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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:
Anxiouslywaiting1 · 11/01/2017 18:39

Well done all the DSs with interviews. Please let us know how they get on x

Positivelyinclined2017 · 11/01/2017 20:05

Well done all of you who have interviews👍 Post some prospective questions as that's always a worry, especially if our DS's are shy boys.
It must take a while to mark all those papers especially as there seemed to be hundreds of us there. Anyone know how many did the tests? Both at T and W?

sbmum2017 · 11/01/2017 21:08

Still no calls . I am thinking of calling them up tomorrow afternoon just to check with them . Some of my DS's friends got call today afternoon and they are all for sports/music assessments next week . Few who have not applied for any non academic assessments are yet to hear anything.. since we have applied for non academic scholarship assessment and no call at this point is making me extremely nervous and confused Confused . DS seems to be confident and with every day passing my confidence is diminishing .
Anyone who has applied for non academic scholarships and still waiting to hear ?

Missmillsie · 11/01/2017 21:16

Sbmum, we are non academic scholar and still waiting. We are 11+ though.

Try and stay strong! They have so many papers to get through. I'm sure tomorrow will be the day 😘

Wimbles101 · 11/01/2017 21:24

Sbmum17 we are a non-academic too for music 11plus.

Trying to stay calm - not feeling it though😳😳

Gettingthroughtheweek · 11/01/2017 21:24

We also applied for a non academic scholarship (drama) at ten + for our DS, and haven't heard anything. I'm trying to hope no news is good news .... but may have to face reality soon!

sbmum2017 · 11/01/2017 21:27

Thanks Missmillsie,
For your kind support .
Feeling bad for my DS who comes back from school every evening and looks at me with a question that " Did you hear from T yet? " On a negative reply he immediately responds as no problem we will hear from them tomorrow . His confidence makes me more nervous sometimes that if it's a negative then he will be heartbroken and between Now and Friday we have just tomorrow left . .:-(
All the best to you too ! Hugs x

sbmum2017 · 11/01/2017 21:30

Thanks mums for all your prompt response and support . I don't know about the end result but in the past few days the way we all are helping each other coping with the demands and pressure that's highly commendable . Thanks to everyone for that .

Missmillsie · 11/01/2017 21:32

Aww bless him sbmum, kids are so resilient though so if it wasn't the result you hoped for a better road is just round the corner. Does that make sense? Lol
I've been chatting to DS about how it does not matter at all if he doesn't pass. He done his best and that's all I can ask for. Although I am mega curious and anxious to know I'm also very aware that it's possible that he will be one of the ones that hasn't managed it so I've been making sure I have positive thoughts about the schools on his CAF form and reassuring DS that he will be amazing anywhere. X

woodlysmum · 11/01/2017 21:50

We applied for drama 10+ so getting worried. Not convinced my son is experienced enough for it though- so wanted to know if they let you know your application hasn't been successful. Has your son done lots Gettingthroughtheweek?

fabfortysomething · 11/01/2017 21:53

Thanks for all the kind messages of support - good luck for interviews for those who have heard and to those who haven't: please hang in there. There is a long time to go until 1 Feb. We waited two weeks to hear from W with DS1 four years ago. I do wonder about the process: I prefer Caterham, doing the interview first, or schools like RR who do it all on the same day. At least then you feel your child has had a fair hearing. Also CHS - great job on a swift process, finalised before Christmas. The anticipation of an interview call and uncertainty will drive anyone to Betty Ford!

Gettingthroughtheweek · 11/01/2017 22:03

Hi woodlysmum - glad we're not alone...no, not that much drama experience here; it's a very long shot - but he loved the school, so thought it better to try than not. But he knows there's another year to try if this isn't a success, and he's learned a lot from giving it a go.

ChocolateWombat · 12/01/2017 07:47

I don't know why these schools do it as a phonecall. It would be much better if they sent a letter or email and clearly identified by the day they would be sent/received in advance, so that everyone has certainty of hearing at the same time. For them to make the calls is a huge task, which seems unnecessary and to add to stress.

The schools we are going for send letters about interviews. We received an email on Tues this week saying that they had enjoyed meeting the children at the exams last week and we're now looking at all the info they have (results and references) and would be posting letters at the end of the week saying if candidates were successful in getting to the interview stage, with dates and times, plus dates and times of any relevant scholarship assessments. Whisky we still have to wait to get that letter, at least we've been informed when something is coming and will all get it at same time. I assume that the 'no' letters are sent too, as they don't do a wait list.

Good luck to everyone waiting.

SoupDragon · 12/01/2017 07:58

Thing is, they've been doing it like this for years and years so it must be the method that works for them. They phone some early to get the process started immediately (and I believe there is no reason behind whether you get an early phone call or not).

Wimbles101 · 12/01/2017 09:22

Have to say it's probably time they updated that process. Knowing that some have been called and others haven't leaves you in limbo for about 3 weeks!
I'm definitely calling tomorrow if I haven't heard. DS deserves to know - he spent all Christmas preparing and it's awful for them at their age to be put through this whole process when they are quite frankly all equally worthy!
Sorry rant over !Grin

woodlysmum · 12/01/2017 09:43

I feel sick!!
I just want to know if he has got a drama assessment or not. Need to rearrange DS2's orthodontist appointment if so!
Sbmum- did your son's friends just get interview invites or their music/sports invites too?

sbmum2017 · 12/01/2017 10:37

Hi woodlysmum,

Not sure about the sports / drama assessment I think letter or email
Is posted out separately. The 3 of them I know of , have just got their academic scholarship interviews next week .

woodlysmum · 12/01/2017 10:47

Thanks sbmum!
Oh wow so they have been told they are "academic scholarship" interviews as opposed to just an interview?!? I didn't think they had done that in the past.

LIZS · 12/01/2017 10:57

I don't think they make that distinction in a letter/call, parents may be making an assumption.

sbmum2017 · 12/01/2017 11:00

I am not too sure about that woodlysmum . I guess they must be meaning an interview which the parents must be considering as academic assessment . No idea .
I am more concerned about not hearing from T yet . Ideally can we call them today just in case ?

Wimbles101 · 12/01/2017 11:31

sbmum2017 my DH was suggesting the same - just don't want to come across as 'that parent' iykwim...

SoupDragon · 12/01/2017 11:43

Have to say it's probably time they updated that process

But you have no idea how it works behind the scenes or why they've chosen that as the best way to do it. I get it. I've been through it twice. The reality is that you're in limbo until mid February anyway - you will, no doubt, be staking out the poor postman and stressing about size of envelope! :o

I only found out at my interview with the T headmaster that they were considering DS1 for an academic cholarship. I don't think there is any way to tell before that. IIRC, he said that the interviews show up those with potential rather than those that were hot-housed and the scholarship decision is not made until after than.

SoupDragon · 12/01/2017 11:46

I'm not sure but, with DS1, I think I did it without a MN thread and I think it was actually less stressful than when I was on a thread going through it with DS2! Of course, there was no one to jump for joy with either...

SoupDragon · 12/01/2017 11:48

I think it's perfectly reasonable to phone and ask when you should hear about non-academic scholarship assessments. They might not be able to tell you anything specific to your son but they should be able to say when you will hear by.

Seeline · 12/01/2017 11:50

HAve to say I wasn't aware of the MN threads when my DS went through it either, and agree that it probably reduced the stress. I wasn't really sure of the process at all. Was really surprised by a phone call the following Saturday, giving us an interview appointment! Coming from a state primary it wasn't discussed at school at all either. We only knew that others had applied when they turned up on exam day - and as that was for 10+ there weren't many of those, as most state parents aren't even aware there is such a thing.

Process may change next year as the new HM at T may indeed agree with all of you, but too late for you all to benefit Wink

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