Trinity/Whitgift 2020 entry

In jbugs this year there's 3 classes of about 19 boys. I think admissions are fairly open about numbers if you ask.

Sorry - me again - can anyone clarify how many places there are available at Trinity? And do they ever release how many applications they have?

Confirming own clothes for trinity exam. We're an orange sheet/9am start! Wonder how many sittings they have?

Enterparentone thanks for that, it's really helpful and reassuring to hear those sorts of details. The trinity sheet mentions "warm up" time and I was wondering what that was and am really glad to hear it as DS definitely does need a bit of warm up to help him set the pace.

Best of luck to you all and your DS! We were doing this last year and DS now at T (joined 10+). Lots of them are helping out on exam days - seems surreal to think it was him sitting the exam just a year ago!

iirc T was more competitive than W last year. Smaller intake too. No idea on DC.

Last year T 10+ essay questions were describe an experience when you met a wild animal or write a story where the main character had a pet. DS said for the VR they had a short practice session before the actual paper! They were made to feel very welcome on the day - taken into the hall to watch a Star Wars film to begin with and chocolate breaks in between! They were in small classrooms not all in a big hall so not too intimidating. I remember saying to DH how nice it was all the boys came out grinning, so not too traumatic a day!

Sorry for slightly random post above! Good luck to all sitting the exam. I'm doing it all again with DS2! Focus on exam technique at this point and just repeat all the basic advice.
We have only done intermittent papers over Christmas hols so just ramping up again now. 😬

Yes same procedure still with Mr K - one on one interview with Mr K if boy did particularly well.
DS1 is 3rd year at T (yr9).

Last year, Trinity and Dulwich had a similar amount of applications per place, Trinity is becoming more and more popular. Most boys that got offered a place at trinity also got Dulwich. If boys got offered Trinity and Dulwich they also got offered whitgift (hope that makes sense).

Re when the schools get back to you, this was very variable. For example academic scholarship interviews at Trinity seemed to be at the start of the interview process and whitgift at the end. Do not be disheartened if you don’t go hear anything, it’s very variable as to when you hear about the interviews, you have to hold your nerve. Dulwich I think let you know the date they are posting the interview letters. Trinity we heard by telephone, whitgift email.

Wishing your boys all the every best, if our experience is anything to go by, the first exam feels scary then the boys start to get into it and actually enjoy some of the process especially the donuts 🙂. Thinking of you all x

You are all right. No need to wear uniform.for Trinity... Whitgift and Royal Russell you have to wear the uniform....

Okay, have checked again and DS's trinity exam invite is on a green sheet and says "Your son should arrive no later than 10.00 am and does not need to wear school uniform" across the top.

Trinity says they post letters for those not being asked to interview e/c 13 January. Does anyone have any experience of how quickly the other schools get back?

Now you got me checking again, as I was going to swear it was Uniform for all... will check when i get back home....

The day I sent my child in uniform on a pajama day in year 1 is still stuck in my head .......till this day as a major Mummy fail! LOL

PopGoesTheWeaz I have finally found it after reading it several times and I agree it dies say NO uniform at the top of the letter. I think my brain has gone with all the practice papers. I didn’t notice even though I re-read it several times!

I'm quite sure my paperwork from Trinity says not to wear uniform for Tuesday's 11+ -- will double check when home tonight unless some else has it in front of them...If I recall correctly it was at the top in big letters and so I missed it the first few reads as looking for it in the detail :)

Hampton1, depend on what your DS is doing. I believe the rule is pretty much if it is a week day, Uniform, if it falls on the weekend, own clothes. last year 10+ at Trinity was on a saturday and they asked to come in theoir own clothes, Whitgift 10+ was during the week and he had to go in uniform.... this year Trinity 11+ in during the week and they have been asked to wear their Uniform. It does say on the paperwork you have received for theexam how they should present themselves on the exam day.

We are pretty much just focusing now on exam technique as it was something that he failed miserably at last year... as he panicked with the time pressure....so all practice he is doing is under time pressure now....but taking it easy as we approach as nerves are counterproductive....good luck to all!

@PopGoesTheWeaz - Whitgift is paper based. Cannot comment on the others. Details of tests should be on the school website.

Good luck to you all. At this stage just go through exam technique, multiple choice or/and past papers if you can. Exam technique is important so if you can’t do x question move on, look at how many points awarded for each question so you know an answer might need more than a one word answer etc. Hardest questions at the end- should I do these first as they may have the most marks? Ignore other children when doing the test. Just because x finishes in 5 mins, good for X. But stay in your lane.

Even talking through the process is useful. Every child is different. But you do know when enough is enough.

I can remember my son doing a past paper that I had got from Dulwich College’s website for practice only. He didn’t really want to do any more work. So I was like after this, no more. There was one question he couldn’t do. But DC provide answers and working out. Thank god for my brother who talked it through with him.

Fast forward a few days later a similar question popped up on the Whitgift paper. He couldn’t stop smiling .

PopGoesTheWeaz I don't know the figure at Dulwich however the expected standard is a lot higher than W and T. They have only 60 places at 11 + as they have 60 moving up from the junior school so its highly competitive. I know many DC who didn't get an interview for DC who subsequently went to W and T. There all great schools though so Good luck

We aren't going much practice at the moment - just one 30 minute and a 10 minute test or two becuase DS resists if I ask for more and I want to keep this light and not pour pressure on as I think that will backfire on the actual test days. He has 3 in succession so not a lot of time to bounce back if he gets flustered at the first one.

I did tell him it's just like training for a race and you wouldn't show up for a 10k without doing some shorter runs in the lead up and that helped win him over to the idea (whereas before it seemed like needless homework.)

I'm taking comfort in the comment below that said there wasn't necessarily correlation between the students who did loads of practice and the students who got offers.

I'm in slight despair with my DS now - he's totally unconcerned and reluctant to do any practice!! He's doing eltham on Friday, T and Colfes next week, and CLS week after. Ahhh who knows?!?

Is anyone doing Dulwich? Would be interested in the percentages needed on that exam as had heard 85%. EEk.

Also, are all the tests for DC, Trinity and Whitgift paper based or are parts computer based?

How is everyone's prep going? I cannot wait for this all to be finished now....My DS is doing the 11+ at T, W and RR....

Own clothes for trinity, whitgift uniform x

Unless it's changed this year!

Own clothes

One quick random question. Does anyone know if the boys need to go in uniform for the exam day or own clothes? Each school seems to have different policies and I can’t find anything on Trinity’s website it information they sent about the day.

Hopefulmum72 that's very interesting that you and your DS were told those percentages. I hope that's the case this year! Totally get the "whole package" thing as I would expect that to be part of their decision process re interview and not just all based on results on that one day. But I suppose they need a cut off point.