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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:
omnishambles · 09/01/2015 16:34

[sashays in] er no. Not guilty. It was very calm and v organised. Impressive.

Also scary. 360 boys? Lets hope they really over offer. Or have a wait list that extends after the 2nd March. We dont mind being second choice Grin

Montagueterrace · 09/01/2015 16:57

Just to echo the previous post no need to worry re DC, just checked with friend and they had a Monday interview and got an early call. Majority get a Saturday letter so keep the faith.

Seeline · 09/01/2015 17:19

Don't know about this year's complicated letter at T, but in the past everyone was considered for an academic scholarship, those that did very well in the exams would have been interviewed for one. If you have applied for other forms of scholarships, you would have assessments for those separately. Things have obviously changed a bit this year. It's unusual for a T letter to be unclear. What is the confusion?

neanananaweek1972 · 09/01/2015 17:35

'Those being invited in for any of the non-academic scholarships will be contacted by relevant departments. If you are contacted about one of these assessments, this means your son will be called for an academic interview.'

It sort of implies ( to me ) that if you have applied for a non- academic schol you automatically are called for an academic interview. Surely there must be some boys who are not high academics but excellent in these fields that will then be called for an academic interview???

I could have it all wrong of course...

omnishambles · 09/01/2015 17:52

I took it to mean that if you are called for music assessment etc you can take it as read that you are through to interview stage iyswim.

Ladymuck · 09/01/2015 17:52

Other way round: they will only call you for a co-curricular scholarship assessment if you have passed the entrance exam (though you still have to pass the academic interview as well). If you haven't passed the exam you won't be called for co-curricular assessments (or for an interview). I believe that parents will already have the dates of the co-curricular assessments and will just be waiting for calls.

Ladymuck · 09/01/2015 17:53

cross post with Omni (who is far more concise than me!).

citymum3 · 09/01/2015 18:18

Thanks, makes sense, we can't interview Monday or Tuesday due to exams so would not be getting the early interview call. No scholarship stuff to worry about- does sound badly worded. That was something that was appealing to me about the Indy schools compared with the state schools we applied for: clear, precise language in the letters and no shouty tone.

Liquorice12 · 09/01/2015 18:22

Anyone know roughly how many places at T there would be for 11+?

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 09/01/2015 18:37

I believe the numbers are something like this:

10+ : T - 45-50 places W - 70-80 places; Generally over offer around 1.75x

11+ : T - c.70 places; W - 120-140; Generally over offer over 2x

Those are the figures I have in my head but Ladymuck is the expert in this area!!

OP posts:
Seeline · 09/01/2015 19:10

At T the current Junior Form has 55 boys (up about 10 or so from last year). The current 1st and 2nd years have about 125 boys. That would match up roughly with your figures Fire. As last years 10+ was an increase though, maybe they are expanding the first year this year - who knows?

omnishambles · 09/01/2015 19:27

The more pertinent thing for us would be, how many of those 70 places do they need to be full or nearly full fee. I assume perhaps wrongly that they would have taken more full fee boys in at 10+ maybe to cover more bursary places at 11.

All supposition though, drives you mad.

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 09/01/2015 19:36

omnishambles Ive been doing the calculations (for 10+) over and over myself! Drives me insane!!

OP posts:
Liquorice12 · 09/01/2015 22:00

Thanks Firefox1066. Useful to know. As Omnishambles says though you then need to know which are full-fee places etc. You could think yourself round in circles with it all. Will try to switch my brain off from it all for a bit and rejoice in the fact of no more practice papers. Hurray!

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 10/01/2015 09:35

Just back from dropping DS to T for 10+. Very calm and orderly. Interesting that we were given a letter saying that all those unsuccessful will get a letter in the post no later than 16th January...I guess they have had feedback on previous years processes.

Good luck to all DS's (and parents) sitting T today!

OP posts:
Ladymuck · 10/01/2015 10:16

Good luck to those sitting Trinity 10+, Caterham 11+ and waiting for the DC letter today.

Trinity has always given a date for the no thanks letter - W is the one that can take its time. Alas it doesn't stop this week's wait from being a long one. Prep school heads usually have T and C exam results by Tuesday, which makes pick-ups more interesting as you try to pick up signals.

citymum3 · 10/01/2015 12:41

Panic temporarily over for me- Ds called for interview at DC.

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 10/01/2015 12:52

Woop woop! Great stuff citymum3...Well done to your DS for passing the exams

OP posts:
Liquorice12 · 10/01/2015 12:55

Just got phone call from W. DS got interview next week. Wonder what they'll ask me in parent interview. A start in the right direction!

omnishambles · 10/01/2015 13:05

Well done both!

olguis · 10/01/2015 16:08

Hello everyone,

Just got back from 10+ at Trinity. DS said he didn't finish maths (did some harder questions in the end but didn't do some other ones?!) and didn't do the last page of VR, saying that he saw other boys finishing VR. DS said comprehension was easy and he is content with his essay. Whoever knows what this means.

I am just so stressed out now. DS seems quite chilled. Does anyone with the previous years' experience knows what our chances are now? Missing 4-6 questions in maths out of 24, assuming everything else is correct, takes you down to 70-75%, what is the percentage to get to get through to an interview stage? Or this is completely obscure and impossible to predict?

Aaaaaa, help!

Also, it seems there were a lot of kids sitting the exam! DS said more than in Whitgift. He said Whitgift exams were easy. He finished VR in Whitgift, and said it was easier (though the same 100 q in 45 min).

Just going to open my bottle of wine and wait for responses. Even false hope, such as someone getting in while not have finished the paper, would help me now!

Cloe489 · 10/01/2015 16:16

Haven't heard from W yet. Do they call people over quite long period of time?
well done citymum3 on DC interview!

Toomanyexams · 10/01/2015 16:20

Ok, I don't know anything about these schools, I am in North East London, but I don't think your hope is false. Surely these tests are designed to stretch a child until they "fail." If kids are getting a 100% or near, the texts won't spread the field and help the admissions team distinguish between candidates.

olguis · 10/01/2015 16:34

Toomanyexams thank you, yes, this is reasonable! Uff, this is helpful. I have no experience with this and am foreign, so I have no idea. I am used to having exams that you should be able to achieve 100% in, but you're right, it can't be the case here.

Toomanyexams · 10/01/2015 16:52

Yes, these aren't "qualifying" tests where everyone can theoretically succeed, but instead they are "competitive." It's a tournament.

Pretty rough for 10 year olds.