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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....

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Cheshire1996 · 06/02/2015 13:47

To be honest it doesn't appear to have an impact at all. Boys tend to just get on with it and muck in. DS started in Summer Term of Yr7 and had no difficulty fitting in, he knew 4 boys from his previous school but quickly made new friends and when they had new boys coming in Yr9 they were quickly immersed into the group. From experience (2 of each) I think boys tend to be far more inclusive than girls and not as cliquey! It is a much larger grouping than at junior school so there is far more choice for them in their friend groupings and some of this will be common interests.

BitByBit · 06/02/2015 14:29

Yes Firefox this time next week... DS begging to open the long anticipated (hopefully not the dreaded!) letter. Have been able to put him off, as we won't be around on Friday and hoping he will forget when we get back.

Unless the letter arrives before 9am we will be half way to the ski hills.

Don't know if I will be able to withstand waiting for a week until we get back the following weekend! Probably better this way though - if it is bad news it won't ruin our holiday.

ClappedOutMum · 06/02/2015 15:04

This time last year (well 51 weeks ago today), we were off to the skill hills. I had a very nervous phone call with admissions staff from a service station at Folkestone and both Dulwich and Whitgift were happy to give me the results over the phone. (Heart was pounding whilst I was doing so though). (It was good news so no holiday ruined, but I wouldn't be able to wait.)

Good luck all.

neanananaweek1972 · 07/02/2015 19:57

Maybe I am splitting hairs, but from those who have been there before us would you say that the boys who enter at 10+ have more of a profile as they are known to the teachers when the 11+ intake happens? Also if you are not a scholar ( and there may be a lot? in a year) do they feel a bit sidelined? Overlooked?

Thanks, can't believe it's only 6 sleeps!!!

InASchoolsDilemma · 08/02/2015 11:09

I can't answer your 10+ versus 11+ question, but I thought it funny that you are questioning about non-scholars being sidelined or overlooked, because I have that exact same worry but the other way around. My academic DS is not a great sportsman, isn't musical, isn't artistic and isn't good at drama. So he doesn't have a "skill" as such apart from academically. I worry about him being overlooked!

5 more sleeps now ...

Seeline · 08/02/2015 11:32

My DS joined T at 10+. I think he enjoyed having had a years experience when the 11+ boys joined, but T are very good at giving the JBugs the job of helping the new boys settle - showing them the ropes so to speak, and he enjoyed the responsibility. Within a couple of weeks though, I don't think there was much difference. The teachers get to know all the boys quickly, and from memory I don't think he had many of the same teachers in the first year as he had in JBugs anyway.
I don't think he feels sidelined. HE was not at all interested in sport when he started but has still represented the school at rugby for three years - OK not the A side but he was still given an opportunity that he has really enjoyed. Similarly he didn't play an instrument, but because he had a nice voice (not trained or anything) he has been given the opportunity to sing at some amazing places and events. I don't think the boys really worry about scholars - everyone is part of the school.

ivegotacold · 08/02/2015 11:42

neana and inaschools. To answer query re 10+ v 11+ my ds started in w at 10+ 2 years ago. he may have had more of a profile on day 1 of year 7 but I would say that lasted maybe a month at best as the teachers quickly get to know the new boys and their particular talents. So really it makes no great difference apart from giving the boys themselves a little bit more confidence. Re non scholars being sidelined - really not an issue. At the end of the day there are a lot of boys and the vast majority do not have scholarships despite what you might think so every child gets the same opportunities. Good luck for Friday. I'm sure it will all be fine.

AllNewToUs · 08/02/2015 12:38

At W, when the 10+ boys enter year 7 they are split across all the forms and, whilst they take a bit of responsibility to settle the new boys in and show them around, everyone is pretty much in it together. Y7 brings new challenges and often a new set teachers for everyone. So some staff are getting to know all boys (10+ and 11+) for the first time.

W is great at finding new talents in everyone (I'm sure this is the same at T) and - scholarship or no scholarship - all boys seem to be involved in new activities and feel like they are making a particular contribution to the school. Inaschools - like you I wasn't sure where my DS would find his niche or begin to shine - but he's started new sports and has also been involved in lots of music (had never heard him sing before w!) and drama productions. He's also found preferences for some academic subjects that I would never have predicted. You will find that they are thrown into many new things and, all of a sudden, they find talents they (we) never knew they had. So don't worry on that front! Smile

neanananaweek1972 · 08/02/2015 13:30

Thank you allnew, ivegota & seeline! I hoped that would be the feedback and hope none are sidelined inaschools!

InASchoolsDilemma · 09/02/2015 10:16

Thanks AllNewToUs, that's very reassuring.

4 more sleeps ...

citymum3 · 09/02/2015 18:57

We are done. CLSB iv today. Tears. Was hard. Now need to persuade them to give results this week not in 2 weeks when North London schools apparently get results. Weird that North and South of river on different time frames? Had interesting chat with a parent who commented that finding somewhere that your child is still 'good' and gets praised is important- if everyone is uber genius the plain genius can be overlooked.... Sigh more food for thought.

Interested1o · 09/02/2015 19:14

Seems so long to go - but only a few days ... Good luck everyone.

ineedacoffee123 · 09/02/2015 19:34

City mum I need to persuade them too! Already had an offer and waiting for City outcome to decide . I guess tomorrow the CoL's line will be engaged.!

farewelltoarms · 10/02/2015 10:25

Citymum - my son too was very depressed after his CLSB interview. He hated the whole process, as did I, it was very cold I thought in comparison to other schools.

Let us know if you persuade them to let you know early - presumably you don't need to cough up the deposit for the other school until post state offers? I'd be surprised if they released information early as they do have an agreement with other schools not to post until the 19th.

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 10/02/2015 10:42

Soooo...only 3 sleeps until D-Day! How is everyone doing? We are starting to get nervous...very nervous actually

Hope you are all feeling better than we are!

OP posts:
tiredbetty · 10/02/2015 11:18

Very nervous here too, although DS is quite excited. I've been having nightmares for the last week, now run down with a cold bug!

Gilbo1972 · 10/02/2015 11:25

Nervous here too! (And run down with cold too TiredBetty!) Surely they must be printing off the letters today...putting them in envelopes tomorrow... walking to the post box Thurs.... Grin

citymum3 · 10/02/2015 11:45

Farewell, were you there on Monday? DS seemed to be overlooked and was very late coming out. He didn't know how they were assessed in the group thing. Do come back on to say how he got on. I wonder if schools are interested in feedback on their processes?!

farewelltoarms · 10/02/2015 11:50

No, on Friday. We had to listen to every boy's name being called before they got to him and he got in a state waiting before it even started. He felt he'd done particularly badly in the group task (for the opposite reasons to yours) but other than that said he didn't want to talk about it.

I have actually composed various emails in my head to send to the schools about their processes. Haven't written any actual ones mind...

citymum3 · 10/02/2015 11:57

Unbelievably that is what happened to us- last boy left in room after all others went off. Maybe it is special treatment reserved for the 2 who did best in the exam?

Gilbo1972 · 10/02/2015 12:53

I've just caught my postie and grilled him when he would be here Friday... 2-3pm in the afternoon!! NOooooooo.

We are going away Friday evening, do the letters definitely arrive Friday or in the past have people received their letters later than everyone else ie, Saturday, Monday etc?
(I don't really want to have to ring to find out...)

AuntieStella · 10/02/2015 13:44

"I've just caught my postie and grilled him"

That made me smile - I imagined a large fishing net and a BBQ!

farewelltoarms · 10/02/2015 13:48

Clearly Citymum, they reserve the best until last.

One of the other schools gave us a little talk while we were waiting for the kids to come out of interview. They told us how many sat, how many were called for interview and how many were being interviewed on each day and for how many days they were running, stressing that it was being done in alphabetical order so don't listen to any rumours.

I wish City could have done something similar. It all seemed so random. My son was convinced he was going to get forgotten despite my reassurances.

Gilbo1972 · 10/02/2015 13:57

Hee hee Auntie Stella, he did look a little trapped and nervous, I think he sensed the manic-ness underneath my inane grin!

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 10/02/2015 14:55

OK...so now we are close to Friday, I have a crazy and stupid question for those who have been through this process previously.

It is a question of great sociological, anthropological and philosophical importance.......

Big Envelope = Good; Small Envelope = Bad?

Yes, I know Im crazy!

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