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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Whitgift and Trinity 11+ exams and Interviews

999 replies

mummax · 11/01/2011 23:16

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.

OP posts:

pooziepuzzle · 21/01/2012 15:33

@frankies69- to be honest my DS was not that confident about the exam so I was hoping they would look at him for his sporting ability and what he can offer the school that way. Hopes diminishing fast. You can't help but take things personally, my attitude now is it's their loss!! Good luck with final results in Feb.

Original poster

mummax · 21/01/2012 15:35

I really would not worry to much if you DS failed Grammar results.
We failed to reach pass marks at Sutton, Wilson's and Wallington but got offered places at both T & W.

OP posts:

frankies69 · 21/01/2012 15:43

@poozie - that is how we feel at T, they not good enough for us

@mummax - we really sat the grammars for a taster for him and to see if he was really serious about W, and they never put him off so we supposed he must be . We are all nearly there now thankfully

SoupDragon · 21/01/2012 17:10

DS1 did not pass either Wallington or Wilsons when he sat them but got an offer at Whitgift and a 30% scholarship at Trinity.

kravings · 21/01/2012 17:16

@mummax - it would be gr8 to have choices - what if W does not offer him a place even after good interview and good exams - we will then be offered the local comprehensive :(

@poozie - ditto - you can't help but take things personally, I am in the same boat as you - my hope have all gone now and told DH that we have lost out on T as well.

@frankies - 16th/1st seems too far away from my eyes

oh need a and to calm down!

kravings · 21/01/2012 17:21

@all - makes me wonder then who are these mums whose boys get offered at Wilson/Wallington? ?

SoupDragon · 21/01/2012 17:27

Private primary
Heavily tutored
Extraordinarily bright

I was told that the interviews at T&W make it clear which boys were heavily tutored and which are naturally bright. The grammars don't do this, it is purey on the pass mark.

frankies69 · 21/01/2012 17:30

@kravings the boys i have heard about are all prep boys...or have been tutored for a very long time!!! It is really unfair that the indie sector are getting the grammar places, but the only thing that you can do is join them!!!
I am keeping my fingers crossed fro your ds. I too am in the same boat as you that it is either W or a local comp...not giving up hope!!!!!

@soup...well done to your ds he deserves all he has got

kravings · 21/01/2012 17:33

same here, tutored and bright. I guess its 'on the day' how they perform that counts

kravings · 21/01/2012 17:38

@frankie - , your support means a lot.

@soup - you are v lucky, I hope, too, that your DS2 follows in the footstep of DS1.

I have a DS2 who will also make me go through this whole process in 2 years time...again.. :(

frankies69 · 21/01/2012 17:48

will be watching closely to see what happens with your DS2 kravings...We have a DD but she is only 3 so got many years before worrying about her...our DS will hopefully be in uni the same year we go through this with her so am going to have a double wammy!!!! ...planning was bad!!!!!

kravings · 21/01/2012 17:51

he he he...frankies...you are funny, yes, bad planning I guess

Caoimhe · 21/01/2012 17:56

I'm sure the majority of kids at grammar schools are actually from state primaries but the majority will have been heavily tutored - a friend's ds is at Wilson's - he went to a very ordinary state primary but was tutored from Y3 for grammar school!!!

There are lots of prep school kids who don't make the cut to grammar schools either!!

kravings and frankie - are your local Comps that bad? If ds hadn't got into T he would have gone to my local Comp but it is fine (and most of my neighbours' children go there so I know what it is like from the "inside"). Your boys are obviously bright so would be in top sets anyway!

I hope that you get the schools you really want, though!

SoupDragon · 21/01/2012 17:59

I think that when i will be looking at secondary for DD I will have DS1 doing GCSEs and DS2 choosing GCSE options.
When DS1 does A levels, DS2 will be doing GCSEs.

frankies69 · 21/01/2012 18:07

oh soup much better planning than us...we got an 8 year gap and yes she was!!!! ha ha

@caoimhe you obviously don't live in the same area as me, because my DS is NOT going to my local comp it is horrendous and i will home tutor if i have to . I have applied for schools slightly out of my area

kravings · 21/01/2012 18:14

frankie - which is your local comp? I am in streatham area and the one which I will be offered could be Dunraven or St Jospeh's

kravings · 21/01/2012 18:18

sorry St Joseph's

gazzalw · 21/01/2012 18:35

Soupdragon we have a son who was lucky enough to pass all three grammar school exams and no he wasn't tutored heavily (we did some work with him from Spring Term Yr 5), no doesn't attend private primary and is clever but not so much so that he is either geeky or would particularly come across like that - he is just competitive and has no aversion to tests and potentially stressful situations....

Seeline · 21/01/2012 19:51

Has anyone had a confirmation latter from T following up a phone call? we were rung last sat and still nothing - I'm beginning to wonder whether it ws all a mistake [worried]
On the plus front - interview at W yesterday went well and felt very positive. Fingers crossed.....

kravings · 21/01/2012 20:18

if you all have received phone calls then shouldn't that be enough to attend the interview? or would the letter confirm other details?

stresscity · 21/01/2012 20:22

seeline-it seems most of us have received phone call but no letter-you are not alone. I really dont know how im going to last until mid Feb. Those of you that have had interviews, please tell me you feel a tad better now as there is nothing more to be done? Also, did you meet with the HM or for those that are awaiting interview, are you going to?

SoupDragon · 21/01/2012 20:29

I'm not sure I felt better at all with DS1 because, although it was all out of my hands, there was the nagging feeling that they would now be rejecting my child personally. Which isn't reassuring for anyone I guess :o

WRT not having a letter from Trinity, it is all well signposted up there so turn up 10 minutes before the time you were given and you'll be fine. A word of warning - the big entrance int the building that looks as if it is the main one isn't; it's for the boys. The visitor's one is round the side where the visitor parking is and is much smaller :)

stresscity · 21/01/2012 20:34

Thanks SoupDragon-knowledgeable as always

frankies69 · 22/01/2012 13:20

@kravings I live just outside Croydon on way to West Wickham...not great for schools round here

Caoimhe · 22/01/2012 13:35

Ah, frankie69 - your closest school wouldn't happen to be the Oasis Academy, would it?

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