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.

I know three offers from parents at DS's old prep that were made from DC that will be rejected (incidentally, for Whitgift, Trinity and Alleyns). All the parents involved have already informed DC of their decision.
It doesn't neccesarily help you of course because DC will have over offered but as Others have advised, if you like the school then hang on.

Very best of luck!!

Hi Berora thanks for coming back to me. God my nerves will be shot by then! Yes will keep place and check back in first week of March then.

Sorry AnotherNewt and Firefox for some reason I didn't see your messages. AnotherNewt yes we have done that let the other schools know. I know what its like now so want to clear the other schools lists too for people holding on like us. I do feel a bit guilty holding on to our second choice but have no choice really as we may need to use it. Firefox that is good news every place matters really so that gives me a bit of hope. Thank you for your good luck wishes. I hope we all manage to come out of this process with what we hope for our DC's.

Hi all,

DS will be joining Trinity (11+); we have to move and I've started looking at houses today. Was thinking something local to Trinity.

Went for a viewing in Lower Addiscombe this morning and started doubting this whole project. I wanted to be close to East Croydon as it is a very easy commute, but I didn't quite like what I saw today (though maybe I didn't looked too well). Couldn't find a cafe and it didn't look like a community.

If you are joining Trinity next year, where do you live? Maybe Beckenham is a good idea (is using the tram a good idea?) or South Croydon - but what will be the commute of DS in the mornings? Also, our budget is quite small, so Wimbledon direction is out of reach. And I want DS to have as many friends living locally and near to school as possible... I want him to have an easy life commute-wise :)

Olgius there's a parade of shops in Addiscombe inc KFC, Barclays etc...not quite a "village" feel but adequate nonetheless. Beckenham is very nice but pricier and the commute would require your DS to get a team to Sandilands and then get a bus (or walk but it's not a short walk!). Shirley is probably your best bet but I can't advise on prices

Thanks, Firefox! So from Shirley it would be a bus, and from Beckenham a tram and a bus...
Do some Trinity boys live in Shirley, anyone?

House prices around Trinity and Whitgift are not cheap and nit many come up for sale. Better to find locations you can commute to directly to school but head to find anything reasonable with current house prices as they are.

Olgius, the journey from South Croydon to Trinity is very easy as long you are near the Brighton Road - just get on the 466 bus. No changes required and it stops directly outside Trinity.

Does anyone have an update on the Trinity 10+ reserve list? Was told originally that there were 10 boys on it? Anyone got any idea whether that is still the case, or what the current number is?

194 bus goes from Penge, through Beckenham, Elmers End and West Wickham to just outside Trinity.

jgjgjgjgjg
It's really frustrating not knowing much abt the reserve list. I'm still waiting too! Did your ds sit W?

Thanks hornetgirl

olguis South Croydon covers a huge area - including South Croydon itself (along the Brighton Road/Swan and sugarloaf area), Sanderstead, Selsdon, Riddlesdown etc. Lots of boys come from the Sanderstead area and use 403/412 buses to East Croydon and change there, or Sanderstead station to E Croydon, and then bus it.
The school bus also does a run through the area.
link to transport page on the school website

We've rejected a place for w 10+ if that helps anyone on reserve list

Hi Cannons have u decided on W? Was yours a bursary offer?

Supernumerary yes he did sit Whitgift too and we have a full fees offer from Whitgift. So we will hold off on accepting that until the very last minute in the hope that a Trinity place comes up

jgjgjgjgjg - have u called again to find out where u r on the list?
R u going to try again at 11 plus or just finally except a full fee place?

seeline thanks! I am currently hesitating between:

• being closer to the fast connections of east croydon and living somewhere very near Trinity;

• living in the upper part of Shirley (nearer Arena and Elmers End) so that I can take a train to either East Croydon (for transport) or the tram to Beckhenman for shopping

• looking into south Shirley towards West Wickham - not best transport connections for me, still ok for DS

• looking further south altogether towards Purley or Sanderstead as you say. These areas I have no idea about. Are they more villagey - or not such a difference in style, still built-up areas? And what is transport like there?

There is quite a progress from being totally lost; so many thanks to all who responded

And for people deciding what to do: DS sat 10+ at T, got a full fee offer, sat this year again and got a nice scholarship.

It was a tantalising decision last year whether to do another round of exams, but Trinity was very supportive, told me where he was in the ranks which meant we could estimate his position in the cohort and be relatively 'sure' he would get at least another full fee offer at 11+

T doesn't hold it against you if you decline in order to wait a year. I think W does; and generally my experience with W was far from pleasant

Sanderstead/Purley etc not quite as built up as around East Croydon, but 'villagy' might be pushing it! The feel is more residential, and there are parks etc. Still popular with families. Local shops and supermarkets - large Tesco at Purley, small Waitrose in Sanderstead, and small Sainsbury's in Selsdon.
Transport isn't bad - lots of buses. Stations at South Croydon, Sanderstead, Purley Oaks and Purley all go to East Croydon, where the services are much better. Direct trains to London Bridge rush hour only, otherwise its change at E Croydon. Direct, fastish trains to Victoria.

I went to T this morning to attend a meeting with the new Head and liked his vision for the school. There is, perhaps, one thing worth mentioning regarding fees - Mr. Kennedy said that while he did not expect sudden hikes, it was likely that within the next five years the gap in fees between T and W/other schools would close. This is worth bearing in mind when budgeting for the next seven year of fees at T.

I was at T yesterday as well, berora! And I liked the new head too.

I was a bit concerned by the comments about the fee gap closing (not that the cheaper fees are a factor in our decision - we think DS1 is far more suited to T in any case, so the cheaper fees are just a bonus), but I did speak to Mr Bishop afterwards.

He said that fees for the coming academic year were being agreed last night, and to expect a 4-5% rise. And that since he'd been there, increases had always been 3-5%. He said that the finances are solid, and so he wouldn't anticipate any hikes in the future, but of course who know what will happen once he's gone.

But I would hope that the governing body would realise that large increases might make things a real struggle for parents, and so avoid them unless absolutely unavoidable.

We are 99% going to accept T - I'm so excited for him already!

Interesting that prospective parents have met the new head - current parents haven't!!
What's he like?

Seeline, the meeting was for offer holders who were yet undecided about whether to accept or not, so largely a marketing-type exercise + a quick tour of the school for those who wanted it.

I did like Mr Kennedy, he seemed friendly, passionate about the school and straight-talking. I had a chat with some of the senior staff members afterwards and the message I got was that they were very happy with his appointment, so I'd imagine he will have their full support. If I heard it right, his own son has just done 11+ and will start at Trinity in September, so he will have extra motivation to make sure it's a happy place for boys to learn. There will be another talk tomorrow (Friday) at 9.45am, so if you know someone who has received an offer and is planning to attend, you could always go with them for 'moral support'.

LOL, BoSelecta, was it you who asked about the 10% difference between T and W fees?

It wasn't me, no berora! But when I heard the lady ask that question, I did wonder whether she was a mumsnetter as well, because I was sure I'd read about the 10% thing on here! are you sure it wasn't you who asked?!

Seeline, Mr Kennedy did seem nice, and like berora, I also thought he sounded passionate about the school and keen to carry on Mr Bishop's good work.

The deputy head told me that out of all the shortlisted candidates, Mr Kennedy was the one who he thought would be best for the school, and also best for him on a personal level, as he got on with him really well.

I suppose they would all say that sort of thing, no matter what they actually thought, but it did come across as sounding genuine!!