So where's this years Trinity/Whitgift/Dulwich/Alleyns Thread PART 2!!

Usually the W uniform sale is mid May I believe
You can of course buy second hand uniform but don't expect to be able to get everything you need in the sale
Sports kit has changed recently and there isn't usually that much of it in the sale

thanks space got the letter and confirmation of deposit weeks ago but been busy.. My DS is over the moon and so excited about going to W, i honestly can't believe a school can be so inspiring to a 10 y/o! i just hope it lives up to his dreams... it's really not a bad start, a week in lake Gardia..sounds lovely but glup, no mention of costs in the letter... any parents have an idea whether we'll have to take out a 2nd mortgage to pay for the compulsory Italian experience?! Also got the school uniform invite email today, very efficient. Does anyone know does this mean new Y6 parents are not allowed to buy 2nd hand uniform?

I’ve bookmarked a webpage on W secondhand uniform sale but it does not seem to have been updated - it still says the next sale is 3rd Feb! Does anybody know when the next sale may be? Thank you.

stourton, it’s not so much a different route, more that South Croydon trains tend to stop at every station between Victoria and E Croydon, especially when you are travelling against the rush hour traffic, which really adds to the journey time.

But your DS should be able to get a fast train to E Croydon and then pick up a connection to S Croydon, which might reduce the journey time a bit. Or hop on a bus.

I know that T tailor their school bus routes depending on who wants to use them, but I’m not sure if W does the same. T also run a chaperone service from Clapham Junction for the first half term or so, so you might find that W do something similar.

Thanks for the answers everyone.
The concern that I had was that the train from Victoria to South Croydon takes around 40 minutes, so significantly more time, because it takes a different route. I will be coming to London to do a quick run of the route to see how it works. I could then work out how fast or slow it would be to either take a train or bus to the school. It's good to hear that lots of students come from Clapham.

Thanks Leeds, I am also looking at the school bus route as I worry about a 10yr old taking the train, perhaps there are plenty of kids that age who do this, and it's not an issue? I don't know.

There used to be a Whitgift minibus that collected from Purley. I used to see it outside a particular boys house when I was driving home from my own school drop off. Might be worth seeing if that service still exists, and which other areas they cover, so that you could move to one of those if train travel would be an issue.

The boys seem to either get a train that is stopping at South Croydon or get the bus from East Croydon

Thanks Meetie and Ave, indeed that train only takes 5 minutes from Victoria to Clapham, and they are quire frequent. Then it's 10 minutes from Clapham to East Croydon, all direct, no change. The worrying part is the journey from East Croydon to school. Everytime we visited the school we walked to Whitgift centre , but this was our own leisure so did not feel too much - even my younger boy did not complain when we did this walk. I suppose he could join other boys either walking or taking the bus. I have however, found incredible traffic congestion for school runs around the area, where I thought if I was a parent, I would either drop the kids further off or walk with them, and you would probably get there faster?

Oh, how I wish I had the Victoria offer when he is 16, as I believe this trip would not sound quite as taxing !

Jige, I sent you a PM regarding the Lake Garda trip.

Thanks

@stourton I'm not sure how many boys start their journey in Victoria but hundreds get on the train at Clapham Junction

The centre of Croydon is a bit grim, to be honest.

South Croydon/Purley/Coulsdon are near to Whitgift, are nice leafy suburbs with a good range of housing, and plenty of boys will travel from those areas.

Trains from Victoria to E Croydon are fast and frequent, but I’m not sure how many boys would commute from there given there are plenty of central London boys’ school.

Your DS would also need to get a train to South Croydon (or change at East Croydon) so remember to factor that in to the travel time. He would at least be travelling against the rush hour flow. I wouldn’t see it as an overly long commute, and certainly boys do travel from all over to get to Whitgift, but then again it’s maybe quite a bit for a 10yo to cope with at first.

Local primaries are pretty much fine. No idea about the state secondaries, I’m afraid.

I guess it depends on whether you want to live in central London, or out in the suburbs.

Hi Everyone,
If some of you remember, we accepted W 10+, but we currently live outside London, in another county and will be moving back to London in the summer.
Now that our house is on sale, my thoughts drift to where we should live. I was wondering what your thoughts are on Croydon itself, near the city centre, or close to the school. I know a few people who live in Croydon and their opinions vary depending on who you talk to. I, ofcourse find it convenient with all the amenities etc.

Currently, we live in a very deprived part of the UK, though before we lived in Westminster for over 10yrs.

I was mostly wondering what areas W dc travel from. Our budget is very limited however, as I do not currently work and would like to be mortgage free if possible, as the bills will be costly enough as it is.

It so happens that a close relative can rent us for next to nothing a place near Victoria Station. The train is only 15 mins away from Croydon East, and I hope it's frequent, but are there dc who come from so far? I have other children, so this place will bring me closer to other relatives as well who can help with childcare, support etc.

On that note, of my other dc, are the ofsted 'outstanding' Harris academies good, what are the general thoughts around Croydon regarding those academies. I am also trying to work it out, should my other dc not be able to get into W or T, if we move to Croydon. Also which state primaries are good in the area?

Hope someone can shed some light for me.

Thanks

Snowstorm18 apologies for the typos 😬

I'm glad that your DS is excited. My DS was excited along with DH and myself, W does make it feel very special, and the roaming peacocks really does set the scene 😜 On the informal parents evening. Also gives you a chance to mingle with other Y6 & Y7 parents. At some point when the boys actually start in Sept, your class reps will send an email to join a contact list. Helps with knowing other parents living in your area, homework and social events for your year. If you need any other info you can pm me if you wish. Good luck and best wishes to all!!

Jige thank you very much for responding. I just want to make sure my work commitment will not coincide with the new parents evening in June. Can’t wait to receive all the information. Am very excited for DS - he is very proud to be going to W and can’t wait to visit the school again!

Snowstorm18 can't exactly remember, but you should fairly soon receive a information pack, giving you dates, there will be a parents informal gathering for Y6 & Y7, there will be drinks laid out. You/son will be invited for a uniform fitting which is a lovely experience, the school shop send an email direct to you where you chose a slot, but the fitting tajes place between June/Juky. And information about the induction days. Last year induction was 3 full days and one half day at the end of August just before they will start, where you find out who your form tutor is and who will be in your class.
With the new head not sure whether there is a trip away for the Y6. For the last few years it's always been Lake Garda in Italy, but only you would be able to confirm if there is a trip away. For Y7 I think it's a day trip and chance to get to know other new starters and the teachers.

Also for W mums, they all be a hell of a lot of firms to complete!!

Snowstorm, For W, the "next steps" are mentioned in the previous messages by W mums. In June and August.

Share with new T 10+ parents, I received some feedback on the next steps: towards the end of this term, have a package of information and forms for you to complete. For your information, the New Boys and Parents Morning will be on Saturday 23rd June when Parents and new boys will be able to meet his Form Tutor and other members of his form. There will also be a New Boys Induction afternoon on the day before term starts ie 4th September." Hope this is helpful.

Hi does anybody know when we’re likely to hear from W about the new parents evening which is due to take place in June?

We chose Trinity in the end as that is where my son wanted to go.

Schoolmum77 I'm keen to know if you've decided between T and W, as we had the same dilemna and we are in the same area.🙂

Hi.

I have just stumbled on this thread after my DS received a late offer from T (10+) just 3 days ago. They had originally filled all their places without need to go to wait list but 2 DC had relinqished their places.

This did play with my mind a great deal, coming after the deadline for accepting our son's offer at W. It was a very difficult decision despite us having accepted W and paid deposit. DS was clear, though, that W is where he wants to go having been swayed by the impressive list of clubs and societies.

So he is starting W in September and travelling from Cheam. Any local kids catching the worcester park school bus?

Puddinglane12 totally agree with you! I had a look a that thread and just got annoyed. We have one DS at uni, a DD at private, my other DS due to start W in September and my 3yr old starting in ducks. We both work, my other half does extra work to put his DC through private. He has a mission to have all our DC having that opportunity as he could have went as a child but his DP didn't agree with private despite his scholarship offer and still feels bitter to this day! Funny enough we are both state school kids and I grew up in a one parent family in poverty in Scotland...so doesn't quite fit the 'super rich' and born into wealth that you see in the thread!

Thanks spacecadet48

I've had a skim through the grammar vs indie thread, some really interesting characters on there. We are definitely not super rich, but do what we have to. Everyone is free to 'invest' their resources however little or much, in what they feel is best for themselves, families and considering their particular circumstances.

Puddinglane12 great choice, JAGS is fantastic. Well done on your DD scholarship tto