The Trinity-Whitgift-Dulwich-Alleyns 10+/11+ thread 2015

[Firefox1066]

I thought I would take the plunge and start early the 2015 T/W/DC/A 10+/11+ thread that has become an annual staple MN!

This thread has been inspired by the likes of (among others) Ladymuck, Seeline, SoupDragon et al, who have been an amazing resources to people like me in previous years' threads.

Although T & W tend to dominate, I have also included DC and Alleyns as I know a lot of parents these days have DC's sitting for some/all of them.

I hope this thread will continue in the spirit of previous years' thread, with the support, hand-holding and knowledge that has been the hallmark of MN generally but this thread in particular.

Let the fun begin....

OK...so I will start. DS will be sitting T & W 10+ in January. DS is at a "feeder" prep, but not one of the "official" feeder preps (i.e. not CH or Elmhurst).

Anyone else sitting these schools in Jan? How is the preparation going thus far?

Hi Firefox - the first to take the plunge!! good luck with everything and shout if you need any info - mine's at T

Back again to the thread! DS1 at W (2nd year) with DS2 applying for 11+ in Jan. Good luck everyone!

Thanks Seeline...I reserve the right to ask a gazillion questions!
Johnny T...how is DS1 finding W? I am finding it very difficult to split them..I have a very slight preference for W but really like Mr B at Trinity and have a nephew there who is doing amazingly well.

On a separate point anybody want to hazard a guess at how many will be sitting this year? Im thinking 200 for T and 250 for W at 10+ and say 300 for T and 350 for W at 11+?

It starts earlier and earlier I see!

Good luck with your Christmas preparations.

In terms of numbers applying, 11+ is a low birth year in Croydon (the last one for a while), the number of grammar places nearby has increased, and Whitgift took in 4 forms at 10+ last year, so in theory there will be less competition this year when 11+ offers finally come out. Croydon are expecting a large number of unfilled Year 7 spaces next year.

BUT I see no evidence that the number sitting in the first place will go down at all, so I would add another 250-300 to those sitting at 11+, though that of course includes those applying for a bursary place. People still seem to be nervous and are sitting for more schools than ever before. Your numbers are probably right for a full fees place.

Dr Barnett has got to retire at some point, and I would expect that Whitgift is probably now one of the schools that would attract an experienced head (rather than being a first headship school). That said it is always an interesting experience to see how one's perception of the schools changes during the whole admission process. Usually people are very happy with whichever one they choose in the end.

Hello firefox - good luck to your ds!

Mine is at W, and loving it - not that he would ever admit such a thing of course! I liked both schools for different reasons, and feel sure that ds would have been equally happy at T. In the end W won out mainly on distance, convenience and knowing more boys who had been there! These threads often waver towards T - and the Head is certainly a bonus - but we have been very very happy with W and have no regrets at all.

They have been very supportive, and whilst standards / expectations are undeniably high, we've not experienced any of the snobbery/pushiness that W sometimes (unfairly imo) has a reputation for. The school is actually pretty nurturing, I think, particularly in the Lower School, and excellent at finding boys' hitherto untapped talents

The admissions process is rather gruelling, however, and W did not come off particularly well last year iirc. I suspect this thread may run and run!

Best of luck!

DS1 is very much enjoying W though isn't super sporty (but arts very good too!) DS2 is perhaps more the W sporting stereotype (he's bigger than his older brother - go figure.) now he just needs to get in. T isn't as convenient for us so wasn't considered as much but have nothing negative to say either (like feel of T when we did a visit)

We went through the 11+ last year and want to wish everyone best of luck. It is a crazy process to be sure. We chose Dulwich College after a painful process of figuring out which school was best for DS. So far he is happy there and I think we made the right choice but his Whitgift friends seemed to settle much more quickly in the first half term. Possibly because he didn't have as many mates going to DC. Anyway, I am relieved that the first term is over.

My advice for those sitting exams this year: early bedtimes, multivitamins, big cooked breakfast on exam day, big clear pencil case with extra pens, pencils, ruler, rubber etc...., revise a little bit every day apart from Christmas Day.

Oh and there was no stand alone essay on the DC exam last year, there was just one comprehension in which one of the questions was worth loads of marks.

My DS started W this year and loves it. Didn't know any other boys going but has settled in really well. Sport is outstanding as I knew it would be. Have also been pleased with the high academic expectations and regular reporting.

Good luck to all boys sitting the exams this year. It is a slog but worth it for the eventual outcome.

DC at Dulwich College and loves it. It is quite academic and maybe some kids might struggle with the weight of work they get, so I'd consider if this is for your child. The school seems amazingly well run and the teachers inspiring. My son not massively sporty but wants to participate and feels really valued in his team. Kids screened for talents very early and kids compelled to join appropriate choirs/orechestras/sports. The facilities are wonderful (but I wonder if the kids even notice this). Very encouraging and nurturing, with high expectations of academia and independent learning. More clubs than DC will ever get through. DC very settled due to great classmates and form tutor and the legendary Mr Scarisbrick and his amazing pastoral care. Head seems to be aiming very high for the boys. We never actively chose single sex but it seems to have worked well for DC, he says it allows him to be himself without worrying what anyone thinks about him. DC has a sister and many friends who are girls so no fear of creating a dysfunctional rugby boy. Yes we're impressed with the school and son thriving but I'm sure all the other schools will be very similar, so go with your gut feeling.

I've been waiting for a thread to start - but didn't want to do it myself!! - so thanks Firefox.

DS will be sitting both T and W, and we slightly prefer T. But he also passed the Sutton grammars, so one of those may come into the mix if he gets a place.

firefox - in terms of numbers T had about 800 last year sitting 10+, 11+ and 13+. HM said it was the highest number ever. Sorry don't know the individual breakdown of numbers.

We are sitting 11+ for T & W and it all seems so scarey! Am already not sleeping so can't imagine what it will be like nearer the time!

We are also not doing half as much revision as we should; DS very reluctant!
I know that there is a wealth of experience on the topic of Trinity/Whitgift admissions - just wondered if anyone had any knowledge of what is expected at the DT assessment day and if there are many of these scholarships given out each year. Seems to be lots of info regarding music and sport assessment days but nothing on these.
Any info on what is expected of them if they are successful would also be helpful.

Thanks!

Great to see peraonal testimonies from parents on the schools. From my own perspective, id say it's very easy to get bamboozled by the facilities on open days... Peacocks, wildebeest, lovely red brick buildings, fantastic auditoria BUT when all said and done one has to give very careful consideration as to the best school for our DCs. As such hearing from actual parents of DCs in the respective schools really helps.

Such a shame that DC isn't having a 10+ intake as I wanted to put them into the mix (I'm very impressed by Joe Spence) but T and W it is!

As in previous years, I am now tying to work out how many will be sitting T and W for 10+. Given what Seeline said above about 800 for T across the three age groups, I would suspect that 800 would break down into 200 for 10+; 450 for 11+ and 150 for 13+. Either way, given that the schools have to over offer (say 2:1) then it isn't bad odds (I keep saying this to myself while panicking everyone DS does something silly in his revision like 20-4 = 24!!)

Lastly, for those sitting T 10+, anybody have a candidate number greater than 125 at the end?

Looking at the number of boys in Croydon isn't going to help work out the numbers for T and W any more.

As DC under Dr Spence is shooting up academically and is riding high all round reputationally, it's much harder to get into. And South London parents have twigged that the journey (especially from Clapham Junction) is quick and easy. And as those parents get the Twitch about finding a day school place at all, they are increasingly turning to 10+ entry as well as 11+.

Especially when the 'banker' S London school (Emanuel) which guillotines its 11+ list at 650 candidates did so back in July (used to not use the guillotine at all, or not until Oct/Nov time).

I hear what you say EdithWeston but ultimately, a chid can only attend one school. Thats why numbers of boys in Croydon are relevant from my perspective. As Ladymuck said upthread, it is unlikely to have an effect on the number of boys sitting for exams but it will effect the numbers of places available and thus offered imo.

hi All, DS tried 10+ last year with no luck... we are in the mix again.
We heard that T had a very high number of applicants last year, and also a high number of 10+ acceptances, so much that they had to create an extra class. Does anybody know how many 11+ boys they will take on this year? i.e. if they will take less boys than usual given that they have a larger number already in the Junior Form?
it feels like it is getting harder and harder ... and are required!

Another question from me for all those who sat T & W previously. Is the VR exam multiple choice or free-form?

firefox From memory I don't think they were mc - but my experience was 3 years ago so things may have changed.
Ipreferletters I know they did add an extra JBug form at T this year - I haven't got the actual numbers, but DS informs me the actual intake wasn't that much higher than previous years, just more than to comfortably split into two forms. I think in his year there were about 46 boys (two forms of 23ish). From what he says they have three forms of about 20ish this year. Maybe an actual JBug parent may have better info....

Hi Seeline,
23x2=46 previously admitted in T Junior form.
This year 20x3=60 boys or so were admitted.
It follows that 60-46= 14 additional boys were admitted at T last sept in Junior form.

So has anybody asked whether T will reduce the number of 11+ places available in Sept15?

Merry Christmas to All!

Something similar happened with the 11+ intake 5 years or so ago - the offer rate was higher and in the end they had to take an extra form. At that stage T said that they would reduce to 13+ intake 2 years later, so that by year 9 they still had the same number of boys in total, but the local 13+ schools protested, and in the end they took an extra class throughout the school. But I do expect Trinity to reduce their 11+ offers this year so that they end up with the 6 forms that they are set up for.

We've also set up a thread in on the Local Croydon site if you want to chat there too:
local.mumsnet.com/Talk/local_croydon/2265699-Whitgift-Trinity-Croydon-Independent-Schools-Support-Thread

Here's my not very useful addition: I went to dulwich from 11-18, and dulwich prep from age 4 beforehand, and bloody loved it! 1st xi cricket tour to Australia with 17 mates for a month the obvious highlight, but the rest was great too. I was aware of the amazing facilities whilst there. I like to think I'm not a dysfunctional rugger bugger but you'd have to ask my wife...

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I'm interested in W and T also.
Any hot is 9 preparing for and application process would be appreciated.