ALL NEW; WHITGIFT/TRINITY/DULWICH/ALLEYNS 10+/11+ 2016

[MrsPatmore]

Thought I'd go ahead and start. Found the old threads really interesting and would welcome ongoing input from those who've been through the whole process.
Ds in Year 5 and we are looking at a mixture of grammar schools and indies for 11+ Whitgift recommended this year - we've been told there is a drive to raise academic standards. We're going to the Open afternoon on 10th Nov.

Ladies,

New to MN but just to put you're minds to rest a little over the weekend. I knew 6 boys last year that were interviewed by W all got offered a place.

These boys were a mix of state school & prep, some decided to go the grammar route.

Some of the boys were interviewed on day one and some nearer the end of the process. It didn't seem to make a difference as all go offers.

Thank you Fruitbat05 that eases my concern somewhat as I still wait to hear from W and with a no from DC. I'm in for a LONG weekend. Especially as I'm taking the DS to W tomorrow for his usual performing arts session there and will see the boys going in for interviews. Happy Friday all

Fruitbat05, it's very kind of you to post this, it is going to lessen my anxiety over the weekend somewhat. All this waiting is exhausting, so thank you! Have a lovely weekend!

Enjoy your wine & best of luck to all!

Thank you Berora. It's just me over thinking things. I also read something somewhere regarding Saturday interviews and wasn't sure. An interview is an interview at the end of the day - all of them an opportunity for our children to prove themselves - best of luck every one!

Sissieisstressed - in our letter it says not to bring anything with him and that he will be asked some questions, some of which may be related to the answers he gave in exam.

Ahmedfamily - thank you! Ours says exactly the same but I was starting to over analyse it and worry...

I think we are all guilty of a bit of over analysing in this stressful situation we are in! Good luck with the interview

Snow is pretty bad here! Do you think Sports scholarship days will go ahead? for tomorrow and Tuesday

Really sorry to hear the news about those who have not been offered interviews - it is heartbreaking after all the hard work but hopefully the work will not have gone to waste and there will be a school place out there! There seems to be quite a bit of shuffling after 1st March when the state school offers are out.

We are plugging away with the preparation (there has been a 'January Dip') - hope the dip doesn't happen next Jan when we'll be doing it all for real.

For those of you sitting for the grammars too, did you do mock tests? If so, were they helpful for the independent school tests?

Where are you NNS03? We are in Wandsworth and it hasn't settled here at all

DS at his Sports Assessment right now swimming. Am so nervous for him

Sports assessments tend to go ahead (because of the consequences of making offers late).

They'll bring activities which should have been outdoors on frozen grass on to AWP, and if that frozen too then indoors; making it more skills and fitness based if necessary.

He's won three of his four races and come second in the other. DH was allowed to sit and watch. Am so proud of him

MrsPatmore, DS sat the grammars and we did Sutton grammar mock which I felt really helped him get through the SET. Sutton mock was all multiple choice, so probably not that relevant for independent schools, though. If you're after a standard format mock, a good selection of mock tests is run out of Glyn school in Ewell, they do them for Y4 and Y5 children (so 10+ and 11+). The number of children doing the Glyn mocks is much smaller than Sutton mock so you don't get a reliable benchmark, but they offer English, maths, VR and NVR, so useful for independent schools. Also, you can book 4 different tests to be sat on one day, which I though was useful ahead of the whole day of tests at Whitgift. I'm not sure we are allowed to post links here, but if you google Glyn 11+ mock you will find it.

Provencalroseparadox; good luck to your DS, hope they enjoy the day! Are you doing T tomorrow. It is all a bit full on, one day after the other. Fingers x for both.

Provencalroseparadox, well done to your son. I hope the rest of the day goes well for him, too. Looking at the time-stamp of your post - gosh, looks like he had a very early start - 7am? Which school is that?

It's Whitgift 10+ assessment. Not doing T, didn't even think of it but will look for next year if we don't get anything this year.

He's much more of an individual sport kid: swimming, gymnastics, martial arts. The team sports but might let him down but he's given a good account this morning.

DH stayed or the Head of Sports presentation which he said was totally inspiring!

Fingers crossed, Provencalroseparadox. If you DS is a very good swimmer, I imagine he will do well in all their fitness tests, too, so maybe the team sports will not matter that much at this stage. From what I know, swimming is important at Whitgift; I know a boy there on a swimming scholarship - the only downside is the training sessions are at 7am, but he seems happy with that.

He certainly wasn't the fastest which was a boy in another heat but hoping they take into account that the other boy swims 6 mornings a week whereas DS swims once a week. Hoping they can see potential. Who knows!

He got to have breakfast with the swimming squad and then the others boys he knew arrived at 9am so fingers crossed for him.

I'm sure he will do well. You will have one tired boy after all this tonight!

Yes he will be exhausted. Looking forward to cuddles

NNS03 good luck to your boy too

He's shattered. Team sports not so good and silly things like not putting his footy boots on. Hey ho

NNS03 have you had an interview letter yet? We're still waiting and it's making me anxious