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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:
Original poster
Firefox1066 · 10/01/2015 16:58

Now sitting in a restaurant of DS's choosing following his 10+ exams at T today. Unlike W, where he was content, it appears DS had a mixed day today. Comprehension was " ok", Essay was "very good", Maths was "quite easy"...BUT VR was "not good". DS didn't get anywhere near finishing but did say the questions he did were accurate.

All in all, I'm just proud that he's done his best and came out happy and content.

It's gonna be a long, long week!!!

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neanananaweek1972 · 10/01/2015 17:15

For those who have been called by Whitgift, any idea how long the interview is? No call here yet but early days ( fingers crossed!)

paleviewofhills · 10/01/2015 17:21

Re: whitgift interview - ds went in first for about 10 mins and then it was our turn. The whole thing was done and dusted within twenty minutes.

I think ds was asked to read a passage from something-or-other...God, really can't remember! Just goes to show that time heals all wounds stresses Grin

Liquorice12 · 10/01/2015 19:18

For T 11+ if unsuccessful we should hear by next Sat I would have thought as they say they post letters out by Thurs next week. W 11+ doesn't specify and as has interviews throughtout the month of Jan, it could be any time for some. From what I've read before, early interviews are no indication of anyone being better (badly put by me). Good reports should help also I imagine in getting an interview. W say that is the case but Trinity don't though as they ask for reports to be sent in hopefully it is.

Ladymuck · 10/01/2015 20:31

Waiting for the call is hard, though T will put you out of your misery by the end of the week. And there have been enough of these threads over the years that I would be disappointed if anyone doesn't realise that the order in which you get a call/letter is fairly irrelevant to the final outcome!

However if this is your first time through, you may wish to brace yourself and your ds for the playground (and possibly even online!) discussions over the next week or so. There may be some boys who will get calls and have been interviewed before you even hear whether or when you have an interview, and for nervous boys in particular it can be worth just preparing them for that. (I'm not sure whether it is just that they stand out, but it always seems to be the most confident boys who get interviewed early, leaving everyone else feeling as if they'd failed) There are always a few parents who come back from interview very confident that their son has an offer/scholarship etc but again nothing will be finalised until the letters are sent on the 12th Feb. The week after this one is also fairly disruptive as boys go back and forth for the co-curricular assessments, and we've known one child to get an interview, sports assessment, sports call back and music assessment before another gets a call for interview. Unless your dc is the only one from his primary school, it is inevitable that he will be aware of this, and you may be surprised to find that people who have never spoken to you in the last 6 years suddenly approach you in the playground to ask how it has gone.

You may find that some non-firstborn less confident children at preps are "ill" on Monday. There will be so many boys in and out over the next 2 weeks that it probably won't get noticed, and they escape the post-paper discussions. What is over-the-top for one child will help another child to get through a difficult time and be ready for the interview.

omnishambles · 10/01/2015 20:38

Ladymuck, do you know when people have to commit by? Just interested if it is before the 2nd March.

Ladymuck · 10/01/2015 20:58

No, the earliest is usually 4pm on the 2nd (Caterham), but I think T and W give you until 4th. However they will usually ring you if they haven't heard from you just to check that you are waiting for the state school results. They over-offer and need to manage their wait lists. W and T also share lists of who has applied, so their offer ratios reflect the degree of overlap.

omnishambles · 10/01/2015 21:06

Thanks once again. So if we are wait listed we will have to wait until after 2nd March. Was hoping to get it done and dusted.

Ladymuck · 10/01/2015 21:16

They move through the WL as fast as they can, but the main movement is in the 2 weeks after 2 March. Wilsons went down to 27 on their WL which gives an indication of possible number of boys who turned down Wilsons for an indie. That said most boys who get an indie offer will get an offer for more than one school, and schools will chase up even within the 2 week decision period.

InASchoolsDilemma · 10/01/2015 21:19

W interview for us too Smile

Ladymuck · 10/01/2015 21:51

Good news!

mummyinatizz · 11/01/2015 10:04

I feel for you. We did W10+ last year and got in, was a tortuous time for me, think it went overDSs head.
We had call for sports assessment before interview, as someone has said further up co-curricular depts obv get a list of those who passed or borderlined the exams then invite. We didn't get call back for2nd sports assessment but did eventually get interview invite by letter maybe 10 days after exam and after sports assessment.
10+ interview was quick, Mr Beck, spoke to DS for about 10 mins, then us for another 10 mins. DS had general chat about school and a play he was rehearsing for. We were asked why W and given opportunity to ask questions. Felt positive afterwards, but wondered if it was false optimism, obv wasn't in the end.

True the 10+ entry at W was diverse last year and I'm not sure DS would have made the grade if they'd only taken the usual 3 forms. DS doing ok, finding pace of work hard, homework not too bad, less than hour per night. We're pleased with the level and frequency of assessment and reporting, and he is loving the sport and the banter with new mates.

tammy23 · 11/01/2015 15:06

My first post. Good Luck to you all. We have two at T and the wait to hear about whether they had an interview or not was really really stressful. There seems to be no order re when you are phoned. You cant tell how they (the boys) have done from what the boys say about the entrance exams....The school is wonderful and we are so fortunate that they are both there.

olguis · 11/01/2015 16:29

Thank you all for reassurance. DS keeps changing his version of what he's completed and how well!

It's interesting that the thread this year is very different from the previous years. I wonder what it means.

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 11/01/2015 17:06

I stopped asking my DS yesterday after Maths at T changes from "quite easy" to "some hard, some easy"!

Decided that questioning further would not be good for my health!!

The upcoming week is going to be excruciating hoping for no letter from T and waiting for a phone call from W.

Lots of wine handholding will be required

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neanananaweek1972 · 11/01/2015 17:50

Come on Firefox! You know you can do both at the same time Wink

Hoping for the same combo.....Confused

olguis · 11/01/2015 18:56

haha, yes, Firefox, I also stopped asking. Sorry if you said up the thread - has your DS sat 10+ or 11+?

Last night, I ended up sitting up until am reading through 2014 and 2013 threads until wine ran out I convinced myself there was nothing I could gain trying to correlate what posters had said about DC performance and whether they got an offer. Silly!

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 11/01/2015 20:04

Ha ha olgius I have done the same... I even looked at previous years' threads today to see if anybody got calls from schools on Sunday's!!

Oh and we are 10+

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ladydepp · 11/01/2015 21:10

Cloe489 - I think my ds meant that the W interview was more of a friendly chat and in the DC interview they actually asked some Maths and English questions. It wasn't hard as in unpleasant, just that he actually had to use his brain Wink. Best of luck to your ds.

It is a good idea for you or your ds's dad to have a question ready for the Head as if it's like last year then he will talk to parents in small groups and expect questions! DH and I were a bit useless but luckily the other couples in our group had good questions at the ready!

olguis · 11/01/2015 21:22

Firefox the new height: was just taking a shower thinking: "I will relax, I will relax, put some nice polish on my face, exercise facial muscles." I then got out, dried myself, put my pyjamas on and it was only when I got to bed that I realised that I haven't washed shampoo off my hair!

The only consolation that DS seems to be in very good spirits. I certainly won't be able to do any exam now.

Cloe489 · 12/01/2015 07:33

Thanks ladydepp! I see what you mean now. For my son, probably doing some mental maths might be easier than talking about himself! lol!
What sorts of questions did the other couples ask the head? I'll try to think of some but don't have any major concerns or questions at the moment.

Will be waiting this week to hear from T and W!

neanananaweek1972 · 12/01/2015 12:22

Whitgift interview here! Any calls from Trinity yet???

Original poster
Firefox1066 · 12/01/2015 13:18

Great news neanan!

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dunesandy · 12/01/2015 13:36

My DS did 10+ at W. When I picked him up from sports hall there were about 8 rows of boys with approx 20-25 in each row. He found the maths quite tough. I can't believe from this thread that some have already been called for an interview. Speedy marking! I went through all this last year with my DD and really want him to get through so we can have a stress free Xmas for once!! Good luck to everyone.! No news for us yet.

Liquorice12 · 12/01/2015 16:09

No news from T yet, though I keep staring at the phone willing it to ring.