Dulwich college 11+

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Hi - just wondering if anyone who sat DC 11+ this year has received an interview offer yet? Our DS is state school primary. Aware some children from the private primaries have received interview offer. Curious as to whether any state school families have? Thanks!

Don't try to coach for an interview beyond suggestions like "if they ask about you favourite book, which is it?" "which book that you've read recently did you like best?" "if you are asked to talk about your favourite sport/hobby, which would you pick?"

This is so that you minimised the chances of a 'rabbit in the headlights' moment, where he has to drag something up on the spot. But you don't tell him what to say. You could follow up those sorts of questions with "why?" - again to to try to script or improve the answer, but just to get him used to talking about that kind of stuff out loud.

BTW, if either you or he is asked about how many other schools he's going for, remember that the answer helps registrars gauge the number of offers to make (not who they make them to) so give the answer and use it as a springboard to say what you love about this school

From experience with 11+ interviews & DC - gaining an interview means your son has done extremely well and they already know what he is capable of. At interview stage - let your DS be themselves- let them talk anything from topical news events, recent books read - or favourite author (& why), extra curricular activities , sport / music interests, hobbies.

Dulwich staff are incredible, down to earth and really know boys & often have their own boys (so understand) and will make the boys feel relaxed. Our DS loves the school and is thriving. Good luck to all.

@MrsHGWells thank you for the information. The invite to interview just mentions a general chat on what DS likes doing outside of school. On the website it mentions that interview questions may include those of an academic nature. Does this occur?

@Daydreamscometrue yes questions can become academic although Dulwich’s written tests do cover an extensive array of skills , an academic questions may test one area vs another, in the event there was a marginal score; eg test the weaker area; the interviewers will be kind and warm, so will be aiming to simply get to know your DS and what type of boy is he, and interested or inspired by.

@MrsHGWells Thank you! We are really thrilled that he has an interview with Dulwich.

Has anyone had a Dulwich college 11+ I review yet? How did it go? I was wondering how long the interview was. For some reason I was expecting Dulwich college interviews to be slightly more in-depth and longer than schools who interview 100s of candidates as they said they only interview160 boys. I hope they have gone well for those who have already been.

@MaryBoppins DS had his this morning. DS really enjoyed his time there and was interviewed by two science teachers who discussed the interests he'd listed on the form he filled out on exam day and asked him some abstract questions.

@MrsHGWells do you know if they just post outcomes or also email?

@Daydreamscometrue Thanks for the reply. Aw, I'm glad he enjoyed it. We haven't had ours yet but he is looking forward to it.
How abstract are we talking..?! How did he cope with that?! Any academic questions..? How long was the interview?

@MaryBoppins No academic questions. The interview was around 20 minutes as is said in the email. Abstract in that he was give a word and asked to suggest what it meant to him. He had something similar at Whitgift about uses for a paperclip.

@Daydreamscometrue Interesting. Ok. Thank you. I asked my son what he wrote on the form and he can't remember! This is our local school so I am hoping it goes well as the commute would be 15 minutes 🤞

Hi - has anyone asked the school whether results will be sent via email as well as post? And is today definitely results day? Wishing all the boys well :)

I assume email tomorrow as well as post?

I thought it’s tomorrow

A friend asked the registrar and she said letters were posted today. No mention of email.

The Dulwich College offer letters were posted (first-class) yesterday (9 February) and the results will be emailed later today. The admissions team have said they are happy to take any calls this afternoon (10 February).

We got an email and have been put on waiting list. The email says “ short waiting list”, my question is how long does it take to move up and get a confirmed place? We have confirmed place from 2 other schools.

It all depends on how quickly other families reject/accept places, I'm afraid.

If this is the school you really want, it might be worth giving them a ring to say that, and that you would accept a place immediately. Don't inundate them with calls though - you want to look keen, not pestilent!

Conversely, if any readers have a waiting list place but are definitely accepting another school, ring or email them to relinquish the WL, so they can manage it as effectively as possible.

And generally decide as soon as you can. I realise that's not always possible if you're hanging on for WL movement, but if you have 2 other offers, releasing one of them will help WL movement in that school (which is in your interests as movement in one has a knock on effect on others

Thanks @AnotherNewt: I called the school office today and the admission registrar very kindly said that I should call them again in a week or two. They have a short waiting list of 13 boys so keeping our fingers crossed.

So DS was offered a place, which I am over the moon about, but now we face a choice between Dulwich and Whitgift. Both are fantastic places (Dulwich is withing walking distance though!), but am a bit miffed that neither seem to offer open events for offer holders.

I really could use some extra help from them to decide between them!

@SandD I'm pretty sure the WL places will be turned to offers, given the number of schools that people have applied to this year. Dulwich seems like it might be a backup choice for those going for the super-selective groups of central London boys e.g. City, Westminster, St Pauls and also an additional choice for the Croydon pair of Trinity and Whitgift.

I know it was for us, it was the traditional boys public school choice for us when paired with Whitgift and Trinity which seemed at application a bit more cosmopolitan.

@WNLastX I would go Dulwich over Whitgift. We had the same choice for my year 9 (currently at DC - my y6 got a place today) and whilst both are fantastic schools, if you live nearby in our view it’s a no brainer to go to the school nearest. They have so much homework and so many matches at weekends. You will be making his and your lives much easier!

I would go for Dulwich over Whitgift.

And with one in walking distance, I'd go for that one without hesitation

@LillyD @AnotherNewt

Thanks for your input. We are in West Norwood, the west side so it's about a 25 min walk down quiet streets to Dulwich.

Whitgift is on a bus route that goes from a very close bus stop and takes 35. But the drive at rush hour in our own car is at least 40.

DS is very much interested in Whitgift at the moment, partly because he didn't get to go on the Dulwich Open Day. Whitgift feels quite impressive and open when compared with Dulwich, so even if he had he's mind might still be in that direction. I might give Dulwich a ring and see if we can come round again to help make up our minds if, as I suspect, there is no Offer Holder Event planned.

We got an offer from DC today for Year 7. Do many come from the Clapham Junction area? Also, is lunch included in the fees?

Unless they've changed it recently, lunch is in the fees in Lower School

And yes, oodles from all over Battersea (inc CJ) area. Trains don't link up and there isn't a direct bus. Basic choices are:
a) train up to Victoria and back out to West Dulwich station.
b) 37 bus to Herne Hill, change on to the 3
c) buy a place on the coach service. You have to buy for the whole year, but might want to do that for year 7 - just to cover the time until he's traelling with more aplomb
d) bicycle