Whitgift 10+ Entry 2024

[BoysSons]

My DS is very fortunate and honoured to be offered a full-fee 10+ place at Whitgift starting in September. We were hoping he would have been given a sports scholarship discount, but sadly, that hasn’t been the case. DS is bright, but we know he didn’t score overly high in his entrance exams, so we are now questioning whether Whitgift is the right school for him as it’s a lot of money we’ll be investing. If he’s going to struggle, what support should we expect to bring out the best in him both academically and physically?

I’d love to hear from parents who are in a similar situation to us with boys potentially starting in September, parents of boys who also started in Year 6; your experiences, any insight into discounts being available once boys have started, numbers in classes, years as the size of the school worries me, and anything else that will help me get my head around this huge decision we have to make.

I’d like to add DS also applied for T 10+ but didn’t get an offer. Has this happened to anyone else this year, and you’re too sat wondering how you can get an offer for one but not the other? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thank you, everyone. 🙏🏼

It looks good to go!

Yes same here. Received Whitgift offer full fees. No news at all from Trinity. Not sure to accept due to the financial burden and stress. This is a good thread to start, I must say. For us it includes moving countries as well so it's a big decision too.

There is a thread on a similar topic for Whitgift / Trinity 10+ entrance , https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4895719-10-exams-for-trinity-whitgift-2024-entry?page=8&reply=132575729

It's actually quite common for boys to get an offer from Whitgift but not Trinity - Trinity has a smaller intake, and is also a bit more academically selective.

You can always wait a year and try again at 11+, but there are obviously no guarantees of you getting a scholarship or an offer then. Rejecting a 10+ place does not count against you if you do try again.

Gosh where are you moving from? I’ve seen the other thread but wanted to specifically discuss 10+

Whitgift this year have not given out many sports scholarships this year at 10+ They have gone for quality over quantity allowing them to award much bigger % to the elite candidates in each area of the sport. I am even hearing that county level cricketers have been offered nothing unless they are truly exceptional. Historically they scattered more scholarships at 10% but this year have offered less awards but higher %.

Academically all children will get the same education and support from teachers and support staff but sports wise from the parents I have spoken to who attend currently if you are in that elite bracket your son will get plenty of attention from the sporting staff however if your son is in that 2nd or 3rd tier level they will basically stick you in the B, C or D team as a checkbox exercise and your son will get less attention and support from the sporting staff. Their aim is to only focus their efforts on the best as they simply do not have the resources or time to drag those 2nd or 3rd tier players to a higher standard.

We accepted our Whitgift 10 plus place on Friday. Our eldest is in year 10 and so happy there. One of the nicest things apart from the great education and support from the tutor and teachers is the wonderful friends our son has made, friends for life I am sure.

We know many people who sadly
did not get offers (siblings included) and so your boys have done so well. Best of luck 😊

We accepted our 10+ place at Whitgift as well. We didn't apply for any scholarships so we always knew it will be full fee paying place if we get one. We are delighted with the offer as Whitgift has always been number 1 for us. As mamahappylove said they all must have had done well if they got place. We did apply to T and got WL but for my son T never was an option. He hasn't even asked about results yet. Well done to all the boys who got an offers.

My son is currently in Y7, we too were worrried academically about how he would fit in, particularly with English and written work.
W have been excellent at working with him on story/answer planning, allowing him to use laptop for lengthy writing papers when needed. The tutors in general I have found very supportive. They know W will be a big step up for most boys and take it into consideration. There are homework clubs if needed and sessions during lunch boys can attend.

Thank you @HenriB for posting on this thread. May I ask where the information came from please? Do you have a DS starting in September too?

The information I have gathered is from parents who have children currently in W. I have spoken to a lot of parents this week believe me to get a very well rounded view. My son has been offered a place starting in September at both T and W at 10+

That’s so helpful having existing parents as contacts. By the sounds of it our DS’s are very very lucky to have been offered a place at W if siblings haven’t got in!! Any more valuable information you find out would be really appreciated to learn about on here if you don’t mind 🥰

Hi @BoysSons Yes I am very lucky to have the social circle I do where I know parents who send their kids to both schools which has allowed me to pool quite a bit of information and opinions from a variety of sources. I also know teachers and sporting staff at W and T so this has also very helpful in making the decision on where would be best for my son.

Fantastic work getting your DS into W10+ I know they have tightened up the entry process at W10+ last few years as they are looking push higher up the rankings in line with T. A lot of children who would potentially have made it in at 10+ previously would not have made the cut this time around.

Wow that’s really great news to hear! W is and always has been our first choice so we are feeling especially grateful and thankful to have been offered a place for our DS 🙏🏼
Having such super contacts in your circle, like you say, will make sure you choose the right school for your DS. Which does he prefer out of interest? My DS preferred W by far which is a relief 🤣

We also received an offer for W10+ but not T. W has been my DS and DH first choice but I did like T slightly more. I guess the choice has been made for us. We'll accepting the place later today. For those of you who will be accepting the W10+ place, are you local to South Croydon and surrounding area out of interest and does anyone fancy meeting in a park so our DS can meet before September?

We are swinging towards the T10+ offer as DS was awarded a scholarship there however have not made our minds up yet. My DS said he likes both schools and wants us to decide for him

My DS started Whitgift in Year 6. Now L6. He has a sports scholarship. It goes without saying that the scholarship requires dedication, commitment hours of training, missed family celebrations early mornings late finishes.
It is a big commitment. The balance between study and sport. The boys are expected to excel at both. They must have determination and a thirst to excel. With these talents there is an unbelievable wealth of sporting opportunity. Ds is life long friends with all the sport scholars. Its a strong bond. Literally all GB representatives, academy players, amazing boys and bright too.
The current headteacher has cut some of the sport scholarships and sports on offer ( rowing for example) however, he and the deputy head are both leaving and a care taker head starts in September. Followed by an appointment of a new head 2025. Naturally the school will be in an adjustment period followed by a new direction.
There is no doubt starting in y6 gives a boy a head start. I've seen it. They are flying by y7.
There are high expectations for every boy to achieve fantastic grades and provisions to support them are there in the.form of clinics at lunchtime and after school and weekends. It's there but obviously not a place you want to find your son in. Also think long term....not all boys score high enough grades to allow them to stay on in 6th form. I think all subjects regardless of A level or IB have to be a 7 8 or 9. A, A A* so it's a lot of pressure! This could change obviously with new leadership.
Hope that helps.
To summarise.
Whitgift is an amazing school and it absolutely gets the best out of every boy.

Thank you for sharing such an invaluable personal review of W. The school sounds incredible and I can’t wait to watch my DS on his journey through such an amazing school. 🤩

Sorry posted on wrong thread!

Hi,

I've enjoyed reading your thread very much, so thanks for sharing all this info!! now I need of help myself ;)
I'm in the tough process of deciding between 2 schools. My son was offered a place at Whitgift to start this sept Y7 (his no.1 choice as he's very sporty and also Musiala graduated from there!) and at St John's school in Leatherhead.

I know both schools are amazing and surely we would go with the school that feels right for him, tbh both tick almost all the boxes, however - and this is where I need input of current Whitgift moms:

• Whitgift's location is a bit of a downer for us as we live in Wimbledon and I thought it was ok with the tram BUT is not, takes more than an hour to get there changing a couple of times: tram+ bus+ walk or ... tram + change to go to South Croydon + Bus or walk, it seems a lot :(. For the 1st year we will make the sacrifice to pay for school bus but is not sustainable (as it's £1K a term just in bus fees!!!!)

• Also, how safe do parents feel with this commute? (it's a fair maternal feeling, just asking how safe it is as we don't know the area, nothing more, plus our current primary is 6mins walking distance).

Personally I want my son to be on a CoEd school, hence I'm more inclined for the other school but I really, really loved Whitgift .... and we love Mr Beck😆, so I'm torn!

.

We’re setting up a WhatsApp group for parents of boys starting at Whitgift in the First Form in September 2024 (year six only). If you’d like to join, please send me a private message. Connect with other parents to discuss uniform, school policies, social events, homework, transportation, extracurricular activities, and more. Let’s support each other as we embark on this exciting journey together! 😃

I would think very carefully about choosing Whitgift. The Croydon area is becoming increasingly unsafe with Whitgift boys being mugged and threatened with violence by local street gangs on a daily basis.

Having had two sons now complete an education at Whitgift and a third still there I can tell you that school is exceptional. The previous headmaster was more academically focussed and drove up standards however the new head (starting September 25) is hopefully more balanced and will give more support to the co curricular aspects of the school.
The boys that graduate are rounded, mature and ready for the next step.
Wondeful school

Daily basis sounds a bit much? I live in the South Croydon area and have done for 14 years, and we take our son to attend sport and drama classes at Whitgift school by bus weekly- we are hoping to apply for a place here next year. I am often walking here as a lone female/ waiting at the bus stops after dark and I've never had an incident or something in this area that has made me feel unsafe.

I'm not saying it's never happened, but in 14 years in Croydon I have only seen or known of one mugging and that was quite far from the Whitgift and a targeted attack for an electric scooter by a man on a motorbike. I can believe there may have been occasional incidents for students as muggings have gone up all over London but I have never seen anything like a 'street gang' hanging around the school...