Whitgift and Trinity 11+ exams and Interviews

[mummax]

Hi all
I am new to this. I am loving this site.
Has anyone's DS taken an 11+ exam at Whitgift or Trinity this year. We have taken both and have an interview at Whitgift.
Any tips for a first timer.

Hi all. New-be here. Ive been reading all your posts last few days and as a result i have laughed so much, cried, taking up smoking, failed suicide and now enjoying a large glass of!! My DS is attending interview next Wed and sports test due Monday. Bare with me as im a great one for asking stupid questions however does anyone think that going for a scholarship would aide their decision and if doesnt do well in trials then thats it then? I mean, if DS just scrapped through however they think theyve got a budding Jonny Wilkinson coming their way then that would sway their decision OR now just solely down to interview? Ramble over ;)

I think if they were of the impression he was the next Johnny Wilkinson, they would overlook an average exam pass.

Also, Frankie my heart sank when I read about T, everything crossed for W!!

Don't fear stresscity, exceptional sporting or musical ability will trump pretty much any exam mark! I personally know one boy who was the subject of a battle between T and W despite needing learning support because he is a superb all round sportsman.

Sorry for those who have not got the news they wanted - sometimes it can be really difficult to fathom the reasoning behind the schools' decisions (and of course they don't always get it right).

Fingers crossed for good outcomes for everyone.

Gutted for you, frankies (and kravings and blisstina if it's definitely a 'no'). I'm sure your DSs will go on to do just fine. It may seem a big disappointment now, but things have a way of turning out for the best. Feel free to quote my words back at me when my monosyllabic DS flunks out at the interview stage.

still no post or phone...I have no hope now and resigned myself to think that he has def not made it to T :(

@all - apart from W and T, what other options have you all considered?

@Asterisk - When is your interview? don't worry about your DSs interview, they know how to survive when they are on their own. My one did v well in the W interview, he usually v shy, in the interview he was v chatty and answered a range of (difficult) mental maths questions, he talked about his passion for sports and a range of other topics.

@kravings - my DS doesn't do 'chat' (although he does speak mental maths fluently). Interview is at the end of the month. I'm encouraging him to be more loquacious but he is on mild side of autistic spectrum and it gets really obvious in a one-to-one situation. He's a lovely child, and one of the reasons I'm keen on T is that there does seem to be a nurturing environment, but I don't think he's going to come across at all well at interview.

How infuriating that you haven't heard anything. What's with relying on post and phone anyway? We ought to be able to log in to get status of applications. Surely it would be easier for the schools to manage too?

I agree, Asterisk, re the reliance on phone calls and post - you'd think in this day and age they could manage something a little more modern.

Actually I think the system of people being left dangling whilst others are getting calls and letters is really horrible. Surely they know early on if they are not going to offer interviews? Why the delay?

kravings, it is grim that you have been told nothing. Some of the results seem quite bizarre - how can your ds have passed Sutton and not got an interview at T (if such is the final outcome)? Truly strange - do call T on Monday in case there has been some sort of muck up.

What a time for us all, especially for those who still havent heard-thats awful!Caoimhe-thanks for that, unfortunately he is no budding JW! I just wondered would they have put him to interview if we hadnt completed a scholarship. Also we heard last Tuesday about the interview and they said would confirm in writing-we too are still waiting for confirmation. Has everone received theirs in writing? DH remebered time and date but not who apt is with.

I think its not all black and white! Is there even a pass mark? As Ive been saying, I think they look at the whole picture hence the delay, taking into consideration of scholarshops compeleted.

I don't think you were told who the T interview was going to be with, I wasn't. I was told a date, a time, that it would be half an hour and asked if i wanted to speak to the headmaster whilst I was there.

No confirmation letter yet from T re interview. I think they must decide how many they're going to interview and work down results list. Perhaps some people decline interview and those at the boundary then get consideration? It seems unlikely, but why the delay in sending out rejections once all the papers are marked? Another thought that struck me is that I wonder if they take into account what a child has written in the composition exercise? If, for example, there's swearing, does that mean an automatic veto? Not that Mumsnetters' children ever would. Just speculating on the judgement calls that might be made...

@Asterisk n @all,

Thanks for all your support - oh Yes! English Composition mattera A LOT. My DS wrote about a Summer Day out at Thorpe Park with the family, the 1st question asked in the W interview was about the Composition and a range of questions about time spent with the family. The same with Kingston Grammar interview - the starting point of the interview was the Composition!

Dear all,
Well some news, DS didn't get pass mark for Sutton or Wallington on the grammar tests so only hope for grammar is Wilsons, no idea how far up the list he will be! Letter in post this morning from CLF and he is on the waiting list so at least it's not a final no and interiew at RGS next Saturday.
The waiting is just horrible, we are holding out for W, it's our preference even over Wilsons and just hoping against hope that if it ends up being a no that we at least have an offer from one of the others. I haven't planned any further ahead than that, what to do? and start feeling ill when I think about it! Hope all of you are all holding up too :)

@marbles - well done to your DS atleast he has given it his best shot!!!

@stresscity - the disappointment is now gone and we looking to our DS future

@asterisk - I am sure your son will thrive wherever he goes

@kravings - I am soooo sorry you not heard . Just resign yourself as we have that T is not the right school. And as my DS said last night - who wants their second choice!!! He is soooo bloody philosophical!!!!

@beanie - don't give up hope, my DS didn't get Wallington, Wilsons, Riddlesdown and now Trinity!!!! HA HA he got an interview at the school he wanted all along, W!!!!

@everyone, I can't say how much the feedback from you all has kept me sane and grounded!!!! I am sending you all love and good wishes for the schools your DS's get into and hope mine gets into W above all!!!

the only thing that keeps me going is you all , DH is too cool about everything and thinks I am going mental. The waiting is really getting to me, not just an answer from T, but the overall wait for 16th Feb and 1st March! Never felt this many mixed emotions before

kravings I understand, our DS tried all the grammar and others and the only one he really wanted was W. I am beginning to believe that whatever the outcome of all this is we may have become the closest group of people who have never met in this country!!! I can't say I wasn't upset yesterday the T didn't want our DS but am glad we know...My DH sounds as laid back as yours so I think I will be doing all the worrying for this family. Sit back now with a nice or and think 'MY SON WILL GET THE BEST SCHOOL FOR HIM!!!!' because that is exactly what I am going to do!!!!!

Frankie, you are absolutely right!

I remember when Ds got his rejection from W that he was happy as he preferred T! In retrospect, I can see that W got it right and that T suits him better.

Things have a funny way of working out for the best.

ditto Kravings all that you said-thank god for you guys!

I too was under the impression ( and hoping) that they look at the bigger picture , not just exam results. Seems not the case as my DS plays one sport at County level and another at Academy level yet have heard nothing from W. Depressing!!

Oh poozie that is awful!!! Keeping everyting crossed for next week can't believe that your son is that level and not been called . How did he think he had done in the exam??? just seen your update, I missed!!! from other day saying everything stops on 30th Jan...good luck

you are right frankies - we are the closest group of people online who have never met because we are all aiming for the same goals and yet pulling each other on to the finish line :)

Hi ladies,

I've been following your posts over the last couple of days and I have my fingers crossed for you all!! It's great to see people really encourage each others, think some of the mother's on the elevenplus forum could learn from this.

It's my first time going through the whole secondary school scenario so I feel your pain.

@stressedcity We too received a phone called from T re interview last Saturday. Got given date and time and told confirmation letter will be sent. So far we haven't received any letter from them...

meant @stresssicy