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....

Huge congrats to everyone who made their happy choice and those who are on waiting lists - hope you get your choices soon as many places will be released, I hope, like our Grammar place will be available to someone. We in the end decided to choose T. over our first choice Grammar place that we received. I must say it was really hard to give up a place in one of the top 5 in London and free (!) schools but we felt that, taking many factors into account, T. would suit our DS best. We really like everything about it, and the tour a week before was great helping us to come to the decision - we hope it is the right one. I guess I will be lurking or posting on this or following years threads as have DS2 to go through it all again! Thanks so much to many helpful contributors to this thread, especially those parents whose DSs or DDs already at schools that were discussed here - your advice was really appreciated.

It seems that people are settling with their choices and fewer are posting here. Will this thread come to an end or will more topics arise, I wonder?

dunesandy my DS started W at 10+ last year, and I reckon more than 90% of boys attended the induction days. My DS did and loved it.

mum3074 The threads often come back to life after new boys days, when uniform is being bought, and at the beginning of September when further questions arise
Welcome to T !

Thanks seeline! Glad to hear this thread is not close to death just yet!I'm looking forward to all more enjoyable "starting new school" things like getting uniforms, induction, new parents meetings etc. It would be a pleasant change after previous months of stressful nailbiting wait & uncertainty.

We're in the same boat, mum3074. We've also given up a place at DS's first choice grammar for T. It's going to be a struggle financially, but T suits DS better and we decided that the extra-curricular opportunities are worth the costs.

It was hard, wasn't it InASchoolsDilemma to give up a free place for a paid one. But at least we had a choice, we were surprised with how many in our primary sadly did not get their preferred choices and were offered schools they were not keen on or never even visited! Very happy about DS going to T., always wanted it most, but like you said it is not going to be easy financially...

InaSchoolsDilemma and Mum3074 we have also chosen T over other options for DS as it just felt so right and we are 11+, not sure about your boys but think they are too.... I am excited and nervous about such a big step for him and such a big step (financially) for us. We are now debating the language options which should be fun......!

Glad you've chosen T Mum, InaSchools and neananana. Debating language options too neanan! Perhaps we should all wear an item of red or some other distinguishing mark on June 20th and have a meet-up! Then again understand if you'd all rather stay annonoymous.

Maybe there should be some kind of discrete Mumsnet badge we could wear on the day to identify ourselves!
Yes , even meeting up before the big day so the boys might know someone would be good from our point of view!

Traditionally the MNers wear something with a peacock theme....

Glad to see so many people have settled on their choices and can look forward to September. Friends of ours have seen movement on the W waitlist.

We have chosen a grammar instead of DC & W with scholarships, as DS doesn't mind whichever school, as long as there is a great science lab and a good size campus. So, we just go for the free one. We can save lots of money, and, he doesn't have to make commitment to "the school musical life" if he suddenly would like to spend more time on something else on day.

Good luck to all the boys in their new schools!

Fantastic to hear all the choices people have made and now everything settling down. This thread no doubt has slowed down but the next flurry of activity will be around uniforms (I already have a gazillion questions myself!), new parent evenings and in our case Lake Garda trip!

As we approach 1000, I just wanted to thank all of you for your support throughout all of this process. We should be spoiling our DC's rotten as they have achieved amazing things and I reiterate what I've always said which is they are ALL fantastic schools.

Lastly, to all of my W 10+ brethren.... See you at the New Parents Evening... I'll be the guy handing out laminated copies of my peacock consommé recipe!

Indeed Firefox1066 - nice to hear of people settling with their choices - we all on this thread (and those on previous similar ones) been on a bit of a journey and it was great to share worries or clarify questions with people who understand. Hope to see you all, T. mums, at the parents meeting - not sure about the peacock badge for T. parents, though, ladymuck

No Mum - peacock accessories are not the done thing at T

How about something musical for T mumsnetters? Treble Clef earrings or something!

For any t parents out there.... If you choose a language for the 1st year, and have another assigned to you, do they change at the end of the 1st year or they continue those languages up to year 3? Not clear if there is any chance to change and try something different. Thanks ??

Neanana the languages determine which class your son will be in and they do those two languages (at 11+ entry) up till the end of Year 3. When we joined we were invited to pick both languages although the second one wasn't guaranteed, if I remember correctly. The timetable and staffing requirements would be too complex to allow for new beginners after Year 1, so I think it very unlikely you'd be allowed to change. But there may be leeway, so it's worth asking the school.

Recognising fellow mumsneters at T follows a well-established tradition. First, you send your DS to school with a packet of Pombears with strict instructions to display them prominently at break time. Your DS then must look out for other boys bearing pombears and discover these boys' names AND surnames and report back to you. You then comb the T diary (which includes a list of names and forms - bit like an elaborate wordsearch) to shortlist the potential Mumsnet candidates. At new parents evening you arrive 20 min early and then hover round the name labels. As long as everyone follows these instructions, you should now easily pick out fellow Mumsnetters because you're all milling around 20 min early. As backup, a Mumsnet scarf worn wound twice anti-clockwise round the neck, waist or ankle is another discreet signal of fellowship.

Asterisk, I was planning on making a hat made from naice ham.

I do actually own a pair of Treble Clef earrings Fossie (circa 1989).

Wow. I am so surprised a number have opted for indies over grammar school offers. They are the same. It's accepted education fact that it is the Head and the peer group that makes the school and the child's experience. Look at Chief Inspectorate reports. Trinity et al may offer s.t star if children are sports or music superheroes but if not, they do not. One can buy-in a huge amount of extra curriculum material at a fraction of the fees. It's a no-brainier. £120k. If you have the chance of St Olaves or Wilsons etc. take it!!! They'll get better Russell Group and Oxbridge offers too.

mikejan21 Its all down to parental choice and preference. For some parents, money will be the deciding factor, while for others it will a while host of other factors that they deem important.

There's no right and wrong, except ensuring that one's child is in the best environment for them to thrive.

*whole.

...and with that, we have reached 1000 posts!! I will start Part 2!