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Secondary education

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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:
4schoolmum · 14/01/2011 17:44

IS your son at Trinity or Whitgift? 800 is huge amount! Was that all years? If so do you know how many sat 11 plus? I understood it would be about 400. It did seem busy when i dropped off but nothing like the mayhem for Sutton G which had about 1600

SoupDragon · 14/01/2011 17:45

4schoolmum, the tension was unbearable the day before the letters were due! thankfully, DS was off skiing with his father so it was just me.

SoupDragon · 14/01/2011 17:47

He's at Trinity. I think the 800 was for all 3 exam years. They split the number. It was almost 800 now I've read it properly. I was told that Whitgift had over 300 at 11+

SoupDragon · 14/01/2011 17:48

We didn't do Sutton G but did do Wilsons which was horrific. I understand that Wallington is worse but his father took him there.

4schoolmum · 14/01/2011 17:52

It's mad speculating isn't it but I keep trying to calcuate the odds with each new piece of info I get! In your opinion do the schools select initially purely on the exam results? I understood that the heads report form current school also had a bearing or is this only relevent once they get an interview?
Your DS did so well to get a place . I think it is a really wonderful school and I love the building...not at all stuffy!

SoupDragon · 14/01/2011 18:04

I think the exam gives them the boys who are academically able to give the school the results they want. From there, they use the interview to weed out those who do not suit or have been excessively tutored to pass the exam (supposition). I would imagine that information from the current school would be used in conjunction with the interview - eg it may say that X is a little sh8t who bullies other boys, and I doubt they'd give a place to a boy like that :o

Bizarrely, my heart was with Whitgift - the prefects wear purple capes FFS, what's not to love?! However, my head said that Trinity would be the right school for DS2 and that, whilst DS1 would thrive anywhere, he'd probably have a better time there too.

Obviously I am assuming DS2 will get a place when it is his turn Hmm

Caoimhe · 14/01/2011 18:19

LOL at "special families" SoupDragon!!

W HM's dog was in a basket just to the left of the leather sofa (upon which I sat looking most uncomfortable whilst Dr B looked severe in his winged chair Grin).

Gosh yes - Mr B is a big selling point for T - much more approachable than Dr B.

4schoolmum - trust me, they definitely do not just go on the exam result - it is quite possible for a boy with a lower mark to get a place if he is a particularly able sportsman or musician, for example. Last year at 13+ was a prime example as both W and T fought over a particularly good all-round sportsman who actually needs learning support for the academic stuff.

4schoolmum · 14/01/2011 18:23

I assumed Sutton G for DS2 as that is where DS1 went but 'twas not to be!

SoupDragon · 14/01/2011 18:24

He does indeed. He went to school with Daniel and Peter and is on the bus with Henry :)

SoupDragon · 14/01/2011 18:27

(and god, yes! I perched uncomfortably on that sofa :o I was probably too nervous to look for a dog.)

DS2 is, in theory, brighter than DS1. However, he is also bordering on hyperactive so whether he can sit still long enough to complete the exam remains to be seen.

Caoimhe · 14/01/2011 19:44

Grin SoupDragon, Henry is a similar size to ds!

SoupDragon · 14/01/2011 21:27

LOL :)

Original poster
mummax · 16/01/2011 19:18

Hi there,
How are you informed about the Trinity interview is it by phone or letter.
We were informed very quickly about the Whitgift by phone (two days later) and had the interview last week. Confused

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 17/01/2011 11:58

Either! We had phone calls but DSs friends had letters. I think they phone up the first batches to get the ball rolling quickly and then send letters out to the rest.

Original poster
mummax · 17/01/2011 13:17

Thanks SoupDragon
This whole thing is turning me into a nervous reck!
Poor DS could not sleep for worrying. We are even more concerned with not hearing as we would like to know if he will be able to sit his music scholarship exam. So frustrating!!!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 17/01/2011 13:26

It's all fun isn't it :o

I now have a year of hell tutoring DS2 in English for when he sits them next year.

If both of us are still alive and sane by then.

Original poster
mummax · 17/01/2011 16:44

Lol
Immediate panic over DH received a phone call from T this afternoon.
Interview next week hooray. [Smile]

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 17/01/2011 18:16

Yay!

Caoimhe · 17/01/2011 19:21

Great news, mummax!!!

IroningBored · 19/01/2011 14:15

Sob ... haven't heard from T yet (exam was tougher than W by all accounts)

Caoimhe · 19/01/2011 18:41

I hope you get good news soon, IroningBored!

Ladymuck · 20/01/2011 12:36

I have a friend whose ds has now had music audition and interviews at W, but still not heard from T. Unfortunately is standard. Is making her think twice about her preferred school though.

Caoimhe · 20/01/2011 18:10

I remember T being slower than W last year as well, LadyMuck.

The schools are chalk and cheese so I'd be surprised at someone's decision being swayed by how quickly their ds was interviewed!!

Sammysilver · 21/01/2011 05:33

My son had his interview yesterday. Really worried because he wasn't asked to take anything in with him and we only saw the head of the lower school. Having said that, we all (son, hub and I) seemed to think our respective interviews went well. This is SO nerve-racking !

Ladymuck · 21/01/2011 11:40

Which school? And is he doing 10+ or 11+?