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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:
ukconnection · 25/02/2017 14:31

Hi everyone, I've been following this thread from the beginning but first time posting.

I have a question for any current Whitgift mums. We have accepted a 10+ offer for my son and just received the letter confirming the receipt of our deposit etc. It notes that there are 3 induction days (29, 30 & 31 August) plus 1 September when the boys meet their form tutor & other form members.

My question is are the first 3 days all compulsory/necessary? We are heading home to Australia to see family and our return flight doesn't land until late afternoon on 30 August. I'm trying to avoid having to change our flight as I'm not sure our ticket conditions make that particularly easy and if it is possible it will probably be quite costly !!

DS wants to be back in time to do all the induction but then he's not the one having to pay the airfares !! Any info would be much appreciated so we can decide what we should do.

NotJK · 25/02/2017 14:46

My youngest uses the SEN dept at W and started at 10+, a year ago, and they have been very good, no extra fees, he's now on a laptop. My eldest was dyslexic too and used the SEN but not as much and is now in second year at St Andrews, so far so good

NotJK · 25/02/2017 14:55

Regarding the induction they do like them to go but l'm sure if you explain that you already have tickets which they are paid for they would understand.

AveEldon · 25/02/2017 16:12

The first three days are optional - and you have to pay for them (for Y7 we had 2 days)
It's nice for them to meet the other boys and it was mostly sport related plus the library
Not all boys attended - some only came for 1 day

I wouldn't move flights for them tbh

PurleyDad · 25/02/2017 21:47

Thanks LIZS SoupDragon, NotJK and those that have PM me. I appreciated your advice/sharing experiences on the SEN at these schools.

In summary we’ve heard good experiences from all three schools but there were one or two bad experiences at Caterham/Trinity. Given that Whitgift was DS preference and the extra SEN support is outside normal lessons (in year 7), we hope Whitgift will be the right choice.

If anyone else wants to share their experience/knowledge you can PM or add post.

Jody867 · 27/02/2017 17:13

My eldest DS had excellent support at Whitgift - I couldn't fault them at all and we are very grateful for their efforts.. Different SEN staff since he left though. Now at Uni and receiving great support there too. Prep School support was very poor, we didn't realise that until we experienced what learning support is like when well done. Otherwise we would have moved him at 11+ rather than 13+.

Wimbles101 · 27/02/2017 18:48

Hello concerned to hear of poor SEN experience at Trinity - DS is in the process of ADHD diagnosis - not sure if that is SEN as he doesn't require extra support as he's higher functioning

PurleyDad · 27/02/2017 19:23

Hi Wimbles101 I don't know if ADHD would be SEN.

I would like to make it clear I got the impression that most parents were happy with the SEN at all three schools and would be better than a state school.

I didn't said Trinity was poor, just one or two parents out of many weren't happy. It may be there are some Whitgift parents who are unhappy but they didn't contact me.

Wimbles101 · 27/02/2017 19:56

Thanks PurleyDad yes you're right it's not really SEN as he doesn't need learning support - other than being told to sit still!😬😁

SoupDragon · 27/02/2017 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

woodlysmum · 27/02/2017 22:41

@gettingthroughtheweek have you made a decision yet? We haven't!!! 😣

SoupDragon · 28/02/2017 07:18

Have you made a list of pros and cons for each school?

Include stuff like location, gut feel etc.

In all honesty, I don't think think you can make a wrong decision as all the schools are good, especially if you are struggling to separate them. If there is nothing else to put a school to the top of the list, do not underestimate gut feeling!

Gettingthroughtheweek · 28/02/2017 19:41

Still working it through. It's the heart v head really, i.e. should we take the plunge now in year 6 and take a financial risk, which I think would work for DS, or try again next year hopefully with more secure finances. We didn't really expect to get a place this year so haven't quite got things sorted yet....a crystal ball would be very handy.

AuntPol · 28/02/2017 20:34

gettingthrough, we had full fees offers at 10+ last year, and wondered whether to have another go at 11+ to see if we could get even a tiny scholarship.

We decided to take the 10+ place and don't regret it at all. DS1 is doing really well, whereas he was bored and overlooked at his state primary.

A cautionary note to anyone in a similar position: a friend's DS1 got a 5% scholarship at 10+. They decided to try again at 11+. This year he only made the waiting list. Clearly it all depends on your finances, because lets be honest, the full fees take all our spare cash and then some, but a bird in the hand and all that...

Seeline · 01/03/2017 07:16

We got the 10+ offer from T 5 years ago following a practice sitting. we took the plunge and accepted. Like AuntPol it was the best decision for DS. He was already very bored at primary and a year of SATs would have probably ended any enthusiasm for learning left. Having Y6 at T meant his interest in school was re-ignited, and come Y7 he was straight into learning rather than having to settle into a new school. Obviously though it is a year of extra fees.

Jige · 02/03/2017 11:07

Well after much consideration, we have decided on accepting the 10+ offer from Whitgift. We love both Whitgift and Trinity for different reasons, never thought it would be this hard on making this decision. DS would fit into both schools and would do well, so in the end we let him decide, after all it is DS who will be going to the school and ultimately he's the one who has to be happy and comfortable.

So acceptance form sent together with chq, no turning back now 😬

So no luxurious holidays for the next 8 years!!!

SoupDragon · 02/03/2017 11:37

Generally, I don't think there is a wrong decision between W and T so I'm sure your DS will be happy there and you can relax having made the choice! Enjoy your camping holidays in Bognor!! Wink

Jige · 02/03/2017 13:26

Thanks SoupDragon your quite right about W and T 🙂

woodlysmum · 02/03/2017 21:24

I think we have made our decision and pretty sure we will be accepting our T 10+ offer! Anyone else joining us?

GEM72 · 03/03/2017 09:48

yep we'll be joining you Woodlysmum! We decided last night to accept the 10+ offer with sports scholarship - it was the only one we went for as it is perfect fit for him and walking distance from home, a no brainer really. Good job we like camping holidays!

Gettingthroughtheweek · 03/03/2017 11:36

Yes, I am now fairly sure DS will be joining T too at 10+ too (just got to sign forms etc so a few logistical issues to solve before Monday). It's a bit of a journey but we've tested it and he found it OK, and it just seems to have so much to offer him. We're planning on taking a lodger to fund a chunk of it....we'll see how that goes!

AuntPol · 03/03/2017 12:19

gettingthrough, whereabouts are you coming from? T might be able to tweak a school minibus route if you weren't quite on one of their existing routes - I think they tailor them slightly each year anyway when they see who wants to travel in by school bus.

woodlysmum · 03/03/2017 15:25

Yay!
Nice to see there are a few of us on here. Ooh thats fab that you live so near GEM72 - we are about 25 minutes by car in normal traffic but haven't tried it during school run.
Gettingthrough - our DSs will probably recognise each other from drama assessments :-)

Ghmum06 · 05/03/2017 10:52

Any W mums with DS who will be going to school from Wandsworth town area?

Wimbles101 · 06/03/2017 09:10

Quick question for T mums - does the school tend to cash the deposit cheque? Thanks