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

[LadyMuck]

Anyone still out there?!

Teddingtonmum - I feel for you++. I'm appalled at the Admissions team. I find that helps at times like this. One consolation is that at least you're unlikely to come across such callousness at other schools.

Alleyn's places. Apparently siblings and dcs of teachers get preference. This means that actually there aren't really 70-80 places on offer (after junior school kids take their places). I think therefore that the odds are rather lower than I previously calculated. There will be about 35 places for girls with many taken by siblings and teacher's children. There are probably only about 15 places for true external candidates. It's likely that we will be disappointed and so I will be managing dd's expectations about this school. Sorry if this seems pessimistic, but I don't want to end up feeling like one of the bitter parents mentioned earlier in the thread. Having said that, to counter their reputation for Blondness, Alleyn's may be working to 'positive discrimination' this year, so we may get in on the "brunette" ticket.

So sorry likeamum and teddington, children often take disappointment much better than their parents. I hope that is the case for your DSs. It is harsh for children so young but I really hope they will bounce back quickly.

Good luck with Reeds teddington and yes you can try W again at 13+ if you and your DS can bear it.....

I have heard the 11+ is a bit like childbirth, selective amnesia sets in soon after it's over.

Pooglie - yes I have heard there is an unofficial sibling policy too, hadn't thought of that. I think it's true of all schools though? Emanuel has an official sibling policy but I think most of the others would choose a sibling over an "outsider" all the rest being equal.

But presumably a lot of siblings, and even teachers children will be in the prep school though. Not all, granted, but some surely? At ds's school the senior school teachers tend to have them in the prep for same holidays, convenience etc.

The Alleyn's sibling policy is "official" but the siblings etc will still be in the interview numbers of 300.

I've got my sherlock boxset and a big box of chocolates reduced by 70% from hotel de chocolate . Whitgift who lol
fingers crossed for everyone after the interviews lets they find email ..... and don't get me started about the blinking foundation office

Lets hope !!!

Likeamum teddingtonmum and Sigh123 really sorry, I am sure your DC will thrive wherever they go with dedicated mums like you.

I have heard the 11+ is a bit like childbirth, selective amnesia sets in soon after it's over

- so true!

Teddingtonmum1,likeamum & Sigh123: sorry to hear about your news.

Ladydepp: I couldn't have pit it any other way. I'm dream of opening letters from different schools and they range from a thin envelope packaging to fat ones. It's just a nightmare!!

put

Teddingtonmum, so sorry to hear your news re W, I have been looking out from news from you. I do feel gutted for you and DS. I hope your planB works out for you.

So sorry to hear your news as well sigh... and likeamum. Likeamum, there is still 11+, unless you don't want to go through all this again.. But I believe chances are better at 11+ and also DS will know what to expect.

Your DSs will do well as you will always look out for them and guide them in the right direction. Big hugs to you both. I know having to wait this long has been horrible to say the least... All the best for the future.

Perhaps if my DS had spent an inverse proportion of time
Revising vs. FIFA 14
Results would have been different! Thanks for comments all! X
P.s. Enjoyed and jazz/Bowie tonight

Thank you all for your support!!
DS is at a prep school so we will have to give it another go at 13. Hopefully he will be better prepared , back to the bond books ! Lol

Teddingtonmum1, likeamum and Sigh123 - have just logged on and seen our news. I am so sorry - this is such a tough, drawn out process. I wish you all the best for the future.

Like a mum my thoughts exactly !!! The sad truth is being bright just isn't enough we started revising in October as we were sitting reeds in cobham didn't even know about whitgift saw it in November and loved it and thought what the hell give it a go DS top maths Working for L6 stats thought he'd at least get an interview but alas not to be can only conclude everyone is L6 if he was in the bottom 3rd will have to try harder next time only problem is dont want him to go backwards over the next 18 months at crap comp. only hope he shone at his Reeds interview and they are looking for potential not a exam robot hey ho positive energy gratefully received heck even a few prayers won't go amiss !!!

Alleyns results dropped last year specifically the A Level's compared to the two previous years ...I would be asking some questions ...for £16,000 fees I would better results than 95% !

Good luck to all these children who appear to be under so much pressure at such a tender age ....

Looks like Buckinghamshire seems the place to live where there is certainly more choice of very good schools...

It will still be a couple of months before the majority of places get shuffled around and allocated, but it will be interesting to see whether the introduction of the Sutton selective eligibility test has made any difference to the process?

Lottysmum, you do realise that that was 95% A-B grades? 73% A-A.

Yes ...but it was 99% plus in 2011 and 2012 ....so nearly a 5% drop ...also a 2% drop in GCSE's ...not a good trend ....

When you have non fee paying schools getting 100% ...but I guess the non fee paying schools are getting the cream of the kids because they do not have to take children from the lower school who may not be performing aswell as external candidates ... ...

No, I think you have your numbers wrong - just over 93% A*-B in 2011 and 2012, so on that measure in fact 2013 was an increase.

Out of interest which Bucks schools have 100% A*-B at A level?

Well, we now know that Alleyns fixtures are not always at the school . We are slightly surprised that the porter's lodge couldn't provide a postcode of the other AstroTurf though.

Whilst I understand that it is hard to ignore the league tables entirely, it is important to recognise that there are individual children at these schools. If all goes well then many of the children will do well at any of these schools. What differentiates some of the schools at present is their willingness to persevere when things don't go well. Does the child who suffers from a mental illness or glandular fever etc get asked to leave or are they given extra support even at the risk of impacting the league tables? The current practise of "culling" in schools at various levels has long gone from being a general word and a helping hand to find something more suitable for your child, to receiving GCSE in different coloured envelopes depending of whether you are allowed back or not (though I'm still hoping that is urban myth). So I agree that league table results should give rise to questions, but mine will be more about what or rather who isn't in the tables than why there is a year on year difference I suspect.

Academic Scholarship: Ds sat for Kesw in surrey and passed. Now they've invited him to an "Academic Scholarship". Can anyone please explain what this consists of as I thought with most schools, the only one exam will determine whether such a schol should be given?

Why don't you ask the school? These things are v school-specific so the format at one place might not have any relevance for your ds - he's obviously done v well in the exam though so congratulations

Hi just had Alleyns interview for DS ... Ok he said but you never know. Slightly strange atmosphere with 30 parents sitting in the great hall waiting slightly nervously whilst pretending not to be checking all the competition out. The head was interviewing but not our DS