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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:
sbmum2017 · 07/01/2017 21:11

Hi SweetGrapes,

even i dont have much idea. Trinity asks for a folder to carry or something which he can talk to with interest so was wondering if the same goes for W as well. I would also like to know if any academic questions are asked or not. waiting to hear from others.

BoSelectaBigBiff · 07/01/2017 21:12

Hi woodlysmum. I'm not sure re: number of places. There are currently 3 classes of 21 in the junior year at Trinity. One of the advantages of going for a 10+ place is that if they "over offer", they can just put another class in that year, and then have a lower intake at 11+ the next year to compensate. I'm not sure how many classes they generally aim to have in the junior year, maybe it is usually just 2.

NNS03 · 07/01/2017 21:13

Hi,

Only take something if the school suggest or ask. We didn't take anything for Whitgift but a small trophy for T.

Last year we were interviewed by Mr Bishop and told that he is being considered for academic scholarship and he had a very tough interview "relaxed" but hard maths question in his interview. At Whitgift we were interviewed by deputy head for lower years and again told that he did well and being considered, his interview was easier than Trinity.

Whitgift we were one of the last ones to be called and Trinity did most of there academic interviews in the first week but it can all change again this year as they certainly did not call that quickly last year.

Hope this help Smile

BoSelectaBigBiff · 07/01/2017 21:18

RE: whitgift interviews. Last year at his 10+ Interview, DS1 had to work through a maths problem, read a passage / poem and answer questions on it, and then had some more general chit chat. So, yes, expect academic questions there. We were also "interviewed" afterwards (without DS1 in the room), so make sure you're prepared for that - try to have some questions ready!

He didn't have to take anything to W. T say to take something, but that's really just to kickstart a conversation, rather than something to be assessed, IYSWIM. T interview was a bit less academic than W, I think.

sbmum2017 · 07/01/2017 21:31

BoSelectaBigBiff and NNS03

Thanks both of you for your prompt replies and your inputs.
W has not asked anything to be taken as i did asked the admission lady who called me regarding the interview and she said nothing is needed.

So we need to prepare DS for some puzzle kind of maths now.
What is asked to the parents?
are we allowed to ask them our queries too?
I am looking for sports scholarship too for my son as well .

Trinity I am yet to hear anything but am hoping an interview call going by the positive body language of my DS. Fingers crossed.

Correct me if i am wrong but what i could make out from your replies- They really grill them- whom they consider for academic scholarship.

NNS03 · 07/01/2017 21:41

Wouldnt call it grill but think they asked him a scholarship questions as the ones at the bottom of the maths paper.

Not really as I think the questions is to try and identify heavily tutored kids but they can ask any type of question might not be maths.

Our Whitgift was tough and uncomfortable at times and T was just a relaxed chat.

Think they only call for scholarship days if they passed tests. So well done.

sara176 · 08/01/2017 00:20

Hi, all
Ds did 11plus W only , he did 10 plus last year for both W and T got through to the interview and was In reserve list for T. Haven't got any call for interview yet but well done and good luck to those who have.

havinganightmare · 08/01/2017 10:18

I would suggest that your DCs have watched some of the current Planet Earth before interview if you can. I remember my DC being asked if he'd watched Frozen Planet (I think it was that one so long ago!) and which was his favourite. It gave him something to talk about. All th interviewers are experienced about bringing out answers from shy terrified boys (and parents!) so don't over complicate it. Good to have a question to ask the interviewer as well - my DC asked about the peacocks - and still got in! Good luck. I still tremble at how stressed I was over the whole process so feel for you all. Lots of Wine. And DCs friend took something to W although not asked for so do if you want.... Good luck all.

T0nksTheCat · 08/01/2017 10:20

Missmillsie
sorry I meant he sat both T and W 11+ but speedy phone call was W....alas its promptness doesn't indicate anything significant though, I'm sure it's purely organisational as we've (probably misguidedly) applied to 4 Indies in Croydon, all with music scholarships, so there'll be endless auditions/interviews to juggle.

Last year (Trinity 10+) I got the impression that if the child was called for interview for a Saturday and without parents, it was for a standard place, the potential scholars were mid-week and with parents in tow. Not sure if that was just surmise though or whether it applies to W.

Re what to take along to T 10+ interview, last year they were told to bring anything to break the ice... not 6 foot trophies, just something to get the conversation going.. I saw boys carrying in photos of holidays, the odd medal.

Really don't panic, for DD's interview at OP (similar set-up) she took a Harry Potter baord game she'd made which looked v scrappy but tapped into her enthusiasms.. and emerged with a good result.

W 11+ interview instructions were 10 - 15 mins child, then 10 - 15 mins parent/s. "Aiming to get to know the boys so won't be grilling"; parents just informal, having only 1 parent instead of both going along won't count against them.

Seeline · 08/01/2017 10:55

Re 10+ intake at T
From memory the last 2 years have been 3 form rather than 2 form. Last year Mr Bishop said that there were just too many good candidates to turn down. I am sure that they ended up taking more than the actual number of places initially indicated.
Obviously a new Head this year so no idea how things may change.

Seeline · 08/01/2017 10:58

For interviews, the schools will normally ask the boys to bring something if that is what they want. It is normally something just to help the conversation along rather than a portfolio (unless a scholarship interview obviously), so something connected to a hobby/interest.
There are often some academic questions as well, usually related to the weaker paper. However, our experience (albeit several years ago) was that the process was generally relaxed.

BoSelectaBigBiff · 08/01/2017 13:17

Re: T interviews - I think in the past, a Saturday interview has meant you're probably reasonably assured of a full fees place, unless your DS really messes up the interview.

As a PP said, a midweek T interview can mean you are being considered for a scholarship - but can also mean that you are borderline for a place at all.

Wimbles101 · 09/01/2017 08:21

Just checking in to say hi!
Was looking for this thread all through Christmas hols and couldn't find it!Hmm
DS sat Trinity 11plus on Friday and said it was 'fine' - standard response which could mean anything.
Grammars were his last experience and he was I think relieved to find the Maths a lot easier.
Said the last two questions weren't particularly tricky - won't give too much away I think a few are sitting the exam this week. Apparently there were a lot of questions in a very short time?
Said Comprehension not hard which also makes me worry he's misinterpreted it completely as it's definitely not his strong point!Confused
Does anyone know- do we get phoned up in alphabetical order? DS surname starts with A 😬

Wimbles101 · 09/01/2017 08:22

Sorry - the 'a lot of questions in a short time' was referring to the VR paper.

panick2016 · 09/01/2017 08:25

Hi, does anyone know when Trinity start calling for interviews? I am losing sleep as all the posters DSs have said they found the paper easy and my son found it hard Sad

Wimbles101 · 09/01/2017 08:35

Panick2016 it'll be from today to Thursday I imagine.
Don't worry that he found it hard. My DS has a tendency to find stuff 'easy' and then realise he's misread the question!
As I say our last experience was Sutton and Tiffin Grammars so I think it was just the relief of it not being as hard as that! And less children!

Seeline · 09/01/2017 08:52

Wimbles there never appears to be any system for calling to interview. A case of no news is good news at this stage. Fingers crossed - the waiting is horrible.

Seeline · 09/01/2017 08:57

The T school diary indicates that interviews start on 13/1 until 1/2.
Music scholarships start on 16/1 - 18/1
Sports on 11+ 16/1, 10+ 17/1
Drama on 17/1
Art 18/1
DT 19/1
Sports recalls 11+ 20/1

Obviously these may change.....

Good luck everyone!

T0nksTheCat · 09/01/2017 09:22

panick2016 be reassured, very many in your boat. Obviously if they left out vast chunks of the test it's a bad sign, but DS always comes home giving the impression he found it hard and everyone else sailed through. As Wimbles said it's easy for the boys to misjudge.. although having said that DS went on to show us a few questions in T's VR and Maths that he'd mucked up.. and the expression on his face when he realised they were atually do-able Sad
Tis a tricky time waiting and surmising but I keep telling myself to keep a sense of perspective, even if they have really have mucked up their chances with that school, with support they really will get on OK at any half decent educational establishment and if they don't they can always change...

woodlysmum · 09/01/2017 09:27

Good luck to Mrs Patmore's DS and anyone else sitting the Dulwich exam today

Wimbles101 · 09/01/2017 09:31

I saw someone mention earlier about the so-called scholarship questions in the T exam. DS said they were both doable -
Anyone had similar feedback?

Jige · 09/01/2017 09:52

Morning all!

DS sat the Trinity 10+ on Saturday and said overall better day than Whitgift in comparison. Have to say that having the activity really helps to break-up the day.

No phone call as yet, I suppose a little early. Though at some point people will get the call from today onwards. So best of luck everyone!

Good luck to all those sitting the 11+ at Dulwich!

woodlysmum · 09/01/2017 09:55

Wimbles my son sat the 10+ and said that there weren't any scholarship exams on there?! He said a boy asked and was told there weren't any!?!?! So not sure if there were or not. He said there weren't any "hard questions" and they were all normal butHmm Confused it could be him making it up and not reading the question properly plus misinterpreting what the teacher told the boy...

woodlysmum · 09/01/2017 09:59

If you have applied for a non Academic scholarship, but they don't think your DS is a good enough standard for them call them in, do they let you know?

panick2016 · 09/01/2017 10:04

Thank you ladies for all your replies, he sat the 10+ so we didn't have any 11+ to prepare him. You all seem to have very communicative sons.....all I get from mine are monosyllable answers and shrugs! Its a nightmare trying to get any information to ascertain how the days went :)