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.

shit!!! I just came downstairs from putting my younger children to bed to find I'd had a missed call from Trinity at 19:30!!! Didnt expect them to call that late - please tell me they will call back!

All the 10+ W memories come flooding back reading this thread! My advice at this nervy time is to the extent possible try not to think about the process. If you haven't heard anything yet it is not reflection of anything. There are a lot of papers to mark, calls to make and people to interview.

In our experience the W process was as reassuring as they could make it, even down to arranging for a current W boy who (an old boy from DS' former school) to take us on a guided tour of the school on the day of the interview. That really put DS and us at ease and was a small touch but really nice touch.

As has been said already, the interview itself is pretty plain vanilla stuff. DS was first up. He was asked about his interests at home and school. The school are simply trying to gauge if personality wise he would thrive at a school like W which isn't suited to all types I would say. We then had a chat with the head of lower school about where W was on our list to determine our commitment. It was nothing heavy and very pleasant.

Good luck all.

Congratulations stressedmummy - you can relax a smidgen now! Fingers crossed for those of us still waiting .

Foragogo - was going to say wasn't you tempted to call them back - but can see you noticed some time after - how annoying for you!

Yes I called back when I came down at 8.30 and it said office closed. Even more annoyingly I don't have an answer machine! I will call back first thing tommorow and hope for the best. DH keeps telling me not to worry as no decisions would be made based on whether you answer the phone or not but I'm still worried they might be annoyed.

Can I ask about sports assessments - what do they generally wear, school sports kit or own tracksuit and T shirt?

Foragogo, that is extremely frustrating but I am absolutely sure they will not be annoyed with you for not answering the phone. They probably assumed you were out - you are allowed to!

We're waiting on Alleyns - they have said they will send interview invitations out on Wed 20 Jan - so still some nail biting to be done.

Thanks Ahmed family . Wish I could relax still Trinity to go. This whole process is so nerve racking. good luck to all who are still waiting!!!!

Morning all,
Just received a letter from Whitgift not inviting my son for sports assessment and good luck with pending application for entry to Whitgift. Called Whitgift and asked when we will find out if invited to interview and the lady said letters are going out in batches. What I am wondering is can you be refused sports assessment but still have passed test and be invited for interview or should we see it as end of the road for gaining a place at Whitgift? Thanks.

"Can I ask about sports assessments - what do they generally wear, school sports kit or own tracksuit and T shirt?"

There's a mixture of candidates in either existing school's kit or own kit. Just make sure everything is named (especially if you have a scatty child) though staff will probably have a lost property pile at the end of the day, but if they've managed to strew it somewhere obscure it might be gone for good. Worth checking before you leave that you've got everything.

And do make sure they dress in layers (they'll probably be both indoors and outdoors) and have all the kit specified, especially footwear and mouth guards (as although they will have some stuff to borrow if needed, they won't have those).

Hi Ahmedfamily sorry to hear it's a new on the sports scholarship but I think your letter still sounds positive! I would imagine the standard is particularly high at 11+ For sports assessment with lots of children playing academy football or county cricket already?

Ahmedfamily - I wouldn't write it off yet. As far as I understand, they don't necessarily invite every single boy applying for a sports scholarship to the sports assessment, even if a given boy has passed the exam. They have a very high number of scholarship applications and some of those boys have very impressive lists of achievements, often in multiple sports, so they select just those who they believe would have most potential.

Thank you both for your thoughts, much appreciated.

Sorry to hear that Ahmed Family but in itself it doesn't mean the end of the road. As others have the said, they receive a huge amount of scholarship applications for sports and competition is fierce. As a guide, in the current Lower First (year 6) football A team, 8 of the 11 are academy/county standard. While the letter means that your DS won't be considered for a sports scholarship, it will not stop him being in contention for an academic scholarship, should his performance have merited it. Best of luck to you!

Ahmed family . Try not to worry too much . when I was thinking about applying for a sports scholarship my DS Head of sport sport teacher advised me that although my DS is a very talented Rugby player and excels in sport , a Whitgift scholarship would be a long shot as they only really go for those that excel at county level . So I wouldn't worry too much.

I have to say i feel I've completely underestimated this whole thing. The competition is serious. The numbers the process the ratios and probabilities the required preparation the standards needed to be in with a good chance.

And it's not just the indies it's the grammars and the good states.

Is this everywhere or just particularly the south east? There must be an easier way to get your child into a good school.

I am in total shock at all this. It'd be easier to just genetically map the children and give a yes or a no based on that.

As a city working single mum the last weeks has single handed been the most stressful and has required me pull some epic organisational, focus and mental management the same if not more than the day job and alongside the day job.

#superstressed can not wait for this to be over one way or another.

Every single New Years resolution is out the window with this

Sorry rant over.

Totally understand, I too am finding it really hard to juggle work and getting them to exams and interviews. Trinity called back of course for scholarship assessment next week (not sport) as of course everyone said they would! This process has turned me I to a mad woman.

Good luck everyone. Ahmed my understanding that a no for sports has no bearing on academic interview.

foragogo did trinity come back with a pen art, music or drama scholarship offer... Still waiting to hear

Sorry assessment ...

"Is this everywhere or just particularly the south east?"

It's usually a London issue, because of the population densities. But there are probably other places that are hotspots.

Massively relived - invitation for interview and sports scholarship next Tuesday! Phew!! Good luck to everyone else!

kidstaxidriver - YEAH!!! :)Is that for W?

This was predicted to be a bulge year at 11+ originally, but I've seen the report on Croydon state school applications which suggests that there will be a lot of empty Y7 places next September. It isn't as bulgy as expected.

Well done kidstaxidriver that must be such a relief I'm still waiting for W interview/sports scholarship update. I'm slowly going insane. Was it an email or letter?

Good luck and well done to everyone with news or waiting for news and chin up if it's not been the 'right' news We deserve medals after all this.

Now this is a first! We just got a text from Trinity saying our son has been successful and they will contact us within two weeks for an interview :) now news on Sports invite though!