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Original poster

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

999 replies

Firefox1066 · 13/12/2014 08:29

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....

OP posts:
Fossie · 13/01/2015 15:53

We know 2 who have got an interview with T on Friday.

citymum3 · 13/01/2015 16:03

Seem to be only Alleyn's one then! Candidates 1-692!! So many people. Sounds like it was hard, he didn't finish the VR but a girl in the room with him was crying over hers, poor thing. Need to prep for iv now. DS only really interested in hiw long the journey to school will be but I don't suppose 'it is second closest school to home' will get him far as answer to the 'why here?' Question.

Ladymuck · 13/01/2015 16:06

It is worth coming up with an answer to "what are your plans for the rest of the day/weekend" for Alleyns ime. Ds was also asked how he would get to school. From overhearing other parent-child post interview discussions around me, I would say that these were common questions.

neanananaweek1972 · 13/01/2015 16:28

Fossie, I have to ask is that for 10+ or 11+ at Trinity?

Fossie · 13/01/2015 16:32

11+

neanananaweek1972 · 13/01/2015 16:34

Thanks, as we are 11+ that makes me feel loads better!!Confused

citymum3 · 13/01/2015 16:48

Thanks. Hard to know with Alleyns- he did not get through all the VR but thought the maths was fine. Gleaned from this and other threads that Alleyns iv twice as many children as there are places, which is harsh I think. Hope we don't have to wait too long, but the ivs are not week of 24th which is ages away. One more to go for us, on Monday, but the impetus to do papers and write creative pieces has totally gone. I can't bear to ask him and he certainly has had enough now, even of my super gentle approach. Maybe the last one will end up being the best one.
Will carry on reading this thread but as I seem the only non Croydon schools one I won't be able to contribute much!

Cloe489 · 13/01/2015 17:19

Fossie, did your friends get a call today for the T interviews? And you said 11+ right? Now I am nervous as I have not heard from T at all. I thought that maybe they hadn't started with the calls yet. Fingers crossed!

InASchoolsDilemma · 13/01/2015 18:23

We had a call earlier today for an interview with Trinity (11+) Smile But as everyone always points out, the calls and letters go on for a while and I don't think they do it in any particular order. I've read on previous years' threads about people who were called for interview two weeks after the exams, and ended up getting a place. So don't worry just yet Cloe.

mum3074 · 13/01/2015 18:54

Another day with no calls for us. But somehow today was easier as you get used to the idea of waiting for longer. Best of luck to those who have interviews this week - you all must be just as nervous as waiting for the call/letter!

andien · 13/01/2015 19:00

Hi there just wondering to those with children who sat alleyns - dd told me her group only had 15 minutes to do VR test of 50 questions, whilst friend's daughter said their group had 25 minutes...maybe dd just muddled it, but wondering if anyone had similar experience? She was unable to complete and usually is v. good at VR.

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 13/01/2015 20:01

No calls today for us and thankfully no "thanks but no thanks " letter from T yet! It is rather odd looking out for something that you hope you DONT get!

It's hard not to feel a bit wobbly when others are being called for interviews but I hold onto what Basildon Bond has said as nauseum about receiving calls up to three weeks after the exam

OP posts:
citymum3 · 13/01/2015 20:03

Sorry I cannot get any sense from mine about how long the test was he, he is talking about sections and can't remember if 25 or 15 minutes but agrees VR was hard - he did not finish it. he thought the maths was less hard than others he's sat and English about the same.

Balhamite1 · 13/01/2015 21:58

My DD also sat Alleyns today. She didn't manage to finish
Vr either and is normally very strong at VR. She thinks they had 20 mins to do 50 questions in her room. She found the maths easy and again felt pushed for time for English.

Balhamite1 · 13/01/2015 22:22

Does anyone have an experience of the kind of questions Alleyns may/have asked before in interviews?

basildonbond · 14/01/2015 07:43

Alleyn's place a lot of emphasis on the interview, the exam is mainly used as a filtering exercise (unless your child is one of the top performers and gets called for a scholarship interview). They're looking for sparky, creative children who will make the most of the opportunities the school offers but there are plenty of quieter children in dd's form so I think they're also looking for a good mix of personalities. Dd didn't have the standard interview but plenty of her friends did - they were asked things like what they liked doing at school, what they did out of school, plans for the rest of the weekend etc. It's only 20 mins or so so not long.

Seeline · 14/01/2015 09:28

merlot - we sat the SET for the grammars and passed that, but didn't get through the Wallington test, so state school option was our local comp which we weren't in catchment for... Sat Croydon before Christmas and got an offer there; we were going to sit RR after Christmas but having had the offer from CHS decided to go with that. I think the 'girls only' rather appealed to my DD Grin I must say the relief is huge, and Christmas without having any 11+ papers to do was bliss! Hope your plans work out - any preference

bitsbots · 14/01/2015 11:32

just got the W interview letter for us...not very long waiting, better than expected!

mum3074 · 14/01/2015 12:02

Great news bitsbots & InASchoolsDilemma! I'm a bit confused, do schools both call and send letters for interviews? i thought letters are just for "no".
We are still waiting - nothing from W or T yet...

Jaan100 · 14/01/2015 12:03

Morning everyone, just wanted to say for those of you waiting for W, they are sending letters to invite for interviews. Just when I had given up I received a letter in the post- initially I thought it was a no thanks letter, so I need all the advice I can get about interviews please!!! Hope for those of you waiting that you get called/letter soon too

BitByBit · 14/01/2015 12:22

Thanks Jaan. Are you 10+ or 11+ for W? We are 10+ so curious if they do it differently for 10 vs 11+. Am travelling at the moment so having to wait until DH gets home from work every day to check the post. The suspense is killing me!! Maybe today... Now I will have to tell him letter could be bad...or good!

Cloe489 · 14/01/2015 12:54

We got letter fromW today too. Interview on Monday. Still nothing from T though!

olguis · 14/01/2015 13:08

It's kind of a relief that no one heard from Trinity yet.
On a side note, W got in touch via email to arrange an audition, saying the paper letter will follow. That was on Monday, and still no paper letter came through.
A tough week or two weeks for us all!

paleviewofhills · 14/01/2015 13:12

My ds is showing interviewees around W today, so if you are escorted to the Founders Room by a small, rather scruffy, blond child who talks a lot about football, that's mine Wink

Good luck to all who have interviews and those still hanging on in there!

dunesandy · 14/01/2015 13:12

We are 10+ W. Nothing yet.