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....

Thanks Ladymuck for cheering us up a bit on the Saturday interview issue! What bothered me is the fact that T. just gathers large number of parents/boys in one day, and interviews seemed to be based on random topics, not on the exam... but hopefully, like you said, there were no issues to discuss & hopefully it does not mean that the school is not that interested in our DS.

I assure you that if the school were not interested in your son, he wouldn't have made the interview list. Equally they don't like saying no to people, and so where candidates are more borderline they do take more time.

I appreciate that this may feel as if it is close to the end of the ride, but you really ought to brace yourself for the next loop of the rollercoaster once the letters arrive on the 13th. And of course there will be an opportunity for you to visit any school one more time after that as you make your final decision.

With interviews it also obviously depends on the interviewer. Our latest and previous could not have been more different. First one was the hard sell that all new parents get (it is a business after all), Ds was asked questions about his English paper (weakest subject) and why whitgift type questions. We were asked if he 'was ready'. Second time interview was slightly longer and some more searching questions about Ds. Ds was asked some maths questions (his strongest subject) and some deep philosophical type questions - which we gather were asked to test a general awareness.
Both same school but different style and technique, so difficult to read anything into.

Reading the posts from yesterday, I too feel a bit flat after the excitement (not sure DS would call it that !) of the last few weeks. And also, my view on these schools varies with each visit.

Loved Whitgift when we saw it, how can you not? Red bricks, prefects in capes, amazing facilities. Trinity a less known option but one we had to look at as they are always discussed together. Not a looker from the outside but a good feeling when you go inside and amazing facilities too.
Coming back from the interview at Whitgift, I was taken aback at how much I wanted my DS to go there and DH was also suitably impressed.
BUT... I do worry slightly where the direction will be in the next few years. I hadn't realised that the boarding option was so new and that a significant hike in fees occurred to pay for/ fund it. From reading on the Whitgift website, two new boarding houses are planned and I assume they will be funded through overseas/boarders but also another (significant) rise in fees. I think I have read also that Dr B wants to appeal to more overseas students who pay more but worry about the affect on the current students.

Probably I am splitting hairs but as it is a MASSIVE commitment I do worry that my heart will take over from my head and if the thick envelope comes through from Whitgift, I will be signed up before I can say 'flamingo'
Trinity seems the safer option and a great one, I hasten to add, unless Mr B is planning boarders too!
Whichever way this goes, I think we can all say that we haven't gone into this with our eyes closed and we just want what is best for our DS. In my day there was none of this and you went to the nearest comprehensive, and I seem to have turned out OK......

neanananaweek1972 - I have heard no reference to future boarders at T. I think they went down the co-ed 6th form route to mark them out as different.

Know what you mean neanaana.about opinion of the schools changing. I feel the same. Was very pro T and still am but interviewing process at W was much nicer and warmed to it a lot more. Useful to know from Ladymuck that we can see the schools should we get an offer from them. I still feel I would like to meet more of the teachers..I just have a hazy remembrance of a few of them from each school. After all they're the ones that will be inspiring our DSs. Also familes I know whose sons go to W and T never say anything negative about either of them as obviously the right choice for them but doesn't make it any clearer for me which might suit our DS!

The vast majority of ds' teachers at W have been fantastic - and there's very little turnover which is good as they really get to know your child. Obviously there's been one or two over the years who he's not warmed to (and vice versa) but on the whole I've been really impressed

Funnily enough we were swaying towards T initially - it seemed more down to earth and less pompous and Mr B was approachable and obviously going to be v effective - was new in post back then. However the exam and interview process completely changed our minds and by the time the thick envelopes came it was obvious to all of us which school was the best choice for ds

Boarding isn't that new at Whitgift in one sense. They had a much smaller set up for a few overseas 6th form scholars who lived in the "White House". Obviously the move to a full boarding house was a large investment, but there were a small number of boarders on site for quite a while previously, in contrast with Trinity, so I would be amazed if Trinity ever ventured down this route, especially with a co-ed 6th form.

That's good to know about boarders at Trinity. It was only a thought ...

Interesting Basildon.

Been reading your threads. With regards to boarding it was agreed that Whitgift would get the boarding and Trinity the girls in sixth form. I have one who is not particularly sporty but has really excelled at W in all fields and really can't say how pleased we were with all the things the school has offered. He entered as a relatively quiet, shy child and is now described by others as a "fine young man". We're also going through the process with our second son, time will tell!

Hi all,
Been radio silent for awhile - mostly because I couldn't remember my Mumsnet password to log in! But have been keeping up with the thread.

Am getting ready for 10+ interview at W this afternoon. Thanks to everyone who has written about their interviews. Great to have some idea from this year how interviews are going. We have friends whose boys are currently at W but their interviews were 6 years ago now so not as relevant.

Fingers crossed that it goes well. DS getting sick of me making him sit down and be interviewed. Picking him up after lunch and really hoping he has managed to keep his uniform clean.... Should have packed him a dry sandwich with nothing that would stick. Am definitely more nervous than he is.

In the end we are telling him to be himself, weird hobbies and all.

Good luck Bit. I took a school jumper with me when I picked DS up incase lunch had done it's worse, plus a peppermint incase he'd eaten something strong at school lunch!

Had the W interview yesterday and it couldn't have been more relaxed. Nothing too technical for DS and just questions to make sure he was suited to the school, best subjects, interests etc. For us it was equally relaxed and just a friendly informal chat. LOVE the school, its ethos and the fact that all the boys we meet are polite, helpful and just... Normal! Don't worry about the interviews - they do everything to put you at ease.

Funny how this thread ebbs and flows! After the exam its the nervousness of waiting for that email/call/letter and now we face the excruciating wait for two and half weeks.

Looks like DS will be one of the last to be interviewed at T (tomorrow) and based on it being on a Wednesday it could well be that he is a borderline or scholarship case.

I still think W would be best for DS but Im also trying to work out what one gets at W that justifies the 20% fees differential??!! yes I know peacock feed is expensive!

*20% fees differential over T

Indeed, Firefox1066, it has gone quieter here which is natural, I guess - a bit of the calm before the "storm" (of post-letter-arriving date posts). Good luck tomorrow at T.! I was wondering if Ladymuck or anyone else could kindly tell a bit more about visits to schools (post offers date) - I did not know that was possible. How are those arranged and what reasons for the visit stated by parents? I was not able to attend W., RR & T. open days this autumn (only DH & DS went) so it has been a while since I visited them.

A lot of parents will have clear, possibly longstanding, preferences, and when the letters arrive have no qualms about which school they'll be accepting. But for first time parents in particular, some will have tried to keep a very open mind, waiting to see what offers arrive. For any of these schools, just phone the admissions office and ask if you could have another look round as you make up your mind. If there is a particular aspect of the school that is of interest, then it is worth flagging that up. You should also get a chance to talk to one of the senior members of staff and this is also a chance to ask about your son's performance. Some parents will want to know where in the cohort their son might be.

It certainly isn't a compulsory step, especially if you already have a preference. Typically whilst the schools give you until after 2 March to decide, in practice if you haven't made contact within the first week they will probably phone you (but don't read anything into it if they don't - I simply can't remember which did, and which didn't!). But you are potentially about to invest a significant sum, and any school worth its salt will be happy for you to come and kick the tyres again. I think I've heard of boys being able to try out lessons at T, but suspect that was unusual (but both these schools already have forms of year 6 boys, so it is of course possible).

It is also possible to visit the school, or talk to the head without having to take your son round again (ie just as a parent). But I think that you do end up viewing a school differently once you have an offer (and a request for a cheque!) in your hand. Some parents have also engaged in a certain amount of negotiation over offers. I guess if you read back over the 2012 and 2013 threads you'll see some of this (I'd dive into those threads after 14th February though unless you have a week or two to spare).

If you need an extra day or two to decide once state offers are out etc, then again, do talk to the schools and let them know.

Many thanks, Ladymuck for taking time to explain about post-offer school visiting - very much appreciated! I had no idea you could still take another close look at the school before making a decision and as for trying out lessons at T. - wow, what a great idea, especially, like you said, if they have Y6. Not sure if they would welcome a flood of such requests but wouldn't it be great if it was a common practice for schools themselves - sort of try before you buy!

I have heard that they are interviewing at T until next Monday Firefox

Oh wow! neanana that's later than usual isn't it?

I don't know actually but yes, it does seem late!

Had DS's interview today at W 10+. Left the interview loving Whitgift more than before (didn't think that was possible!). Interviewer lovely and put DS at ease immediately for which I was grateful. Seemed like a v. short interview for him and not all that long for us either - usual questions, why W, how would he get to school etc, so nothing we weren't anticipating. Our letter said that he would be asked academic questions but he wasn't. I had expected some Maths questions at the very least. He was asked however if he had been tutored. He hadn't been - but wondered if they were asking if he had been tutored because he had done well, because he had done badly, or just to see if his untutored results indicated future potential.

As others have said all very positive, but won't know for sure until Feb 13 - and am aware of past Mumsnetters having had v. positive interviews but then being dissappointed and so am necessarily tempering my enthusiasm and positive feelings!

As others have said, feeling flat post interview with 2 long weeks of waiting now until we see if we will be offered a place or whether we need to order more books for 11+

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what a good scores look like in Maths/ English/ VR as a percentage or standardised score? For example - do W have a mimimum cut-off percentage wise for Maths or English? I have heard other schools set a cut off of a certain amount out of 140 on the VR test. It would be good to have an idea what well and very well mean to W in reference to the tests. Otherwise, no tangible idea how well he did...
(did read a VR score upside down - hence the question on VR

I believe W mark the VR first and if the scores aren't good enough don't mark the rest of the papers, unsure how true, but it would make it easier when you have 650 10/11+ papers to mark!

I have heard something similar to Cheshire except that the VR is calculated differently than a simple percentage.

I was told that the schools value accuracy over speed, once a certain level is hit. For example, the W VR at 10+ is 100 questions in 45 mins. I was told that W expects AT 45 of the 100 to have been answered. This is essentially a "hurdle", thereafter, they mark the percentage correct of those attempted. So if someone has attempted 60 questions and 59 are correct, they will have scored 98% and not 59%