Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

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

Flip

1 2 ··· 30 31 32 ··· 39 40

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:

stresscity · 30/01/2012 20:26

@Asterisk-DH and I have just roared with laughter!! He'll be fine!! Good luck.

frankies69 · 30/01/2012 20:32

@asterisk...needed a good chuckle!!!!

kjartanette · 30/01/2012 20:49

@Asterisk - very funny! You've reminded me of the drive to W pre-interview. I suggested DS might have his own question for the interviewer, and after a few seconds, and to my horror, he came out with, 'Do you have any special friendships with the boys?' Nearly crashed the car at that point.

kravings · 30/01/2012 21:27

@asterisk - good luck - your DS sounds full of confidence, I am sure he will be absolutely fine

Ladymuck · 30/01/2012 22:00

Don't worry, 4 was total number of trips - academic interview, sports x 2 and music x 1. Just spread out for longer, and today's sports recall at Trinity was a short notice for a lot of boys, so disrupts school fixtures etc. Don't think anyone has had to go back to the same school 4 times for sport! Bearing in mind both W & T field U11 teams against the local prep schools, so sports staff have already had some opportunity to "scout".

kravings · 30/01/2012 23:59

just curious - has any 1st time parents (like me) requested a meeting to see the HM at T? We (casually) met the T HM while we were waiting for my DS to return from his interview. I did ask him a few questions, however our conversation did not go beyond casual talk.
At W we were interviewed by Mr M, but NOT the HM - has anyone been interviewed by the HM at W?

Bunbaker · 31/01/2012 00:15

Wow! All that stress to get into a school. I only clicked on this thread because I am originally from that part of the world. I didn't realise how sought after places were at these schools.

DD sat an entrance exam for a highly regarded independent girls school in West Yorkshire and was offered a place two weeks later without any palaver of interviews and the like.

Good luck to all of those children who have sat entrance exams.

Seeline · 31/01/2012 08:57

Kravings we too are 1st timers (10+) but never expected being in this position DS was doing the exams as pratice so we didn't really think ahead beyond that we were interviewed at W by Mr B, not the HM, and have only really come across him when he spoke at the open morning. I have to say I didn't really take to him.... We saw the T HM at the open morning there and immediately liked his approach. Had an informal chat with him whilst DS was doing his interview and really liked him. We haven't requested a formal meeting as we didn't really have any specific questions about DS vs school and didn't want to appear gormless! Have you asked for an interview?

frankies69 · 31/01/2012 09:16

kravings and seeline We again are 1st timers, however our DS is 11+ cohort and no chance of staying at his current primary school. We feel very differently to seeline with the W HM as we met him on a school time tour and he was v warm. We were interviewed by Cannon B at W not sure if that gives anything away on the offer process. Unfortunately for us our DS didn't get to interview at T but I do understand your feelings with the HM there being very different. Our DS had his heart set on W from his first visit so in some ways we were pleased that the choice had been taken out of our hands, so to say!! .

kravings · 31/01/2012 09:18

Seeline Same here...really liked T HM at open morning and the informal chat during the wait. The only time we met W HM was at open morning too...my DH thinks he very 'old school' and T HM has more of a dynamic fresh approach.
Just wondered that - does a formal meeting with both HMs have an impact on how they see our DSs?

kravings · 31/01/2012 09:19

seeline, frankies - no, we have not asked for any formal interview/meeting with any of the heads.

frankies69 · 31/01/2012 09:24

Neither did we to be honest, we didn't think that it was 'the done thing' at W and as I said T is no longer an option. I however do like the 'old school' approach of the HM at W. Perhaps that is because my HM at school had a very similar approach and maybe I am just old school myself

Seeline · 31/01/2012 09:30

Didn't even know it was an option at W TBH. Don't get me wrong - liked both the schools immensely and would be happy with an offer from either [crossed fingers]

SoupDragon · 31/01/2012 09:45

I saw both with DS1. The Head at W made me feel extremely uncomfortable - as if I had been sent to him for some transgression or other. The T head, OTOH, made me feel welcome and an equal.

Whilst the T head is friendly with the boys, they are under no illusions that he is In Charge (although I understand that the deputy head is the Bad Cop in the team:o). They are seen as fair.

kravings · 31/01/2012 10:01

I think my anxieties have flared up again......does a formal meeting with both/any HMs have an impact - or sway their decision - on how they see our DSs?

SoupDragon · 31/01/2012 10:12

No :)

Unless you have gone into the head's office and made a total tit of yourself!

frankies69 · 31/01/2012 10:13

@Soup you make me smile...thanks for that you have put my worries to one side yet again!!!!

kravings · 31/01/2012 10:20

ha ha ha soupy yes - I must stop myself from seeing the heads , as it is - my DH thinks I need to control myself at interviews as I tend to get over excited ...whatever gave him that idea?!!!

stresscity · 31/01/2012 11:09

Very funny kjartanette
Thanks bunBaker-yes best of luck to all-I think we jolly well deserve it
I did meet with T HM however only as I had a couple of questions. Would have looked a right, quote Soup, 'Tit', if had nothing to say as he made it clear that the meet was for me to ask uny unanswered questions.

SWStressed · 31/01/2012 11:43

Does anyone know of anyone who has actually received a rejection letter from W? OR can shed any light on the process. A friend has heard nothing and although assuming the worst the lack of a letter does prolong the process a bit. 17 days to go yikes

frankies69 · 31/01/2012 11:52

@sws - your poor friend has she called W?? I would perhaps suggest she does that incase the letter was lost in the post I know it is probably not the case!!

Woop Woop 17 more days and our anguish will be over

nuttynat003 · 31/01/2012 21:45

Hello. Felt the need to stop lurking in the background and say 'Hi'. Your posts have been fabulous and a real tonic! DS has sat 10+ for W and had interview which seemed to go well?!? My normally glorious nails are no more and I have turned into an insomniac! Never intended DS to sit this year but just got carried away after the open day!!!

Seeline · 01/02/2012 09:38

Hi Nutty! Sounds similar to us - we entered as a practice for next year! Welcome to the group of nail-less and baggy-eyed mums (that's not just me is it?), awaiting the post of 17th feb

stresscity · 01/02/2012 10:28

Seeline Have we met? Youve got me down to a T-especially the baggy eyes!!
Good luck to your DS Nutty

legallady · 01/02/2012 10:40

Hello, could I interlope on your thread a little please.

I am interested in both W and T for 2013 entry, but wondered where most children who go to these schools live. I know that might sound like a "how long is a piece of string?" question, but rough guesstimations would be really useful.

We live significantly closer to schools in SW London, but it would be a doable journey on the train (changing at Clapham Junction) but I wouldn't want my son to be the only child doing that journey!

Any views gratefully received

Flip

1 2 ··· 30 31 32 ··· 39 40

Swipe left for the next trending thread