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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:
SoupDragon · 03/02/2012 13:28

I can imagine the discussions at T when they tried to decide how many to offer last year having been caught out the year before.

frankies69 · 03/02/2012 13:37

Right so I intend to ring W at 9.15 and T at 9.20 who I asking for??? Grin

FarmerBarleymow · 03/02/2012 14:15

Ask for my son, Bod, Frankie!

frankies69 · 03/02/2012 14:22

Right O

stresscity · 03/02/2012 17:27

Thats true soup. Do you also think like ladymuck that they could also double?
Im going to ring on Monday-cant stand the waiting Grin. Whose with me? Sod it, lets go down there in force, singing 'we will not be moved' Shock

stresscity · 03/02/2012 17:28

Also offer double I mean

Ladymuck · 03/02/2012 18:09

Certainly the Head of the larger prep school in the area has contacted every parent to understand what their preferred ranking would be. I assume the head at the other local prep has done similarly, and they have indicated to W & T the ballpark interest. And also W & T know their historic takeup rate for each age group at each sitting. T is likely to be more careful than W as T prefer same size year groups, whereas yeargroups in W vary from 140-200 odd. Currently 60 odd in Lower First at W.

frankies69 · 03/02/2012 18:49

W and T have also stated they attempt to take a high number from the state system, which is where we come from...fingers crossed they stay true to their word and do just that!!!

Ladymuck · 03/02/2012 23:11

Frankies, no worries on that score as W&T have far more places than local private schools have boysGrin. Even if all the prep school boys got offers (which they won't), they would just about get half the available places (at 10 & 11+ at any rate), probably less. W in particular I think works hard to get close to the local state schools.

frankies69 · 04/02/2012 06:26

Thanks Ladymuck feeling better again...this feels like a total roller coaster of emotions

Asterisk · 04/02/2012 08:34

Yes, W does do a programme of outreach with local state schools -- both my children have been on an ICT 'week' there. However, it can backfire. DS completely put off W by some boys being silly in the corridor there and some low-level teasing.

SoupDragon · 04/02/2012 09:03

Both DSs went to Maths and science days at Trinity from state primary.

frankies69 · 04/02/2012 10:53

Ds absolutely loved his week at W, which for us started all this. Unfortunately we had never considered ourselves as private school parents, an error on our part. As if this process has taught me anything it is that you don't have to be earning millions to give your Dc a better education, and that is Thanks partly to all of you Grin

kravings · 04/02/2012 20:20

frankies a bursary or a scholarship makes a big difference. We are putting DS1 through the indie system, however, I have a DS2 waiting in the wings in another year's time - if the bursary/scholarship does not come through then it is expensive to put 2 kids through private. Also in the near future we have to consider University fees...which have sky rocketed, hence, by the time one child graduates - we will be in considerable debt...Hmm time to think of a 2nd mortgage

somanymiles · 05/02/2012 04:45

My son will be taking the entrance exam for Trinity next year. We are in Canada now and I want him to have some tutoring so that he has covered the same curriculum as others taking the exam. His spelling is all "Canadian" for example. Where would I find a tutor?

somanymiles · 05/02/2012 04:46

Sorry about the slightly off topic question btw but I see that some of you have mentioned tutoring... I guess it is slightly frowned upon?

frankies69 · 05/02/2012 08:36

I know a tutor that I used just for exam prep as my Ds wasn't up for doing it with me. When are you back from canada? Pm me and I give you details.
Kravings we lucky in respect we have 8 yr gap but it is scary that ds going to uni same year dd hits senior school

Asterisk · 05/02/2012 12:15

somanymiles - I don't think the school would mark your son down for Canadian spelling (although there may be the occasional verbal reasoning question that relies on UK spelling). IMO, it's the maths curriculum you need to worry about. Perhaps look at getting a subscription to Mathletics, so you can look at the Year 6 and 7 topics? www.mathletics.co.uk. The company also offers Spellodrome, which I haven't tried, but that could help address your spelling worries. It's probably worth just checking with customer services though that you won't default to the Canadian curriculum if you have a Canadian billing address.

TeToT3 · 05/02/2012 12:45

Does anyone know if private schools have an appeals process like state schools?

Ladymuck · 05/02/2012 12:56

No, there isn't a formal appeals process. You can ask the school for further information as to why your son was not selected, and you can apply again in a later year.

In response to "tutoring", it is more "how long is a piece of string". Most children will have done the sample papers and some bond papers. That is pretty much expected. There are extremes of tutoring which result in not so bright boys being given a series of descriptive sentences to memorise and drop into their essays, but teachers can usually spot this, especially at interview.

TeToT3 · 05/02/2012 13:01

This was the only school we applied for and there is a sibling already in the school. I was confident that he would be accepted. Is it now to late to start trying for other private schools within the area.

SoupDragon · 05/02/2012 13:02

We found the Bond books good for the English part and Verbal reasoning. They also ddo maths ones which are good - certainly helps sharpen up the brain I think. DSs both had maths tutors to ensure that the methods they used were right for the exam - their primary has a non-standard way of doing stuff and they wouldn't have covered the right parts of the curriculum by exam time.

I agree with Ladymuck - heavily tutored boys who are not naturally bright will be spotted at interview. The HM of T told me this when DS1 was interviewed - the interview helps them spot natural ability and potential.

frankies69 · 05/02/2012 13:31

Oh I totally agree with both soup and ladymuck about tutors, DS had tutoring for same reasons as soup DSs. If they are bright enough to get in they get in. I am just pleased DS made it this far with W. Keeping fingers crossed for entrance offer Grin

LIZS · 05/02/2012 13:58

Private schools have the discretion to pick and choose. You could do a late application for elsewhere , I believe some schools will have a round in March to fill any remaining places.

frankies69 · 05/02/2012 14:15

TeToT3 is it W or T you applied for you ds?? Did you also do state app?? Can he stay in the current school to 13?? Best of luck to you