Trinity/Whitgift 2021 entry

Do many boys take the 367 bus from Bromley to trinity (our ds would be getting on at shortlands) - new year 7.
Trying to decide between that and School minibus
Thanks

Hi, I would like to ask a question about scholarships at Whitgift, please? If we have been unsuccessful at the entrance exam point, can we still apply scholarships ( e.g. music or academic) in the future while attending school? Thank you.

Congratulations and well done to everyone who has got the offer of your preferred school.
We have accepted the 10+ place at W today. It was an easy decision since W was the only school we applied this time.
And it was really helpful and reassuring to read the discussion here in regards to travelling to school.
My son will be travelling from Cheam/Sutton from September, so just want to check if anyone else will be on the same route? Please feel free to PM me. Thank you very much.

@onvacation, we'd also be travelling to Trinity from beckenham. Feel free to PM me

That should have said tbh not tbc!

Hi @Onvacation - there is def a travel buddy system from Clapham Junction - I may have heard of one from Wimbledon as well on the tram.
Tbc - DS1 has never used the buddy system as he’s always had boys from his own year to travel with.
There are plenty

Hi @Onvacation - there are def lots of boys from Beckenham and Bromley. I don’t know if there is an official buddy system tbh as we come from the opposite side.
He will see other Trinity boys for sure. As said above - they get used to it all surprisingly quickly. The school is very helpful in this regard - I think they’ll be in touch about bus routes and buddies etc

I'm not aware of that @Onvacation. I think they use 6th formers to help at Clapham Junction and at East Croydon, but not sure about Beckenham. There will be other Trinity boys doing the journey though so he can look out for the uniform. You will be surprised how quickly they get used to the travel. Make sure you do practice runs over the summer, and give instructions as to what to do if the bus/train is cancelled. Useful apps on their phones are helpful.

I have a son at Trinity, no issues re safety. He travels from east Croydon with a crowd of trinity boys. The bus routes are good if that is an option for people.
Again I think the security at W is to direct and control the traffic rather than a safety feature as the gates tend to be open.

Good luck all with your decisions

My DS is at W and we have a year group what’s app group and a local area what’s app group. Where the parents get together for drinks. ( pre lockdown) no safety concerns and my DS gets two trains to school although due to lockdown he gets the school bus that collects him from the house.

Re What’s App groups: these do start to peter out I’ve found from yr 9 onwards. We still have one and a lovely class rep who organises gifts for teachers etc and parents sometimes ask questions but generally the boys by y8/9/10 are expected to manage stuff themselves so less if any parental involvement should be required really

At Whitgift we have a year group WhatsApp group which is fairly active e.g. this week talking about the half term grade sheets arriving. Also have individual groups for the tutor group but ours hasn't been used for about a month. Not much to talk about at the moment with lockdown!

True nity use East Croydon, and I am not aware of any safety issues. My DS used it for 7 years without any problems.

South Croydon is barely used by anyone other than Whitgift.

I dont see the guards (or porters) at the Whitgift gate as protecting the school/boys from outsiders. I see them as being there to guide people to the right location or stop incoming traffic to let coaches out. If they're trying to stop people coming in they're trying to stop those parents who inexplicably want to deliver their child to the front door. DS would be mortified I did that.

OK sure, got it AveEldon. Thank you!

Security is there to protect the whole site - they don't have locked gates so you can just walk or drive in - security can then direct visitors as necessary

Sorry another thing I did notice was security guards outside the school, I have not seen this at other schools but I full admit to being paranoid. Thanks for the personal messages. MN is a great place.

We are going to think over the next few days. We don't intend the hold the place until we intend to take it.

I can not fault the school otherwise but for us it is a long journey and being concerned about that journey and safety.

Congratulations to all who got offers and good luck to those who are on the waiting lists.

DS got offer from T and wait list at W.

We are going to be turning both T and W down on Monday, as we have another offer elsewhere, hopefully that helps those on the waiting lists.

Only the right thing to do, as I experienced that wait feeling for an older DC before.

We have friends at both schools and they are all happy with the schools, but W parents do complain about the trouble on the trains to school and especially at both South and East Croydon stations, if anyone wants any further info please just PM directly.

Thank you everyone for the great support during these last few months.

Notice = notified

Unicorns4ever would agree with AveEldon however in both my boys years a parent went and setup a WhatsApp group. At the beginning of the 1st term you will be noticed of class reps in your sons year, you can inform them that you’ve setup a WhatsApp group and they will inform parents who have already given their details to the reps.
WhatsApp group has been very helpful just to ask a question and someone in the group will know. However it’s not like primary where you get informed of everything that goes on at the school.
From day one the boys are encouraged to be independent and not to depend on their parents.
It does feel scary right now for you, totally understand, I felt the same, but all the boys are in the same boat when they start and they soon learn the ropes very quickly.

Thank you very much @RockaLock and @AveEldon . Appreciate the reply. All just a bit scary isn’t it

@Unicorns4ever limited optional WhatsApp groups at W - I wouldn't be relying on them for anything. Secondary kids are expected to sort themselves out. We have a contact list for arranging lifts to fixtures etc

Yes, there are definitely parent class WhatsApp groups at T.