Trinity/Whitgift 2020 entry

There’s not much difference between W & T in terms of academics. Both my boys ate at W and love it, and it’s much closer to home which in the long run makes a difference. I know boys travel for an hour to get to W and get home very late, but they love it. I know many mums who have boys at T and are equally happy. But if you’re undecided, but like both schools I would always choose the school nearest, believe me it takes it toll over the amount of times you have to come for events, parents evening etc.

Both schools push/challenge the boys. Look at what fits your child, if your child is confident and organised then W would suit him, if your child is on the sensitive side then T. Though W is a bigger school, Y6 + 7 have their own wing and the teachers come over to them to teach, it’s only a few subjects where they have to get to other classes like PE, DT, art and science. Longer lunches 1.45 mins gives them plenty of time to eat and do a club. Classes are 45mins, T is 35mins, so really depends. I would sit down with your son Sammy4321 and go through the pros and cons of each school.

Both my boys are very academic hence we choose W even though we got offers from T for both of them. W has definitely made them more confident and pushed them academically so we’re very pleased. Also with Mr Ramsey (headmaster) has pushed the academic side which shows in last years GCSE and A level results.
Good luck to you and all the other parents who are undecided.

Yes W looked better and I just felt (rightly or wrongly) that that is somewhat what you pay for

Yes, but do you want to pay for impressive grounds or education? I think the two schools are much of a muchness from the point of view of the education - any choice is very much down to feel and the other things that make up school life.

When we were looking, I fell in love with W - what's not to love? We ended up at T as, apart from the large scholarship (😂) it was the one I felt comfortable with. I don't regret that choice but, then again, I don't think I would have regretted choosing W either.

Thank you! Yes W looked better and I just felt (rightly or wrongly) that that is somewhat what you pay for. IB is not important at all. Re academics - do you feel they are on par or that T pushes more? Our DS is smart enough but not top of the class in any subject nor in sports - he’s more of a generalist if that makes sense. So I don’t want him to be in an environment where is overly pushed and feels uncomfortable.

Whitgift definitely has more impressive grounds.T is very friendly and the staff are v approachable. T is smaller and I would say easier to get into sports teams and probably better for music. W better for elite sport I would say. Is the IB important to you?

Thanks all. DS found T to be more friendly and down to earth- although he liked W he just felt more at ease at T which I guess is very important. We thought W appeared to have better facilities and is a slightly better location for us.

Sammy what is it that you particularly like about W? And what does you son like about T?

@Sammy4321 sorry didn’t tag you in the above.

There are hundreds of clubs, pre school, lunchtime and afterschool. My son is at a sports club every lunchtime and after school. The standard is very high but inclusive. They are all included in the cost. There are so many other clubs if your son is not sporty on both lunchtime and after school.

Hi All - we have the very fortunate situation to be offered 10+ T and W. We are stuck in which to go for - lots on this forum about getting the right feel for the place, but aside from fees, does anyone know if T offer pre and post school clubs/ sports like W do? Are these extra cost? Any others key differences in your minds? DS prefers T and we prefer W! Thank you !

We actually v happy with other offer - it's closer, easier journey and results as good. DS just had a feeling about T but I actually think he's gone off it a bit now - 'they don't want me!'.

Yes we had a similar conversation. Staying on the waitlist for now but I'm not going to jeopardise our firm place! It would be different I suppose if T was only option and just waiting on grammars. We will make decision this weekend I reckon but I'm presuming a wait list place will not come with extra curricular scholarship so T looking unlikely!

Yes, Trinity called me yesterday about to talk about our WL place. They asked if we had selected another school (yes, Whitgift) and if we still wanted to be on the waitlist. Explained that they really liked DS , he'd done well in exam and interview, and that if the process unfolded in the same way as last year, they would be able to offer him a place. However quite possibly this would be after the deadline to accept the Whitgift place next Friday. We are v happy with Whitgift, but now I'm in two minds as to what to do should a place at Trinity become available! Anybody else hear from them?

Any news this week for any wait listers? I know it's early still! Any decisions made? I think we're close to a plan.

on my tour the other day, they did say that one of the first things they'll send once you accept is a list of trips for next year

Yep true. Thanks!

I doubt they'll send anything until after the acceptance deadline is past Lulu

Has anyone received any info/post from Trinity post-acceptance yet? Am waiting for something (accepted very early) but don't know what!

@gettingthroughtheweek many thanks! This is really good to know, so hopefully he can join to a "Balham group" :-) we have just gave our papers and yes to T today:-)

@tundi MyDS travels to T from Balham with a group of other boys; he’s Year 2 started in JBugs. There seem to be quite a few doing it; his group goes up to CJ where they join others, and then fast train to East Croydon; others seem to go later and take the slow train from Balham.

The DT at trinity is fabulous

Be careful what you wish for....

@PopGoesTheWeaz
I think historically both W and T would take an increased number of state school pupils at 10+. Firstly, to give them a year to catch up academically before the main intake at 11+ and also in order to maintain good relations with the private junior/prep schools so not seen to take their pupils (and income stream) a year early. In terms of scholarship, there appears, from my experience, a better chance of securing a scholarship at that age than at 11+. It may be because some of those pupils parents need extra help with the cost. It may just be that the bursary pot is at its largest at that point of entry before it starts to be distributed....

So many good advice! Many thx. Another question: is anyone's DS going to T from Balham? And plan or already traveling by train and bus? Thx.

No you didn’t. Those boys that started at 10+ sound like they had the best year. My Ds started at 11+ so don’t know too much about the 10+ process. Not sure about the DT scholarship, my son did the art scholarship and spoke to the his school about how to put it together. The DT at trinity is fabulous x

Oh sorry, I hope that didn't sound trivializing of me. I know the boys that get in at 10+ have made an amazing effort too. I'm just wondering if DS2 would be more likely to get a scholarship at 10+ as the idea of having him done and dusted a year early is definitely appealing. He's also has been since the time he could crawl a little mini-engineer so think he might be quite suited to their DT scholarship but wouldn't know the first thing about putting a portfolio together for that. One for their admissions team I reckon.

Yes 10+ is deemed less competitive