The Trinity Whitgift Dulwich 11+/10+ thread 2014 pt3

[SJ69]

Part 2 reached 1000 posts so start part 3 here.
If you need to follow part 2, the link is as follow.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/1974488-The-Trinity-Whitgift-Dulwich-11-10-thread-2014-pt2?reverse=1

We had the language choices letter on Monday...not quite as exciting as Lake Garda!

We had language choices the other day and big packet this morning with all joining info, inductions etc along with direct debit forms!!! Making it seem real now......

Have you all booked uniform fitting slots?

Booked it this morning when out with younger DS, got home and realised it was the day DS1 goes on week long French trip with current school. Oops, not good start!

When I visited the 2nd hand uniform sale last time. I asked the organizer and she said the next 2nd hand uniform sale will be on the Saturday after the new parents evening.

thanks SJ69, will put that possible 2nd hand sale in the diary.

yes booked uniform slot for May half term, but am sure we'll find something more interesting to do during half term and have to rearrange it.

Haven't phoned for appt yet. Anyone know when last slots are? Want as late as poss as my DS grows so rapidly!!

I remember the shop said they will be happy to change the size as long as it is in the original condition before the school start. I suggest you to call and check with the shop.

Date for the next secondhand uniform sale is confirmed as Saturday 21st June 10.30-12.

croydonmumtods thanks for that info.

Quick very trivial question - DS will be on the W school bus at 715 from Sept, is he allowed to eat his breakfast on the bus, or are they superstrict about that?

Now the dust has settled for you all I wondered if you could pass on some of your knowledge to someone who will be on next years thread. My ds is in y4 at the moment at an independent prep. I am looking at options for secondary (11+) (Independent, grammar, state). My son is a bit of an all rounder, loves sports, plays 2 instruments currently at grade 2, is academically able but not (yet?) that engaged with it all and needs to be nagged/pushed to do his homework. Nothing exceptional but personable and confident. He is starting to show a bit of academic maturity and I think it could be worth having a crack at Wilsons, but would need tutoring I think. Trinity is really calling to me as I think it would suit him, and us, as a family. Whitgift is a maybe, as is Caterham. Financially I have other children so we would need to be looking at scholarships.

On those notes could I ask you:

What is the deal with 10+ entry to Trinity or Whitgift? Who does it, why? is it worth thinking about?

Where and how do I find a tutor for Wilsons? Is it too late?

Can I get copies of past papers (grammar and indie) myself to gauge the standard?

Thanks and well done to you and your boys!

My DS is going to Wilson's in September. He's at a state primary.

It's not too late to tutor for Wilson's, but you probably should get a move on. DS's tutor did quite high level maths with him, but I get the impression that it really was just KS2 curriculum like the school said it would be. Creative writing is important. The second Wilson's English test was a 50 minute writing task.

The Sutton grammars and Tiffin don't release past papers. They are a bit of a mystery. You can only go by what they say on their websites and doing practice papers.

we did 10+ at W and T as a 'practice' for the Y6 round. My DS got offers at both which meant we had some big decisions to make.....
We went for Y6 entry at T in the end after considering:
-the actual possibility of a grammar school place for Y7 (competition is intense, and although bright, we weren't sure if he was bright enough)
-the likely state school we would be offered a place at (no guarantees for the reasonable comp we would have preferred)
-the likelihood of being offered places again at T and W the next year as they wouldn't hold the offers open
-what DS would gain by being bored for another year at his 'good' state primary, having to go through a year of SATs preparation, and not being pushed at all.

On balance we cut our losses and went for the Y6 entry - it was the best thing we could have done. DS soon settled despite not knowing anyone. He matured very quickly to cope with what is in effect secondary school a year early. He really enjoyed the wider curriculum, and being stretched and encouraged to question and think in different ways. Now nearing the end of Y7, he has mixed well with the new Y7 intake, and is still enjoying everything (although perhaps not the homework )

Oh - past papers - many schools have example papers on their web sites - try google. Also W and T have examples available at their open day events. Not so sure about the state schools. Moat people use the 'Bond' books for practice as they are of the right level. You will need to check the requirements for each school as they are all different. Usually include maths and English, but can take different forms eg multiple choice, essay writing, comprehension etc. Some also include either/or VR and NVR papers.

clevererer,
it can be done without paying a tutor. DS got a place at Wilsons and a scholarship at Trinity after being tutored by DH and I. Is it something you would consider? We used Bond papers, GL, whatever I could download from websites like past papers etc. We both work FT so it was a question of Sunday morning sessions and DS doing the homework and practice set by us during the week. We started in October of Year 5. Kept it going over summer -- he wrote a story every two-three days. We were late for Wilsons exam because of traffic and we left the car and run all the way! We just made it, he was totally breathless but I'm sure the run did it! Oxygen to the brain they say!

Hi Hardboiled well done all of you! where did he choose in the end. yes I am considering doing it myself. I am/was v academic and used to do well on exams (technique). we have started doing some bond papers which he is enjoying. I am not sure how realistic this is as also work FT with younger DC and he has a lot of sporting activities at the weekends.

I would be more than happy to give it a go though if enough people tell me it is doable - paying twice does annoy me [smil. I think the biggest concern is whether I have the authority with him ie yeah yeah whatever, its only mum speaking.

It can be done without a tutor depending on your child and how responsive he is to you and how much time you have. From my experience, even if you have a tutor, parental involvement is key is making sure the work set is done and in identifying and giving encouragement in the areas of weaknes. For me, the value of the tutor is getting one who is familiar with the particular requirements of the school you are considering for ds and who has prepared others for that school. Most tutors will debrief their children about the papers they sat, some may have had past connections with the school and so can bring a bit more insight into their tutoring. If you are doing this on your own, this obviously won't be open to you.

Clevererer: Re 10 plus entry, for us our ds had outgrown his state primary and was ready to move on (in a prep, you may want to balance this against the advantages of staying longer in a prep school and aspiring to holding positions of authority).

Competition is a little less intense for year 6 places and scholarships (but of course there are fewer places awarded in year 6 than in year 7). There was a significant inrease in boys sitting 10 plus this year as opposed to two years ago, when my older ds sat. For us, it will allow our ds to settle in before the large intake at year 7.

He chose another indy closer to us which had also offered him a scholarship. Very very happy so far! Good luck :)

Hi all,
Maybe should be asking this elsewhere as I am sure its a general secondary school question. Or maybe its more of an issue for Year 6s in a big school. My DS joins W in Sept in Year 6.

Anyway slight issue at DS year 5 this week about sex. My son is in trouble for repeating a word, he says he didn't know what it meant. The prep school don't do sex education, relying on parents to do it when they think child is ready. I don't think this is works as older siblings fill in any gaps with often wrong info. As my DS is eldest he doesn't have that advantage/ disadvantage!

When he joins W, will be discover this whole new world, from school bus talk and playground. Should I (or DH) get in early over the summer?

Any experience/advice gratefully received

Hi mummyinatizz - my Ds started T in Y6 a couple of year back. Yes - they do grow up a lot, if I can put it like that! My DS has certainly increased his vocabulary, and can pick up on more 'adult' conversations. However, he seems instinctively to know how far he can push things at home - I won't tolerate bad language. Innuendo has it's limits for a 12yo too! I think mixing with boys right the way through the school is bound to broaden their horizons.
My Ds had sex education in Y5 at his primary, so had the benefit of that before he started. IFAIK they don't cover it until second year at T in biology, although they do have lots of personal welfare etc sessions, but not sure what's been covered.
I would make sure that your DS knows the basics before he starts, and also make sure he knows that he can ask you anything. Advise him not to use words he has heard at school if he doesn't know what they mean until he's tried a dictionary/asked you to see whether it's appropriate

Am off to W tomorrow to get uniform. Can any current parents let me know if there are any bits I can do without getting? My plan had been to get the 'essentials' tomorrow and then get DS to suss out what else was actually required. I don't want to get sucked into buying everything on the list.

dippingbackin - Most items of W uniform can only be bought at the shop (shirts, bags etc have embroidered emblem etc); but you can get trousers elsewhere - they need to be Charcoal (not standard grey or black) and M&S do some decent ones. Socks etc can be bought elsewhere too obviously. When you go for the fitting the Shop Managers are extremely helpful but you can find that you can easily end up buying more than the essentials! Good idea to get a tracksuit as the boys use them a fair bit in cold weather, although they are not compulsory. There will be another second hand uniform sale in the Autumn term too. Hope that helps!

Cleverer - I would echo what other posters have already said. It can be done without a tutor. We only paid for a few hours with an English tutor for the creative writing part to go over the tools and techniques again. All the rest was done using Bonds by DH and I but more critically by DS. Others have commented parents' involvement is key, you also need a DS whom is "mature" enough to be self-motivated with his learning and able to see the bigger picture. We did not push DS (other than by stupidly starting too late in the process but that's another story!) but sat him down to explain his options and that the only failure would be if he did not give it his best shot. Another recommendation I would make is to sit at least one mock exams so you DS gets to experience the exams conditions - big hall, number of students, timed papers, the nerves etc. before the big day.

Maybe too late for you dippingbackin but I heard some a previous poster on here that there is a Whitgift 2nd hand uniform sale on Sat 21 June. We have a new parents (Yr6) evening the week before and assume they'll mention it there too.

Had a successful shopping trip on Monday. Got all the crucial bits of uniform and found the lady in the shop really helpful.

DS was so excited to be wearing the uniform, he really can't wait.

The uniform shop lady said there was a sale on 21st June.