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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:

Emo76 · 22/01/2015 11:51

oh fingers crossed.

Emo76 · 22/01/2015 14:19

UPDATE I had a call at lunchtime asking DD to an interview at Alleyns from the nice sounding lady! I know there are still many more candidates than places but thrilled for DD because it's her first choice. Hope others are getting calls too.

mum3074 · 22/01/2015 17:05

Hello, so many posts since I last looked! Lots of useful & food for thought kind of information - thanks so much! We had our W. interview mid week, for us it was fairly intense with questions about school preferences, about our son, why we want W. etc, formal but friendly. Slightly worried about DS's "performance" as he seemed anxious and very serious prior interview so not sure if he came accross enthusiastic and chatty. We will have our T. interview on Sat. I noticed in another forum Ladymuck mentioned that schools tend to put scholarship material boys on mid week and potential full fee boys on Saturdays. Ladymuck - do you think it is unwritten rule for all schools? Does anyone else know about it? Don't really want to overthink that but still makes me wonder that maybe he did W. exam better than T...

Gilbo1972 · 22/01/2015 17:26

Yes I'm new to the boards, only just found this site, and I was wondering the exact same thing Mum 3074! Ridiculous isn't it how much we over analyse everything! I was wondering that too as my DS also has an interview Sat (might see you there if you wear a secret carnation :)) and yet I spoke to a mum who already has one at T and another who had passed the exam and has a interview mid next week. And when I asked her what the interviews were like she mentioned the previous one, where she had had an informal interview disguised as a 'chat' with Mr B when her son went in. I daren't ask her wherever she got a scholarship but I know Son no2 has been working his socks off unlike my lazy tinker! And she seemed surprised they interviewed Saturdays. Shame really as DS could really do amazing things if he put his mind to it. As it is I'm amazed he got this far as he left loads out during the exam due to timing!

mum3074 · 22/01/2015 17:53

I agree Gilbo1972, we indeed going crazy from anxciety and endless waiting, analysing tiniest things. Wish I was more relaxed about it, but it is hard to be laid back about your DS future... I'm really confused about that "what day is the interview" question as I know boys of higher academic abilites having interviews on Saturdays and lesser - midweek. But I guess the most important is how they performed on the day of the exam and anyone could mess up or the other way round at the exam... Hope your DS have a great interview at T. as that is the important part too!

neanananaweek1972 · 22/01/2015 19:03

I have been analysing too what day is our interview and does it make a difference!! I am sure from previous years there is lots of experience of DC who get scholarships from weekday, weekend, midweek interviews. Would be just nice to know if there is method in the madness

Original poster

Firefox1066 · 22/01/2015 19:24

I took Ladymucks post to mean that the availability of senior staff during the week TENDS to mean that scholarship interviews would be held then but I doubt there is a hard and fast "rule" per se

OP posts:

burntoutdad · 22/01/2015 21:24

Has anybody been interviewed by Mr 'M' at W? Looking for some insight into his manner as haven't come across him to date?

paleviewofhills · 23/01/2015 07:22

burnt - if I'm thinking of the person you're thinking of, he is very friendly and approachable, and has sons at the school himself. I don't think you will have an issue!

Seeline · 23/01/2015 08:55

Re days of interview: 10+ interviews a few years ago at T and W for DS. W was mid-week, T on a Saturday. No mention of a scholarship at either, and none given. I doubt that helps
Good luck to all with interviews coming up, and hold on in there for those still waiting

mum3074 · 23/01/2015 09:35

Thanks to everyone who replied to the question about days of the interview. Let's hope indeed there is no certain rule in this and our DSs or DDs are all with a decent chance! Just need to focus on the upcoming interview now and then the waiting will begin!

Liquorice12 · 23/01/2015 11:37

I was told by someone whose DS is already at T that having an interview on Saturday shows he's done very well. But there are so many conflicting opinions, not sure it is particularly true!

BitByBit · 23/01/2015 13:12

Re day of interview. DS is mid-week at W. Would be v. surprised (but v pleased ;)) if DS being considered for scholarship as he says he didn't finish Maths paper. He says he did well on composition and English but given v limited prep in both of these areas, I reckon he was middling. VR realistically the only paper he shone at so scholarship interview v unlikely. Not sure that helps!

mum3074 · 23/01/2015 13:35

Does anyone else struggle to encourage your DS to be enthusiastic at the interview? The thing is for many months we deliberately toned down a bit any keenness on any of the schools (even a favourite one) as to reduce any potential dissapointment after the exam results. And now when for the interviews we need to bring the DS's enthusiasm back, I find it difficult to light that spark of excitement in him...

Original poster

Firefox1066 · 23/01/2015 14:32

Just come back from interview at W. DS was absolutely thrilled with the interviewer who was a Maths teacher. As Maths is by far his strongest subject, we did wonder if he was being considered for a scholarship (or worse, that he'd flunked!!).

DS was asked questions about hobbies, sports and then decided to tell the interviewer about the importance of teamwork and (and I quote) "cohesion"! God knows where he got that stuff from...certainly was from either of us! They also spent a lot of time talking about DS's passion, which is Chess.

We were then called in to the room (DS was in there for no more than 15 mins) and DS went off with one of the boys. I must say that I was VERY impressed with how they got a boy from DS's school to be his guide. They actually knew each other very well so that really put DS at ease.

Our meeting with the interviewer was around 10-15 mins. We were told that DS was "very impressive", "socially aware" and had done very well in Maths, VR and Essay. His comprehension however was weaker, so he was asked to read a poem and asked a couple of questions about it. He was also asked 2 Mental Maths questions, neither of which were particularly difficult. He was also asked which school he wanted to go to W or T. DS told the truth, which was that he liked both school, but would be very happy at W

We were told that the interviewer though DS would thrive at the school and asked us whether we agreed. Then we were asked if we had any questions and that was it.

All in all, it was a very smooth process today and the wait is going to be excruciating!

Good luck to all DS's sitting interviews (and their parents!)

OP posts:

Original poster

Firefox1066 · 23/01/2015 14:34

mum3074 DS can be very quiet/shy BUT what struck me was that the interviewers are very skilled at knowing how to get information out of 9/10/11 year old boys. The key thing we decided to do was to ensure that DS was himself and allowed his personality to shine through.

OP posts:

mum3074 · 23/01/2015 16:10

Firefox1066 you probably buzzing from such a great experience and your DS must have "totally nailed it" by using such an impressive vocabulary! :))) our DS seems to be very similar to yours :)) - strong maths, chess etc but for some reason I'm not sure if he shone at the W. interview (unfortunately he does not tell us much about his conversation there & I don't ask anymore - left it as it is done, can't do anything about it) but still really hope for him to be his best at T. interview - he is intelligent & very knowledgeable but not very chatty and expressive...

mum3074 · 23/01/2015 16:15

I agree Firefox1066 the interview process at W. from entering the school to leaving it was organised very well, was very impressed with the little details & the smoothness of the whole thing and our Lower form guide was such a lovely boy as well.

Gilbo1972 · 23/01/2015 16:54

Oh Lordy, I'm turning into a crazee! So for interviews at T, is it a block appointment or individual? I have come to the conclusion, quite rightly, that it is T's plan not to give anything away by the significance, because if you went in believing you were/were not being considered for scholarship, your interview my go completely differently to if you were completely in the dark and thus on a level playing field. Great I says, now get on with your day... But no my brain needs something else to over-analyse... So if they are interviewing around 200 boys, and the interviews are being held from the 16th to the 4th, that's 16 days... So they could fit in 12.5 boys a day with half hourly slots... But that's pretty intensive and assuming there is only one interviewee so that can't be the case! Anyone else want to join in?!? Or am I officially the crazy on MN?!?

neanananaweek1972 · 23/01/2015 17:39

Not sure I would want to the 0.5 boy Gilbo1972
Yes, you are officially crazy but we need these important facts to add to the stressing!

Seeline · 23/01/2015 18:07

DS was interviewed at T at the same time as about 6- 8 other boys (although all had separate interviews with different members of staff). The parents all milled about in a room with tea/coffee with members of staff (including Mr B) and existing parents to chat to. We were not a scholarship interview, it was on a Saturday (3 years ago), lasted about 20 minutes, and it was for 10+. They can get through quite a few on a Saturday using that approach

Gilbo1972 · 23/01/2015 18:49

Ah Thanks Seeline, that's what I thought might happen! let's see what I can worry about now!! I think Im losing the plot. Friday night and Im dry January! Grrrrr!

burntoutdad · 23/01/2015 19:48

I think interview went well, but to be honest all interviews at W are positive although no guarantee of place until letter comes I'm afraid.
Arrived home to sports call back which is a good sign but yet another hurdle for Ds to overcome after I'd told him this was the last step!

Original poster

Firefox1066 · 24/01/2015 00:04

Great news Burnt! Well done to your DS for getting the call back. I had heard the same thing that all of the interviews are promising at W.... The next 3 weeks are doing to DRAG.....

OP posts:

burntoutdad · 24/01/2015 08:57

Thanks Firefox - I remember the last time everybody posted about how positive the interview was - W are good at that! But odds seem good this year so let's not be too negative . It's hard on the Ds 's too, the long wait to hear. The other thing is seeing out the rest of the year at thier current school once they do know. Ds1 just seemed to switch off once he knew he was leaving and said that the final few months of year 5 just dragged!

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