Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

The Trinity Whitgift Dulwich 11+/10+ thread 2014 pt2

999 replies

LadyMuck · 21/01/2014 22:25

Anyone still out there?!

OP posts:
woodcote75 · 23/01/2014 19:29

yes, ds was interviewed by Canon too...what you thinking?

basildonbond · 23/01/2014 19:35

Honestly MoS I don't think it will reflect badly on ds at all - I'd be amazed if you were the only family to make a mistake like that - they're fitting you in next week which is great :). It is the kind of thing I would do so am glad someone else is disorganised too Wink

Canon B is lovely - one of ds's favourite teachers

Comparing ds's experience at 10+ W interview with his friends, with and without scholarships, I really don't think the choice of interviewer has any significance at all

Re Alleyn's interviews, the only other child we know irl who has a scholarship interview is also a girl so maybe the paper this year favoured girls in some way (not sure how?)

Scoobyblue · 23/01/2014 19:49

In dd's year at Alleyn's, 4 out of 6 of the major academic scholars are boys and 5 out of 9 of the remaining academic scholars are boys. Obv don't know abt this year, but definitely would not be set up to favour girls.

MotherOfSuburbia · 23/01/2014 19:51

Thanks basildonbond. Trying not to kick myself too much.

Original poster
LadyMuck · 23/01/2014 20:00

Thanks basildonbond. I guess I had wondered about approaches. It seems to be more the "norm" to tell girls it is a scholarship interview whereas Dulwich and Trinity etc seem to not tell the boys in advance. But clearly the few of us on here are hardly fully representative of what happens.

Agree, Canon B is lovely. In the past I've known him to interview scholarship parents, but not the child, but who knows. Certainly I would think that he would be good at putting your son at ease, which I think is great in an interviewer.

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyMuck · 23/01/2014 20:03

MotherofSurburbia Wine.

There's a reserve date for a reason Grin. I'm fairly sure that you're not the first. I have already retold of the parent who turned up for interview at W without their son...

OP posts:
woodcote75 · 23/01/2014 20:10

Thanks for all your comments. I wonder if we are offered a place with no or very little scholarship whether you can try and negotiate a little?

basildonbond · 23/01/2014 20:13

Most of the girls' schools interview all candidates before the exam and then only call a few for scholarship interview post-exam. The boys' schools usually only interview children who have 'passed' and most parents have no idea whether or not their son is in the running for a scholarship. So Alleyn's is a bit out on a limb telling some children that they are being interviewed specifically for a scholarship but as the format is so different from the normal 20 min interview maybe they think it's only fair ...

ClaraMaugham · 23/01/2014 20:16

What has happened to the other mothers of girls, out of interest? There were a few around but most of them seem to have disappeared...

AliceLostinWonderland · 23/01/2014 21:24

MotherofSurburbia Smile don't worry, it happens to the best of us.

Just trying to catch up on the thread.

Interesting argument from farewell if only we had choices of not going through this stressful 11+ process! I live in a borough which has the worst [with evidence] sec schools and I would rather home school my boy than send him there!

Southwestmum73 · 23/01/2014 21:25

Re W 10+ interview, our letter states that DS does not need to bring anything along and both parents should attend. DS will be asked variety of questions including some based on the answers he provided in the entrance examination. Does anyone know if this is the norm? I had in my mind that he would asked to bring along something to discuss. Terrified they'll question him on his maths!

dippingbackin · 23/01/2014 21:32

Interesting question above about negotiating scholarships. I had genuinely never thought this would be something that went on. I imagined everyone would be so pathetically grateful that they just accepted what they were given. Is this not the case?

woodcote75 · 23/01/2014 21:33

Southwestmum73- we had the w 10+ interview today and our letter stated exactly the same. My ds was asked to read a poem and discuss its meaning but was very informal and the interviewer put him at ease. We came out upbeat but I guess that's the art of a good interviewer!

mummyinatizz · 23/01/2014 21:34

southwestmum73 we had our 10+ at whitgift today. We didn't bring a discussion piece, the boy in front of us carried out 2 trophies! My son was not quizzed on maths, English etc. I posted earlier today that I was told he didn't go that well maths, but well in VR. So I was expecting him to get a maths question at least, but it was a general chat about what he likes about school, football team he supports and of course 'why whitgift'. Best of luck!

woodcote75 · 23/01/2014 21:35

its just that I read something on here a while ago where a parent had had an offer with a scholarship but not quite as much as they'd needed so called the office to negotiate. I wasn't sure if this was the norm?

mummyinatizz · 23/01/2014 21:35

woodcote75 faster typer than me!

dippingbackin · 23/01/2014 21:40

Am not sure I would have the 'balls' to call them up and ask for more. As has been mentioned above, if we get any offer letters I will just be so thrilled it is all over that I will be sending the deposit before they can change their mind.
Been through this all with DD last year and the relief when decisions had been made was amazing. DS2 is only 3 so have time to recover before the next round starts!!

Original poster
LadyMuck · 23/01/2014 22:23

It is certainly possible to negotiate, but more usual at 11+ than at 10+ mainly because you'll have more evidence of where your Ds fits in the cohort (eg because of grammar schools etc). There is a rumour that W are on the lookout for more musicians than normal this year.

OP posts:
Southwestmum73 · 23/01/2014 22:50

Thanks for your replies. Talking about football won't be a problem for DS!

Original poster
LadyMuck · 23/01/2014 23:10

In terms of bringing in items, I think Whitgift have dropped this, though Trinity still ask for it. I would tend to keep with what the school has asked for personally.

OP posts:
AliceLostinWonderland · 23/01/2014 23:44

agree with dippingbackin I wouldn't know how to negotiate! Where do you begin? What do you say? Should I not be grateful they offer me (any) scholarship at all?

Stressedbutblessed · 24/01/2014 00:37

@claram
Also feel same- we are coming back to the UK from overseas. Dd walked straight into exam without any tutoring . I had no idea just how aggressive and serious the system is. I feel bad for Dd who is extremely bright but was in no way prepared for this level of "competition" I can't gauge realistically whether schools truly want bright and engaged "who will benefit from their education "or ultimately will go for safe stats and over tutored children!?!? Luckily Dd is very laid back - does a lot of drama and auditions/rejections are parr for the course! Much more difficult for meBlush

Pooglie · 24/01/2014 00:45

Mother of dd here. Has anyone done the Alleyn's interview? What kind of things do they ask about? Also does anyone know how many took the exams for JAGs and WHS? I think Alleyns was 588 but whilst waiting to pick up dd, overheard an Alleyn's mother reporting over 600. I know I shouldn't be working out the stats, but surprisingly it de-stresses me to have an appraisal of the probability of her getting in.

Pooglie · 24/01/2014 00:47

Sorry, I should have written
Alleyns'

Original poster
LadyMuck · 24/01/2014 07:01

I think Alleyns start on Saturday? JAGS seems to have already started.

OP posts: