from Hewitts in Croydon, but the school are quite happy for the boys to wear white shirts and dark grey/black trousers from ASDAs etc! Similarly, the school jumper is not compulsory, and a grey jumper can be bought from other shops which certainly helps keep the costs down.
So far, the activity break was free and the only thing that I have been asked to pay for was the Christmas lunch if DS wanted it (£3.99). Obviously there are lots of trips on offer but it is entirely up to you which, if any, of these you take up. Currently they have ranged from theatre trips, to skiing to trips to the WW2 battlefields. At the moment we have stood back from these to see what is offered later - most seem to happen most years so other opportunities will crop up. We haven't yet had a school 'curriculum' trip offered so not sure about these.
I would strongly recommend the school web site - you have access to the school term diary which lists most activities. You can also see the 'letters sent home' section in the parrents section which will show you some of what is on offer. The HM newsletter each week is also very informative.

Croydonmumtods - LOL! Brill idea, could leave donkey stations at the school bus stops to hire as alternative transport - bit like Zipcars etc. How funny would that be, all those 'whitgiftians' riding donkeys to school? If the economy gets any worse we could be on to a winner here. Mind you the donkeys will probably end up in the food chain .
Btw heard another story this morning about a parent convinced that they were offered a 50% scholarship at interview only to recieve a full fee offer! This thread would have given them some insight.

aspimum little more I can add to what has already been said. Mr Beck is lovely and I'm sure if you speak to him he will put your mind at rest. Some sports are included in the curriculum others are available as after school clubs but bear in mind the teachers running after school clubs will be looking out for talented boys so impossible to imagine a talented child can slip through the net. Regarding scholarships I believe these can be negotiated whilst at the school but I would expect only considered for exceptional boys (ie county or country players in sports) who the school do not want to risk losing. My ds like burntoutdads is very competitive but needs a push to perform to his best both academically and in sport. He choose W as his preferred school as he knows they will get the very best out of him and he is prepared for all the hard work and effort this will entail.
burntoutdad you can always send ds to school on the donkey and what with renting it out for Christmas etc might not be such a bad idea.

Aspimum - I think we are going to decide to go with W. We are just making sure that we can commit, as you are, with all the additional costs. For instance as we are 10+ I don't like the idea of DS travelling on public transport in first year so school bus is an extra £250 /term. £500 for outfits as ladymuck has stated etc etc. But I think cutting back on the wine etc (lots and lots to help us through the last few months !), no further holidays, and trading the car for a donkey should get us through.
On a more serious note, we expect a lot from a school costing this much money, but they cannot be expected to make a 'star sportsman' out of someone who is not exceptional already in a particular sport. They will nurture and teach and help anyone who shows an interest in a certain sport and there are a,b,c,d,& e teams so that anyone can have a go. But the school cannot say yes we will give you a scholarship post entry until they have seen the level of performance that is required. As an example, I believe the Olympic discuss thrower started as a rugby player, but showed an exceptional talent in discus so the school nurtured that and helped him on his way. It makes the school look good too. If your DS shows this level of talent in any area, sports or otherwise you can be rest assured that they will do all they can to help. If he is just as good as the other boys (who all have talent in some way) then a post entry scholarship will be very unlikely (IMHO).

AspiMum ... forgot to mention that Ds loved the swimming although not the greatest swimmer and found badminton really fun...I think that Ds will be so busy with new clubs, making new friends, learning new activities and learning in a challenging environment that he won't be bored and therefore look forward to getting up in the morning for school....this is not happening currently while in Yr6 in state school because they are mainly concentrating on everyone achieving SATs at Level 4 standard, so Ds is becoming increasingly frustrated. W is the right school for our Ds and will bring out the best in him and hopefully he will make the most of all the new and exciting opportunities that it has to offer...In the end although this 11+ process has been the most stressful thing that I have ever done I am now so relieved that it is over and can now move onto the next chapter of secondary school highs and lows...so I say roll on September 2013...can't wait!

AspiMum....accepted 11+ W offer on full fees basis since last week...and very happy with decision made...no academic or sports scholarship offered...but wasn't expecting it ...although would have made the decision making process a lot easier as to whether to accept offer. Ds attended 2 day sports course last week and was adamant that even though he didn't enjoy as much some of the sports on the first day eg. hockey and rugby ( complained that it was too muddy) by the 2nd day he was sure that W was the school that he wanted to attend... Had a great time and loved to my surprise learning how to play golf, table tennis for example...Revisiting the school helped me make sure that I was doing the right thing...W seems the right environment to bring out the best in my Ds....he is bright but needs to be around other boys that are competitive and have worked hard to get a school place ...We have other good state school backups but we know our son best and know that he will not work to the the best of his ability if not pushed...What I love about W apart from the lovely grounds is that aspirations are set high and there is a good ethic social mix...so regardless of wether you are a great at sports, music or performing our Ds if he works hard has the opportunity to maybe one day go to Cambridge or Oxford ...it is not just a pipe dream...

The boys were friendly, the staff helpful and facilities great and Mr Becks is very approachable so if you have any concerns maybe try and contact him ...So yes ... It may be a bit of a financial struggle...but we think W is a great investment for our Ds based on where we live (T just that bit too far for us) ... and so think it is worth every penny. Hope you come to decision shortly ... You'll do what's best for your family in the end!

Seeline & Ladymuck - Thanks a lot for the quick inputs.
@burntoutdad & cheammum - Have you decided to go with W?
As a few others said here I am also not convinced with the school's communication. We called today to know more about the costs that wont be included in the fees (as the site says very comprehensively) and wanted to know about the sports facility, especially about swimming and badminton as my DS is keen on both. 4 times I tried and every time my call was sent to sports center though I specifically requested them to put me through one of the Sports Directors. I gave up after 45 minutes of try. From Sports center manager, I heard that to use the facilities outside school hours we need to take family membership (if parent take membership, DS's membership will be complementary). But he didnt know whether school will give any special coaching for the kid if he shows good interest and progress. Any one has got clue on this? If so please do share.
Also when inquired the Admin team, we were told DS can get internal scholarship which will be monitored continuously and awarded at the beginning of every year. When we told that we read from one internet site that the internal scholarship will be awarded only when the boy completes 2 years, the admin member said that's true but still they may consider in exceptional cases - quite confusing again - what are they trying to say???? Seeline told this is highly unlikely though not sure. So any one here to share any info on this please?
One of my friend has told the Asst Head is quite responsive. Other than that I didnt hear any good stuff about the school members.
Do Any one already accepted W offer? Here I have seen many have accepted T over W. So would like to know any one who is happy to go with W.

racegirl87 I think that it's between 40-45 for the 10+ entry over two forms. Can anyone confirm this?

eyeswideclosed so pleased you have made a decision you feel completely happy with. Sometimes putting it all in writing helps.
burntoutdad hope you had a good holiday - you have certainly set this thread alight again since your return. We,like you, are hoping to finalise decision in the next few days with W our preference despite the cost. I console myself with the thought that it's the best investment I can ever make.
hardboiled so sorry things didn't go quite to plan but I have no doubt your ds will be fine and pleased that your local school is a good one.

All the very best to everyone else we should agree a strange handshake or password for when we meet at new parents evening although that could lead to all sorts of different problems which would need a whole new thread!

I don't think I'm quite ready to go cold turkey from this thread just yet as it has kept me sane and provided much entertainment so thanks to you all.

ewc yes 10+ for us. Read through all the clubs and activities and he wants to do them all (except football and rugby!!). Was intrigued by Whiff Whaff club which after research turns out to be ping pong!!! Very hard sums is top of the list followed by debate and choir (there seems to be a lot of choirs!!).
Hoping the varied curriculum will bring the non-existent latent sportsman out in him but not holding my breath!!
Do you know how many children will be in junior year?

eyeswideclosed - Now you've made your decision you can relax for a while. Although i suppose now you will be working towards the grammar tests. Dont know if i could take anymore (until ds2!). Good luck to you and your DS.

racegirl87- Is your ds 10+? It is very exciting, and my ds wants to start now too. We loved the caring environment of the school and all the boys seemed so lovely. There seems to be so much to do and from what I've read of the curriculum (you can read it in detail on the website), the learning seems so much more interesting compared to my lessons!

I think the news is finally sinking in with us all. My ds keeps hugging me and saying 'I'm going to Trinity' with a huge grin on his face. He told his friends at school today and his teacher and they were all so happy. His teacher was shocked as she didn't know he had applied but then really supportive of his decision. He wants to start now though and the next 6 months are going to go very slowly I think.
Rather than a low, it's been gradual high as we never really thought it would happen. We didn't know much about anything really when we sent ds off to the exam day except we loved the ethos and feel of the school and it would suit our ds perfectly.
Getting the interview was a shock and then being accepted and getting a bursary still seems unreal so I think it will take a while to really realise what ds has achieved.
I'm sending our acceptance tomorrow and can't wait to receive all the info. Also nervous about costs of trips, uniform etc.. But don't have a choice. Can't turn down this opportunity.
So glad there are other people to share excitement - strange to think that some of us will meet and not know we've shared all this on here!!
Hope this thread continues so we can keep each other sane during the coming months.

croydonmumtods-you are right, we do have a preference for T; it's just that we allowed ourselves to be swayed by a scholarship to W. Looking at the figures though, there's hardly anything in it, and we will go for T. burntoutdad-your ramblings provided food for thought. Our situation is that ds' current school is a failing school and we think a new and exciting change will be great for him. We hadn't expected to get this far. Like others, we only did the 10+ to test the waters, as it were, and ended up with a place. We love the school but the financial cost is a huge consideration. If ds were to get into a grammar (and we almost certainly will try), we will be faced with a painful decision. It's a really tricky one but it's a year's amazing experience that I don't want ds to miss out on, now that he has the opportunity. I do take your point about other parents who are looking at the place as an 8 year one for their ds, and have missed out this year, but it would be for us too if the financial cost weren't such a big elephant in the room.

Decision made, T it is. DS is very happy, and is already looking forward to the new adventure ahead. Hardboiled, sorry our DS's won't be at school together but indebted to you for starting this thread and for the support and solace it has provided through the admissions process. Thank you to all who have shared their experiences, it's been so helpful to travel though this journey together....
Good luck to everyone's DC as they approach secondary school, I hope each and every one will find themselves in the right school for them where they will flourish and blossom.

Certainly the numbers aren't 1:2 for academic scholars. It used to be the case that there was a scholarship pot of up to 10 full fee spaces per year with 50% being the maximum (and usually only one or two per foundation school per year, with a 10% being more normal), but it sounds as if the pot has been cut. Once in the school there is no differential between the scholars & full fee payers, so there is no scholarship group as such. And hundreds of boys have not got a place this year - it is definitely an academically selective entry. I git the impression that they were looking at 40 potential academic scholarship candidates this year, and I think that they assume up to a third or half will reject.

In terms of kit I would suggest that you make full use of the second hand shop - the amount of lost kit is stunning. A full shop kit out will be over £500 excluding footwear.

AspiMum - yes lots of posts! Found solace here during late nights working and stressing about the entrance exams .
Afraid it is too late to apply for bursary this year but next year you may be able to if you explain that circumstances have changed. Bursaries have to be means tested every year, scholarships are fixed. They have a sliding scale for bursaries so up to 75k I think may still qualify for a little help (if you have no equity etc.)
As seeline explained the entrance exams and interview select the boys, so being a lottery winner still wouldn't get you in (unless you offered to build a new science block)
With regards to extras we are wondering the same, I think the trip for year 6 to Italy is free, but some of the amazing trips they do would cost a fair bit. Not sure if compulsory though.
On top the uniform + PE+ bits & bobs must be around the £300 mark, plus extra shirts etc.
School meals are compulsory in lower school - i don't know but maybe little change out of £4 - 5/day including 'tuck shop' money. And of course the school bus isn't free and does add up although it can be very convenient depending on where you live. If not using school bus account for transport costs.

Aspimum - both T and W are selective schools, picking pupils on the basis of their performance at entrance exams and then interviews. For scholarships in sport, music etc further assessments are made before any scholarship offered.
AFAIK if the student is not offered a scholarship on entry to the school, there is no opportunity to reapply later (although entry to the 6th form may be another opportunity - I don't know).