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.

ooops I meant a very talented non-scholar... You can't be a very non-scholar!!

Yes, Justanother.. I agree, saying it is different from doing it. But it was clear in the letters and in bold or italics ( if I remember correctly).

It is early days for us yet, but would be interesting to see how things unfold. W did tell us they offer more scholarships in year 9 as well, for current boys.

I know they say that - was in ds's letter too - however ..., I don't know of any occasion when an award has actually been withdrawn

Thank you so much mums for all that sports scholarship info all round! All set for 10+ sports assessment at W tomorrow, bag packed with very bit of sports kit we have! We've gone for sports schol to try and tick another box as DS is no way academic schol material!
Best of luck to others at W tomorrow and for others waiting for letters.

Can I ask you lovely ladies another Q please, what do I wear to interview at W?

mummyinatizz...I was going straight to work after the interview so had a dress, jacket and boots on. All other Mums had similar, maybe no jacket. DS has interview somewhere else tomorrow and as it is my day off am going in jeans, smart top and boots. Fairly sure what I am wearing has no bearing on his chances...if it is then not the school for us!

DS went in school uniform to interview. I was too wondering what to wear and decided to go in what i was comfortable in and what i normally wear as wanted to look 'normal' to DS. Honestly it doesn't matter as long as you look clean!

About the sports assessments, do most boys turn up with a change of clothing for every sport- football, cricket etc? My DS plays one main sport only so does not have all the kit for the others.

DS is taking gym kit for the morning session, then games kit, shin pads, gum shield and cricket bat for afternoon. Not sending his cricket 'whites' as think too much but mainly because they are far too small! Might borrow hockey stick from school but not sure.

Casual but smart. How your DS dresses does matter. We were advised to bring DS in his school uniform.

For DS 11+ sports scholarship I am doing similar to dippingbackin, gym kit for morning and games kit (rugby/football shirt, football socks, shorts, skin) for afternoon. Mouthguard, shin pads, astros or trainers, plus football/rugby boots. I am not sending any cricket whites or bat or pads. I figure they will have all this and as I am taking the train I don't want him to take too much.

Our letter says he needs to wear school uniform, which is a pain as it means lots of changing and him potentially losing something!

ladydepp - glad you mentioned the uniform, have just reread the letter and spotted the school uniform part. Had planned to send him in his gym kit ready for the first session. Would not have been a great start!

mummyinatizz - I agree with poozie, wear what you feel comfortable in, as long as it's clean it will be fine! Of course if you have fabulous legs then wear a short skirt, it can't hurt .

Thanks all!

All the best' everyone going for sports assessments in next few Days. Have some calpol ready for DSs, and a nice warm bath!!!

Basildon... I don't disagree with you, it's just interesting that they emphasise it so much in letters, and may not act upon it as you say. Its only been 1 term ( and a bit), for us, so too early to form a personal view on these things. I actually used that bit of info in the letter, to threaten DS, extrapolated it to 'his offer will be withdrawn totally' if he didn't do well in the 3rd term of his primary school. As he appeared to have moved on spiritually, to secondary school before that academic year was over. Didn't want a cocky so and so, on my hands...

Best wishes to those with interviews as well.

Very good luck to all. We are not up for any scholarships, and are just now to see if there are any more interviews or if Dulwich College are alone in wanting to sit and talk Lego with DS. Convinced that a "No thanks" letter from Trinity was posted on Thursday but just hasn't made it here yet, so will approach post with trepidation tomorrow.

Waiting to hear also from Alleyn's (possibly later this week, or next week) and St Benedict's (they are completely non-committal on their website so heaven only knows)

Good luck to everyone going in today. We'll be at W for music. eek!

Good luck to all the boys going for interviews and assessments today.

I do hope that those of you waiting for Trinity to hear something today. I think that I was planning to wait until Tuesday before phoning to see if our 'no' letter had gone astray!

Scholarships: I have known non-curricular but not academic scholarships to have been awarded internally after admission (usually at year 9). I know Whitgift are now monitoring boys on bursaries and scholarships to check on their investment, but I haven't yet seen an award removed. I have though seen siblings of relative under performing bursary holders/scholars not get offers (which is unusual), as well as boys not being invited to stay to 6th form. The academic boys who missed out at 11 usually seem to get acknowledged with scholarships at 6th form.

Out of interest, I can see some schools (City, Trinity etc) celebrating their current Oxbridge offer success but can't see anything from Whitgift, Dulwich or Alleyns? Anyone with DC at the schools know anything? I'm more curious to see how and when the school publicly celebrate non-sporting successes.

Great thread , just found it , my fella has had interviews at W and DC over the last 5 days ....but heard nothing from Alleyns which we and he really like. Is this likely to be thanks but no thanks because I know others have been contacted re interviews.

Alleyns must be the toughest with the best of boys and girls and a smaller intake ? Do you agree.

I thought that Alleyns were only starting to make contact this week? I think that sometimes the cohort for co-eds is just very different, so I definitely wouldn't assume a "no" yet, especially as you've had interviews elsewhere and clearly your son did well in the grammar round.

DC and W get off the ground with calls and interviews very quickly, but Trinity and Alleyns are relatively slower.

Dibble, Alleyn's were emphatic that no-one would hear anything for a week, which would be tomorrow at the earliest. Are you sure the other families that you've heard about weren't talking about another school? (Or at least expressing certainty about an interview for a sibling, maybe?)

*at least a week

Ladymuck - re your question on academic success W have an article in their Life Magazine Michaelmas 2013 on this (you can see it on the website if you look down the "about Whitgift" tab) shows the Oxbridge and A and GCSE percentages etc - also has all the exam results, leavers destinations etc under the "Academic" tab on the site. My DS did 10+ last year for W - v busy but v happy there, was definitely the right decision. Know what a stressful time this whole admissions thing is so empathise and wish you all luck and good news soon.

Thanks for all the info on scholarships, really helpful, thank you for taking the time.

There were 38 boys at the W 10+ sports assessment this morning! Teacher I spoke to said that was more than usual, but they looked good on paper apparently.

best of luck to all those hoping for new today!

He also said that to date they have never taken a sports schol away, sometimes they have got it wrong and awarded to a boy that hasn't matured into the sportsman they thought he might, but as long as that child is putting in the effort they get to keep the support.