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.

Thanks AliceLostInWonderland- yes we had our interview on Wednesday morning

T - Mr B circulates round the room full of anxious parents whilst DSs are interviewed so that you can chat and ask any questions. I assume if DSs are being looked at for scholarships the set up is slightly different as even Mr B can't be in two places at once!

Saw some useful statistics about DC entry in the thread. Just wonder if anyone knows the same for 11+ at W and T, e.g. how many took the entry exams; how many to be invited for interviews; how many places in total; and among those how many academic scholarship places to be offerred?

This year 700+ took 10+ and 11+ combined (think around 200 for 10+)

In ds's year they massively over-offered and were stuck with a bulge year of 200 when the years above were all about 160 - they've been v careful since then! They normally take 60 into y6, another 100 or so into Y7 and in ds's year 15 ish joined at 13+

They interview more than half of the candidates

They don't publish how many scholarships in total but there are a lot of boys (around half) getting some kind of financial assistance (scholarship and/or bursary)

If you see Mr at T for a 1-2-1, he has the exam papers there and gives an indication of how your son did. I don't think it's an automatic route to scholarship though. We were invited for 1-2-1 and given some feedback that he performed well in the exams, and - provided his interview went well - he should be offered a place (no guarantee though). We didn't get a scholarship which could be for any number of reasons, but Mr B sounded us out on how many other exams and interviews our DS had ('Is this the last one you're going to?' type of thing). I rather regret now being so transparent that T was the only school he was sitting. Given that DS has subsequently done so well academically, I feel we could have played our cards better on the scholarship front by implying that we had other options! Indeed, I might have sat him for W just to have some bargaining power. However, DS is not particularly verbally articulate and the interview was always going to be exposing. So I may be wrong about us having been too candid, and he just didn't perform well enough in interview to push him into the scholarship bracket. Whatevers... we're just thrilled that he got a place in the end. All this speculation doesn't really help. I suspect we are reading way too much into it. Interviewer probably gives a score which is added to exam results and top fraction get offers.

Thanks Asterisk. Kind of clarifies things. Until one point I thought that the interview was just a formality, the exam results mattered more . I now know that interview is a major part of selection!

Just to give everyone a during the anxious waiting and to second everything Marni has said re scholarship interview. I remember DS was supposed to take something to talk about. There was nothing else in their instructions that could give us a hint. Mr Bishop came while we were waiting and had a quick exchange with DS - they talked about his interests etc. Then DS was taken to his interview and DH and I were asked to Mr B's office for a 1:2:1 (a very interesting one, he's a great guy). Mr B made no promises other than saying that DS' exam results were v good all round. He didn't have any papers with him that I could see. DS was asked a very tricky maths question in the interview. He did get the scholarship.

The waiting this time last year was excruciating but the real challenge was to hide all angst from DS so he could be himself and relax! Just remember it's not over till the fat lady sings!

Thank you all for such life saving information.
Now, DS has T 10+ interview next Saturday, and I was told on the phone 'it is not a scholarship interview'. This means that DS is surely not getting one...? i did not tell him anything but I feel flat as a pancake. At this stage I hope in an offer, let's forget scholarship. I will let you all know how it goes.
Hardboiled, thanks for outlining your experience, very helpful.

Has anybody heard from KCS re 10+?
selection must be terrible, so not holding any hopes at this stage.

Keep in high spirits girls!

FWIW Asterisk, I think that I would prefer any of my children to be in the category where everyone looks at them in a couple of years and thinks "they ought to have got a scholarship!", than having people scratching their head and asking "how on earth did they get a scholarship?!". I can fully understand why you might feel a bit "meh" about it though.

Hello Everyone I feel for you all. went through this in 2011 my son is now very happy at W. Asterisk like you we only sat the one exam I was told his essay very good and VR was excellent which was a big surprise as his English was his weakest subject, maths was suppose to be his best subject but he missed the last question but still did very well. I was told he was in the top group but still did not get a scholarship and I think it was because he only sat W so they knew it was our only option, plus my son only wanted W and they knew it.
LadyMuck Ditto I too would prefer they think they should have, rather than how on earth did they. Goog Luck to everyone still waiting.

Yeah, you are right! Better to do better than expected, although it HURTS when that bill arrives each term.

Hi everyone, just wanted to '3rd' Marni and hardboiled's comments re scholarship interviews, we got invited to Mr. B's office for a 'chat' while DS, had gone off for his interview. Mr. B had a very open discussion with us about a scholarship and DS was given one. We were also open about DS having sat the W exam too, I don't know if that would have made a difference or not... DS got asked 'tricky' maths questions as well, not to solve problems, but more how would you do this? So type of question where, you either know how to do it the quick way or you don't ( if that makes sense. We had absolutely, no indication beforehand, the interview letter was pretty standard.

All the best to everyone, and I hope next week brings good news for you all. You all seem like diligent parents, I'm sure your DSs, will do well wherever they go, for this reason.

Thanks a bunch to Somelikeithott, Marni and hardboiled Truly valuable information.
Just curious - re T/W what % (academic) scholarships do they offer?

Feel a bit dim asking this question now but here goes anyway. What's the benefit of a sports scholarship at W?
DS has 10+ sports assessment tomorrow and we then have interview on Thurs. I am assuming there is a few quid off, think I saw 10% somewhere and if they get the scholarship they don't need to have performed so well in the exams? Is there a chance to get more than a few quid off?
I don't want to be greedy, we are very keen/desperate for W, only applied to Emanuel at 10+ too, so don't want to play hardball at the interview and scupper our chances.

mummyinatizz at 10+ scholarship awards tend to be lower particularly in sport as they are assessing potential more then achievement (boys still too young to know what they will be like when older). So certainly won't ignore exam results at 10 or even 11 but might do when older if by then boy is exceptional. Sports scholars are allocated a sports mentor to help them balance sport with all other activities which is really good.
More importantly this won't scupper your chances but may inhance them if exam result good and ds shows aptitude for sport might increase his chances of an offer. Essentially the more boxes you can tick the more the school will want you so absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Good luck tomorrow

Mummyinatizz- my understanding is sports worth 10% if awarded anything but there will be amazing exceptions. Also know boys who received nothing although they pay at a high standard. If up for an all round scholarship( academic too) then it is normally higher. Each boy appears to be awarded specific to them do hard to gauge.

Most scholarships (academic, all-rounder and sports) are for around 10% but academic scholarships can go up to 50% in exceptional circumstances - the highest sports award is around 30%

A lot of boys will get scholarships and bursaries which together can make up close to 100% of the fees

And yes, it's quite common for the highest-achieving sportsmen in each year not to be the sports scholars as they may simply have matured later

I don't understand scholarships. If it's not adjusted each year to reflect current standard (sport, music or academic), how is that fair?

It's not fair - my dn is a v talented musician but didn't get a music scholarship at another school - now in y9 my dn is constantly performing in school concerts, representing the school in competitions etc whereas the child who got the scholarship never does a thing

basilbond and justanother,
DS music and academic scholarship offers last year were ALL conditional to the pupil's progress, performance, behaviour, contribution to the life of the school and commitment to school activities. Every single school stressed that the award could be withdrawn. So I can't see how a music scholar who doesn't participate in anything is allowed to keep the scholarship!

Ditto hardboiled, sports & academic, ( W & T)

I suppose two points

First, one thing saying it, another thing removing awards! Do schools actually do so.

Secondly, what about genuine late maturity situation leading to over-taking?

Justanother,
I don't know if schools actually do it (withdraw the award).
The late maturity situation well, that's it, isn't it, it's about the child that out-takes on "the day" be it an exam, audition or sports assessment. Unfortunately everyone can have a bad day. I guess that's why it's wise not to put all your eggs in one basket and apply to a few schools if you need the financial assistance. On the other hand, I do know of parents of a very non-scholar talented musician in Y9 who had a talk with the music department of their school to review the situation, and the school agreed to give a late award covering lessons and other extras which can amount to quite a lot. One can always ask.