The Trinity-Whitgift-South London school 10+/11+ thread of 2014

[Ladymuck]

A few days early I know, but most of the entrance exams will be out of the way in a fortnight or so, and I'm sure there are a number of us who are in need of or or as we watch our (still very little) boys forget everything that they may have learned over the last couple of years. And there are many veterans of the process who will hopefully be around to reassure us that we will all come through this unscathed.

I am assuming T

Sorry W we didn't sit for T

Hi all. There is a rumour that there has been a fire at Whitgift school this evening. Anyone know anything? Really hope it's not serious.

Just also to wave to friends from previous threads and wish everyone good luck. The waiting was agonising. DS now at T and loving it.

Gosh, MilkQueen, I'm amazed that your boy didn't get an interview at Trinity if he passed Wilson's. I do hope that the disappointment is very short-lived.

If boys all over the shop who are getting interviews at Whitgift are not getting a look in at Trinity, I would be astonished if DS gets an interview. That's squashed my expectations. Bumholes, he'd better do an OK interview at Dulwich College, then, because he felt Alleyn's was his worst paper altogether, so I can't see him getting an interview there either, and that's all his ambitious schools, as 'twere.

Just an update on fire - it turns out to have been in the Whitgift Centre car park and not the school. Happily quickly brought under control. So W peeps, your prospective school still stands!

Got invite in the post this morning to W for 10+ interview next thurs. Yesterday we got the sports assessment invite. trying to temper expectations as DS now thinks he is in!

Interested to know how the sports assessment goes - how many boys likely to be there, and how many schools offered? do they have to pick sports to have a go at in the afternoon, or all the boys have a go at all the sports?

good to all with the postman today.

sorry - meant good luck to all with the postman today :)

my Ds sat W 10+ exam. I went in to their admissions to pick up his art portfolio, & they told me he's not getting considered for an art scholarship [They sent email invites for art assessments this am] They said that they have only finished booking interviews up to next Wed. but that was obviously untrue as inatizz said she got one for son on Thursday! I can only assume we are not getting an interview. It may be 2 weeks until we hear formally, which is really affecting my Ds: at school, sleep etc.. .I wish I didn't allow him to sit exam [it was initially his idea].

likeamum Really - don't do that to yourself. We do the best we can, with the input and wishes of our children, and without a crystal ball. I got my DS to do the grammar school exams at Wilson's and Wallington, and after the excitement of passing the selective eligibility test, he then failed Wilson's and Wallington, while his best mate passed both. Totally knocked his self-esteem. He now has an interview at Dulwich College, which has put him on a high; but if he doesn't get an offer, he'll be plunged into the depths again.

I torture myself (usually while lying awake) with the idea that I've exposed him to all this high-price privilege, and he'll be distraught if he can't access it because he can't get through the exams, so I do know how you feel, but I don't think we should teach our kids that they shouldn't try for things in case they fail, either.

It's all about how we handle the outcomes of these processes, whatever they may be - I honestly believe that if it doesn't work out, there is something to be salvaged from the exercise. Whether I'll have the skill to do that remains to be seen...

Err... did anyone spot the fact that I am really talking to myself in the above post?

likeamum totally agree with mrss. This is only 10+ and plenty who don't get an offer at 10 do so at 11. View it as a trial run. If you don't get an offer (and at this stage I would still keep an open mind on that) then discuss with W in due course what ds's results were and how he can improve. It is a hard process but you can learn a lot at 10+ that can help at 11+.

MrsS you're speaking to us all! (even though I've got a girl and am not in the W/T waiting game at all). I'm also feeling terrible in case the outcome of all this work and pressure is rejection and more rejection... but of course you're right. It would be terrible if they learned never to take a chance in life in case they fail. Really good point and I'm going to remember it.

My DS has a 10+ music scholarship appointment on Tuesday but still no word from the W admissions dept about his interview. Clearly they're very behind in booking the interviews, so plenty of time yet for good news if you're still waiting. Stalking postie re T but I'm prepared for the bad news there!

Completely agree with MrsS - likeamum he will do wonders in life as he has got such a strong foundation. He may not be considered for an Art Scholarship - what about the main exam? How did he do in that?

Hey anyone giving the westminster 11+

Was looking at the oxbridge league tables and DC seems much higher on the list than TRinity or Allenys. Does this actually mean DC is a better school than these? Very confused with the tables stuff...Also which rexam is easier to clear DC or Trinity.. Difficult questions but would love to hear your opinions

Hello everyone. I am completely new to mumsnet and discovered the site last night (was up until 2am reading the thread!). Fantastic support, wished I discovered this earlier!
My son attempted for Eltham, Whitgift and Trinity. We recd a letter from T yesterday :( . Haven't told son, don't know how to. I haven't heard from the other two. Haven't slept in 3 weeks , going mad, impacting my health too. Given the fact I haven't heard from w and they don't send out letters of rejection, does that imply it's a NO?

Also for all those who are appearing for DC interviews some questions that were asked- If you were the head of a country what would you do first? Who is the Mayor of London? History of your current school? Which sports and why? the maths questions were difficult and english passage was complex too, but questions easy . If there is any other info a DC- interview-hopefuls would want, very happy to help :)

WIPMOM, I haven't heard yet from Trinity, but it would appear from upthread that boys who passed Wilson's haven't necessarily been called for interview at Trinity. Yet my DS didn't pass Wilson's, and has got an interview at Dulwich. So I'm not sure it's straightforward.

It's been suggested to me that Dulwich are primarily attracted by a high maths score, and provided the child in question can string a coherent sentence together on paper so they don't have to spend a year struggling to get him to a common level with his cohort, they will take a view on the English - certainly the fact that they've called DS for interview suggests that that's the case. However, your comment that the passage in the interview was complex does not bode well for his chances.

My personal feeling is that English is so linked to maturity that judging boys of 11 on their English standard is a bit of a false premise, but I suppose other schools may believe that a good standard of English at 11 is an indicator of outstanding things to come.

I'm doing this for the first (and only) time, but my instinct would be, comparing Trinity with DC with Alleyn's, that any of those three schools can ensure that the child in question will perform to the top of their ability provided they turn out to be workers and presumably provided that they're happy at the school, which would be more a reason for differentiating, IYSWIM - pick the school he'll like, because any of those three can do the results thing if the child co-operates...

Sigh123 and others don't give up on W - if you read back further up the thread there are loads of posters with previous experience saying that they didn't hear until 2 weeks after the exam and then by post. that's what kept me going. thanks to all those for keeping my spirits positive for a few days at least.

I know its been said by many, but I agree its a shame they aren't more upfront about who they'll contact and when.

Thank you mummyinitzz!! I just need to remain calm.
Does anyone know the average lead time on Eltham? Thanks!

Wipmom, you'll go mad if you try to read too much into league tables without knowing much about the individual cohorts (and they do vary year on year). FWIW I would read it that Dulwich brings in more boarders at 6th form whereas the other 2 are still day schools. There is considerable movement at 6thform across all schools. At this stage you want to know roughly where in the cohort your ds would sit (ie which third) and what opportunities this would offer him at GCSE. Some school offer huge extension (For example Whitgift's language programme is truly outstanding say for the top sets), with others your ds could end up restricted in his choices eg by being in a set only allowed to do double science, depending on where in the cohort he sits, and what his interests are.

WIPWOM - we are down for Westminster too, but thinking may not bother. Had positive interviews at two schools already, and Westminster was always our third or possibly fourth choice. I wish we'd get the offer letters out before the westminster test on 3rd Feb!

Thanks LadyMuck and Mrs Steptoe- you guys are saviours!

Writing my last post, and going back to the topic of the order in which schools (in particular W) interview people, here's a theory: we were open in the original application form (W was the only school that asked) as to which schools we were applying for. I wonder if they take that into account in deciding the order? Ie if they are faced with an application from someone who only, say, applied for W (as well as state schools), might they leave that until a little later. They don't need to "sell" to the W-only applicants as much as to those who also put in DC or T or whatever. Just a thought.