Trinity/Whitgift 2019 thread

Indeed enterpatentone! DS keeps asking about this and I keep telling him I don't know! He's had various theories over the weeks - most slightly crazy! I'm sure it's different for each school too.

plasterdisaster In DS2's case I had the impression that T would gently round off his sharp corners whereas W might try to hammer him into their regularly shaped hole. He is very bright, very lazy and very stubborn coupled with an immature impulsive streak a mile wide! I don't think I made the wrong decision given how they dealt with him and how he is now in the U6th - he does seem to have been smoothed off somewhat without losing his, ahem, character

@plasterdisaster - I think both schools work for a wide variety of types of boy
The main difference is the size - Trinity is smaller than Whitgift - not sure of current numbers but I would guess 140 per year vs 220 ?

Enterparentone - the school organised an induction day the June before the boys start at T (ds1 is in 2nd year there)
Mr K usually tells you about the likelihood of a scholarship at the time he sees you (usually at the same time as DS is being interviewed elsewhere). He also tells you their scores.

Regarding what type of boys suits each school traditionally I think more sensitive types have tended to go to T and more sporty to W but I don’t think that rule applies now as T likes to take the really outstanding sporty types too and has excellent facilities for them. W is great for music too but having said that the opportunities ds1 has had through the T boys choir have been pretty spectacular.
Be warned the boys are pushed academically at T and the sixth form entry requirements have recently gone up to keep them on their toes.
The school is definitely wanting to be in the super academic schools league and each class has some extremely bright boys - great for dS1 as it’s keeping him on his toes.

soupdragon can I ask, what type of boy suits Trinity and what type suits Whitgift?

Would whitgift bring out an academically strong but quiet/reserved boy, or would the softer approach by Trinity work better?

Quite simply, T was a better fit for him.

Soup Dragon, can I ask why you decided not to take the scholarship? I've heard of other people not accepting scholarships but I've never understood why.

I think that in the majority of cases there would be no hints though.

SoupDragon thanks for sharing. Sounds like if there were strong hints in the interview, the least to expect would be a full fees offer otherwise they'd be a lot of angry parents!

DS2 is now in his last year and in "my" W interview they said "... when he gets offers, and he will get offers..." and also that he was a "potential scholar". He got an offer and a scholarship (which we didn't take)

It seems quite a number of DSs and their parents had strong hints of an offer during their interviews at W. Does anyone know whether they have given such hints in the past and then not followed through with an actual offer?

You could steam it open and reseal...

ladygaga I'm fairly confident of at least two offers (given very strong hints at interviews) but we are holding out for scholarship so the fat/thin envelope isn't enough!

I had totally planned on opening before DS got home but he has suddenly decided it's morally wrong for me to know first

Funny, we’ve not had the conversation as to when and who should open the envelope, thank god.
So for me it’s an easy decision, personally I would want to know before DS, so whatever the outcome, I’m well composed in handling the situation.

MotherOfPirates

You do not need to open to know the reply: small envelope is a 'no', large (A4) envelope means your child got thorugh. The school would add the terms, offer letter, fees etc

MotherofPirates - I have to open them first! Couldn't bear the suspense, plus need to rehearse what to say to child if bad news...

It's a long old wait. My son wants me to wait and let him open letter. Hoping for a W offer.

Been a long time lurker and first time poster - this is the most agonising wait we have ever been through. Is it me or are the days and weeks getting LONGER?!
As a result of this, I will be stalking the postman/ woman and ripping open the letter as soon as it lands on the mat. We are hoping for an offer from W.

Quick poll!

DS thinks I should wait till he gets home and he opens the letters. I obviously think I should open them first. What are you doing in your house?

gambaspilpil I assume you’re referring to the year/class reps list sent last week. This is not a complete list of all the boys. It’s up to the parents if they want to be on that list.

jige just checked the whole year 7 class list and there is 123 which was shared last week.

jige that is likely my mistake. I thought there were only around 170 boys in lower first which includes the y6s. My DS told me there was only 125 ( not sure why I thought he would know )When my eldest was there it was before boarders and i don't remember there being so many boys! Clearly expanded....

gambaspilpil my DS1 is also at W went in at 10+ Lower First, and like your DS, is now in Y7 this year.

May I ask where you got the 125 figure from? Only asking as at 10+ they have 3 classes of approx 20 in each, total 60 boys in Y6 Lower First. In 2017 there were 69 who started in Y6 at W.

11+ W will be looking to take in approx 120 boys give or take a few. At W Y7 they have 9 classes of approx 20 in each, so the total is around 180 boys, this includes boys from prev Y6. Now I say approx loosely, because I mentioned before this is not fixed. I know That currently Y7 boys stand at 198 in total. Sometimes it goes over their threshold of 180, if they see potential in a boy/s then that total will increase, they don’t have to stick to their 120 intake for Y7 and they have the space to manage this. And this goes for T as well.

Trinity 10+ 45-50 boys they like to have, consists of 3 classes.
For 11+ 120 boys, consists of 6 classes (the 120 includes boys from prev Y6).