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Original poster

ALL NEW; WHITGIFT/TRINITY/DULWICH/CATERHAM 10+/11+ 2017

748 replies

123littlepigs · 24/12/2016 01:53

Every year I have watched with interest and excitement as all of these types of threads have progressed to offers.

Finally in the same boat. The Christmas prep is wearing...And couldn't find anyone to share the experience with.... hence this attempt to start one....

Anyone else want to join? If I have missed a school... please feel free to still join in and add your school of interest.

Currently burning the night oil trying to find more comprehension material... anyone have any online suggestions?

OP posts:
Catchmum2017 · 19/01/2017 17:16

Hi Seeline,
Thanks for your reply . I am clearly told HM will not be present at all and not even any senior administration person . It will be an interaction with one of the current parents . That makes me offcourse a bit worried as to why we willnot be able to speak with anyone from the admin department at least . I understand the HM will be busy and offcourse not possible for him to speak with everyone in person . Feedbacks are being given out as tohow the children have performed at least this year and even for the forthcoming weekend interviews they have clearly mentioned that they will be able to speak to senior admin members . I am worried as I just am not sure that if he is at the bottom list and it is just a formality and the end might not be very fruitful for us . :-( we are very very hopeful for T and DS seemed to be confident about his exam too ! I am nervous

fabfortysomething · 19/01/2017 17:34

Surely they would not invite boys for interviews if they have no intention of giving them a place and it is just a formality! Afaik - and this applies to all schools - they interview the boys to look for potential, to see if their personalities will fit in with the school's ethos etc etc. So any boy who has an interview has the chance to impress. My advice would be to stay calm and not let panic or worry rub off on the boys before their interviews: they have to be as relaxed and confident (but obviously not cocky) as possible. That will determine their offers, not the parents meeting with staff.

SoupDragon · 19/01/2017 19:54

There won't be any parent interview with anyone

Trinity don't do parent interviews, they are only interested in the boys. You can make an appointment to speak to the headmaster but it is not offered as a routine thing.

Wimbles101 · 19/01/2017 20:37

Ladies a quick question - as mention DS's interview is with admissions not staff - I think we just got the standard email saying could be asked a Maths or English question - I kind of assumed we wouldn't be as it's an admissions person seeing him?
Any thoughts? Can't do any prep at this stage but would at least like to warn him of it in case it does come up?
Thanks

fabfortysomething · 19/01/2017 20:52

Admissions team = teachers.

Catchmum2017 · 19/01/2017 21:36

Thanks mums for your replies .. I panicked as the wordings were completely different than the ones send out to my DS's school mates where both mentioned that senior admission team will be happy to answer any queries and feedback will be given on their performance and mine was just to speak with one of the parents . Anyways I guess enough of speculation from my side . I have to wait till D Day and see for
Myself how it turns out to be and probably take a call from
There . Thanks fab , seeline and Soupdragon .

woodlysmum · 19/01/2017 21:40

Wimbles did your email say your DS might be asked questions in maths or English?

Catchmum2017 · 19/01/2017 21:45

Sorry forgot to mention even my email also clearly mentioned that he might be asked questions from various topics including that of maths and English but we should not try and prepare him for the same .

woodlysmum · 19/01/2017 21:55

Catch sounds to me like your son is being considered for an academic scholarship as our email and phone call didn't mention anything like that

woodlysmum · 19/01/2017 21:57

catch sounds like your son is being considered for an academic scholarship. We had nothing like that in our email/phone call

woodlysmum · 19/01/2017 21:58

Sorry for double post. Phone is being odd

sara176 · 19/01/2017 22:06

Hi, ladies
Is anyone still waiting for call back for an interview . We still waiting for a call/email.
We are 10+

Missmillsie · 19/01/2017 22:17

Sounds like we had the same letter @catchmum2017 lol

Oooh exciting if woodlysmum mum is correct and possibly considered for academic scholarship!

Anyway, we are going with the flow. We aren't doing any prep whatsoever. Ds has decided what he wants to take in and that's it. If T decide a no offer for us then it's their loss imo ☺💁🏻 Xx

Catchmum2017 · 19/01/2017 22:29

@Missmillsie - hope that's the case but somehow I am not confident .
@ Woodlysmum - if am not wrong DS's friends had academic questions last week and then a follow up on their performance with the parents and HM . Not in our case where it's told no HM presence or senior admin staff present and just a chat with one of the parents means no feedback on performance . So I very much doubt but after overthinking since the time I received the email , doing all permutations and combinations in my mind
Reading all old posts I have given up now .
As Missmillsie rightly said will go with the flow and if no feedback given then we will
See
.
Anyways goodnight lovely ladies . Thanks a bunch for your promptl responses . This forum is a life saver for
Many parents like us :-) will keep you posted post interview

SoupDragon · 20/01/2017 07:46

Can't do any prep at this stage

That is the point I think. Anyway, the questions will be in whatever of the two your DS was weakest in -both my DSs got English questions. I think DS2 may have had a short passage to read and answer questions on. Nothing too taxing.

Wimbles101 · 20/01/2017 08:13

Oh dear I'm really confused now - as I thought that was the standard email with the Maths and English bit. I really doubt he was borderline but of the two Maths is weaker and the one that he struggled with in Grammars.
Oh well I guess all I can do is warn - wondering what a possible maths question in an interview could be...

SoupDragon · 20/01/2017 08:24

It is the standard email.

I think they do the maths/English question to see how the boys approach it. It might be easier to see potential face to face than when they get simply right or wrong in the exam paper.

The boys whose parents I know all had questions in their weakest subject so I assume this is the case across the board. If a boy is equal in both, I guess they might get both, I don't know.

fabfortysomething · 20/01/2017 09:38

From what I understand, the purpose of the interview is also to see which boys have been tutored to death to pass an exam and may therefore struggle in school. So if they ask maths or English questions, they will be questions that you can't be prepared for. We were told (years ago, in an interview with another school) that they also sometimes ask academic questions when boys are really shy: it is very effective in focusing them and drawing them out. I really, really think it is best not to overanalyse and indeed to just go with the flow - which is easier said than done, of course. I fear I'll be fired if I don't start focusing on work soon and goodness know how we'll then pay for any school! Not to mention the botox and surgery I'll need to fix the panic wrinkles and effects of comfort binge drinkingeating.

Gettingthroughtheweek · 20/01/2017 10:17

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I had assumed it was just a standard email, as it seems to cover all possibilities - may or may not include English and Maths, may be 15 mins, may be 30 mins - so we're just going with it. At the tour we attended, the member of staff who showed us round did say they would use interviews to test any weaker areas, so I'm assuming they will test English for DS - but we'll wait and see. Can't prepare for it anyway - apart from trying to convince DS not to launch into discussion of his favourite video games/Youtubers if asked how he likes to spend his time (I can't imagine his extensive knowledge of Plants vs Zombies or Dan TDM videos would impress anyone!)

woodlysmum · 20/01/2017 10:50

Our email says interview is 15 minutes but be prepared to be there for half an hour. Bring an object and that's it. Not mention of any questions.
Feel a bit glum for my DS as we can't afford it without a scholarship (which was a long shot anyway), but hey there is always 11 plus.

Wimbles101 · 20/01/2017 11:43

Ladies thanks so much all for your help. Intvw went well - wishing everyone all the best of luck for the remaining process x

SoupDragon · 20/01/2017 11:58

Two things:

  1. the schools know what they are doing in the interviews.
  2. they know 10/11 year old boys inside out!

It's very difficult not to stress about these things, but in all my dealings with T it has always been clear that they know boys. They aren't out to grill theboys like the Spanish inquisition :) They want the right boys for the school and you want the right school for your boy.

Jige · 20/01/2017 12:25

SoupDragon well said!

Wimbles101, I hope all went well for your DS in the interview. How long did his interview take? Was he asked any maths/English questions. And whilst waiting for you DS (during the interview) who was in the waiting room with you, parents or any staff.

SoupDragon · 20/01/2017 13:54

It's easy to say with the hindsight of 7 and 5 years!

sbmum2017 · 20/01/2017 14:08

Hi Mums,
Has anyone got any sports recall from Whitgift for 10+ for 25th January yet ?

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