Trinity/Whitgift 2019 thread

Neveragain2019 I have a another DS who will be sitting the 10+ next year and considering the art scholarship. As he comes from a state primary very limited to what he is exposed to. Any tips advise you or any one can give me in preparing him?
Also did your DS sit the Trinity art assessment yesterday? How did it go? Or are you just applying to Whitgift?

Personally, I think too much is read into when the interviews are :)

Congratulations to your DS for getting this far!

I met the Whitgift marketing manager when I went to collect my son on the day of 10+ exam, and she said that the total number of both 10+ and 11+ applicants was 800. Still a lot, though.

I haven't heard from them either, accidentalbride. I did not expect that much for the exam result at first as it was 10+ and we still have another chance, 11+. While preparing for the exam, I kept telling my son that it was just practice, so never get stressed about the result. But I am so surprised that I am so nervous about the result and holding my phone all the time.

My son applied for the art scholarship and I wonder if I would be heard whether or not he would be invited to the assessment before the scheduled assessment day on the 22nd January.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, gambaspilpil. That really relieves me, however, I am trying to lower my expectations just in case my son did not get the invitation. I just wish to find out whether or not we need to expect/prepare for the next stage. It is quite frustrating that there is nothing I can do.

I think they phone initially to get the process started. It's nothing to worry about if we have to wait a bit.

NeverAgain that's strange that W told you they don't phone. Our interview invitation was by phone just a week ago

Oh... Just seen your post from last night "Neveragain2019". It's so nerve wrecking, isn't it?!

Is there anyone who still hasn't heard from Whitgift - either way? We've had nothing from them while all of my friends who also applied have heard. Shall I call the school at this stage to check?

BlueandPink12 definitely do not downplay your DS musical interests! He should talk freely about them and explain why W or T musical department (not sure which school) will help him continue to develop in this area. My DS is sports mad, he looked through the school brochure, we sent him to the sports taster and he talked about sports in his interview. Main thing at interview is keeping your DS relaxed. The schools are experts at this. Don’t over prep your DS or he will be robotic instead of it being a relaxed process. We asked our DS tutor to do a mock interview just to help him think about how he would answer some of the questions, as we were really worried because my DS wasn’t a particularly good speaker. ! The schools want a selection of boys who can bring different strengths to the school.

TurboTurtle, could you please explain what you mean by this:”There will obviously be boys who excel at sport or music or be academically brilliant, but they do also want boys who have varied interest.”

DS is obsessed with music, it’s all he wants to do in his spare time, he plays instruments, sings, writes new pieces, attends rehearsals. He also reads a lot about composers and meets contemporary composers through his activities, and now wants to become one. So if I understood you right, should he downplay and hide his intense musical obsession and talk about other interests during the interview? He probably won’t come across as an all rounder, unless we coach him beforehand.

SpceOpera, could you please shed some light on music scholarship after the event? We are going to apply next year and I am already nervous. Also, which instruments and which grade is your DS at, if you don’t mind me asking. Our music teacher insists that he needs to be at least grade 6 distinction at his principal instrument at 10+ to get an invite.

Neveragain2019 I would have done the same. Each time I have gone through this nightmare I have spent the entire peroid stressed, over thinking everything and trying to work out what it meant if I heard early etc etc..... with W last year we got an email two days after the exam. No idea if that was simply ‘chance’ or if they prioritised boys who had siblings at the school already.... either way it was a good outcome for us but equally others that received interview emails two weeks later got places too....

I had a mised call from a 'no caller id' this morning and couldn't resist myself from calling the W admission team. He said that they did not make phone calls and have been sending out 50-60 emails a day. I dared to ask about the result, but he said that I should wait for up to 10 days to 2 weeks!! It is so hard not to think about it!!

One family had an academic scholarship elsewhere but T would not budge on matching the value of the award

They certainly used to.

Your guess as good as mine re wording. Ds not academic scholarship material so no chance of that. On top of that, his school have not back confirmed they've done the overdue reference yet - the head gone off on sick again and the deputy is overwhelmed! And confusion on sport scholarship side now too, Frazzling all round.

Yikes! Pickofthepops our letter does not have that standard language you seem to have just to bring something to talk about at the interview

PeekaPeeka, my query was more about the amount of the award, and not the scholarship itself.

We were pretty much 100% going to send DS2 to T if any kind offer was made, and they knew it.

I know a few families who already have a DS at T and you're right - They will know that you'll take any offer. One family had an academic scholarship elsewhere but T would not budge on matching the value of the award

Does anyone have any experience of sports scholarship process starting from open trials day for rugby or another sport? If so, could you outline steps and any experience? Thanks

Phew sorry, tired and overanalysing

Phew you made me worry there Pickofthepops as our letter says the same ! Good luck everyone....

Pickofthepops that’s standard. My DS wasn’t asked specifically about his paper but did get asked some mental maths.

If a Whitgift interview letter says 'some questions based on his entrance exam questions ' does that mean he may have been borderline to a pass? Or is that a standard wording?

Firefox T do “interview” parents. If your son has done well and is being considered for a scholarship you will have a chat with Mr K in his office while DS is being interviewed.