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....

Yes, the interviews were a piece of cake really.

Have you seen that they've changed the T interview format for scholarships Soupy? Used to be 15-30 minute, now it is a one hour interview.

ladymuck, I remember when we went through this process T literature said the academic scholarship interviews would be around 1 hour. We weren't told what kind of interview it was when invited, and my DS was interviewed for much less than 1 hour. Mr B did not give us any indication either when we met him. As it turned out it was a scholarship interview, as we discovered on results day

Literature for 2013 entry says 15-30 minutes, and this years prospectus is different. Certainly the interview was no more than 20-25 mins though we were told when we were invited into see Mr B (he seemed v keen to know which other schools we were interested in). They arranged the interview by phone and did give an indication of how long it would be, but everyone was told the same from memory, so we didn't know until interview day, though if the interviews are now significantly longer I would have thought that they have to forewarn you (as Alleyns does for example).

All very calm and organised at T this morning. Non-verbal ds just about managed to give his name to the headmaster. There is something about him I find a little bit attractive, not enough to go into a cupboard of lust but something...

Is this a well-known and documented thing or has this whole 11+ process made me hysterical.

omnishambles I see to remember something in previous years threads pertaining to certain MNers wanting to get in the back of vans with school staff

The lengths some people will go to get their DS a place....lol

Hi. Firefox- my son was T 10+ as well and reckons there were about 10 groups with an average of 18 in each - there were 12 in his group. So about the same number as your son estimated.

Intrigued by a 'cupboard of lust' omnishambles! Is it a school thing??

*W 10+

Here it is '72 cupboard of lust from back when I was here a lot.

Apologies everyone else for lowering the tone.

Interesting at T today that they do lots of different entry points on the same day when other schools stagger them more.

Used to be 15-30 minute, now it is a one hour interview.

Both DSs had long interviews anyway.

Are you sure? T 11+ today, 13+ yesterday and 10+ tomorrow, or has something changed? It always used to be W who had more than one group in per day (now that it is offering 14+ as well as 10,11,12 and 13+ I can see why). The days are usually kept the same each year to stop schools clashing locally (though now children seem to travel further and clashes still happen).

Ladydepp, when you say that your son found the DC interview "hard" what did he mean by that? Was the interviewer not friendly or did they just ask difficult questions? My DS has an interview on Monday with them! I got a call on Wednesday which we are both thrilled about!

There was definately a 13+ candidate there today ( maybe he missed yesterdays though). But perhaps the others I assumed were 10+ were just very tiny, young looking boys. They had different coloured slips though so I assumed that was the case.

Cloe489 feeling panicked that you have had a call from DC. The literature all stated it was by letter, and up thread I had gleaned info that made me certain a letter either way would come tomorrow. Is this a bad sign that we have not had a call????
Ps been a long term lurker, hanging on Ladymuck's every word, can't believe am actually here posting having read so much and prevaricated for so long. Anyway will see what the post brings. I am like a swan calm on surface and frantic below. DH is oblivious so far as I can tell and probably does not even realise the post tomorrow is key.......

Thought it would have just been 11+ today. DS had orange slip and I worked out from range of candidate numbers at the top of the sheet that about 160 boys would have orange slips. When I rang T a week ago, admissions said they were staggering the day. I thought that meant some would come in later. DS had to be in by 9am and was asked what colour slip he had so perhaps not... am confused. Never mind. So sleep-deprived everything is confusing me today.

Citymum, not so familiar with DC, but it is common for the first day or two of interviews to be arranged by phone and then the rest by letter. Certainly no reason to despair yet!

T definitely had 13+ yesterday, 11+ today and 10+ tomorrow according to the school diary. That is what they have always done in the past as well.

According to DS, the different coloured slips were mainly to split which lunch break you would go on. He said the HM told them there were 360 boys, split into 2 groups for lunch. I saw red/orange (DS said the teachers called it lilac!!) and blue slips, and DS also saw green, so perhaps two of them were 11+ at the two different times. Not sure what the other colours were though. DS had a blue slip (applicant numbers 1511161-1511320). 15 for 2015 and 11 for 11+, I guess, so the candidate numbers are 161-320.

citymum3, I wouldn't panic yet as like Ladymuck said, the first couple of days of interviews are probably booked by phone as they need a response right away. My DS's interview is on Monday so therefore they probably needed to call to be able to book it in so soon. Don't worry as there's still time!

At T today. Our blue slip was 9.30 start but know another was there for a 9am start. Def. only 11+ Though. Thankfully DS feeling confident about how he did in the tests this time.

I guess the colours were there to stagger arrival, pickup and lunch then. Very sensible. And it worked well - it was organised well.

Nothing like the mayhem at Whitgift yesterday where I spent more than 20 minutes driving (snail's pace) through the school to get to the car park. Mud-ridden fields aside, it didn't need to take that long, had someone just come along the line of cars telling people what was happening so they could turn around if they wanted.

I am still unsure what Trinity are doing re interviews. From the letter, does it mean that they are interviewing lots and if you have applied for a non-sports schol, you have an academic interview anyway? My verbal reasoning/ comprehension skills obviously not up to scratch as finding the letter difficult!!! Any offers?

Agree T more organised than W in terms of parking and waiting. I got through about 5 cups of tea yesterday afternoon listening to the piano for 50 mins for DS. Also he looked like a zombie coming out at 4pm. Today he looked a lot chirpier when I met him in the foyer. And he'd been waiting for me for 5 mins!

Re. complicated T letter, don't get it either I'm afraid. Someone there needs to brush up on their English!

Glad it's not just me then!
Was that you omnishambles talking to Mr Bishop at pick up???