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Secondary education

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

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 · 08/02/2012 18:49

I wouldn't have the nerve!

SoupDragon · 08/02/2012 18:53

RE offers made at interview, I was told "... and he will get offers from all schools" but no offer was actually made. Thus I would be very surprised if he didn't get an offer but it isn't guaranteed. I was also told he would be "very strongly recommended for a scholarship" but again, no actual offer.

Could it be that the Competitive Mothers are taking these kind of suggestions as fact?

beanie34 · 08/02/2012 19:02

@SoupDragon

I wouldn't have the nerve either!

Thank you for being the voice of reason, I'm sure that is the case. Thanks

frankies69 · 08/02/2012 19:57

Woop Woop Juicy0 DD
@keeping, get round here NOW with that half bottle...bloody WOMAN!!!!
@behind where have you been???? we needed your relaxed approach before now
@beanie well said
@ladymuck you are a fountain of knowledge as usual

Oh I am soooo glad that I neither do the school run..my ds goes and comes home on his own...and that he is the only boy from his school even applying!!! It must be the most awful gut wrenching thing to list to "Mr & Mrs Perfect" talk about 'little Johnny' being offered a place...I am sure that it is all untruths and just said to make you feel worse!!!! Please ladies/gents, if there are any reading, put your feet up with the well earned Wine and think in a years time we will look back on this with glee!!! I know I will

We are a great group of loving and adoring parents and as beanie said we and our ds's have done our best!!!! Grin x
Thanks to you all for keeping me moderately sane and with a few less grey hairs than I would've had if not for MN

juicy0 · 08/02/2012 21:16

Thanks all of you for your kind words.

I really don't think I would cope as well as most of you are, thank heavens for Mumsnet where we can all air our stresses and concerns without putting extra pressure on our children and boring our dh to tears because lets face it they don't understand

stresscity · 08/02/2012 22:56

Ladymuck thanks very much for the info-most interesting Flowers

stresscity · 08/02/2012 22:57
Thanks
frankies69 · 09/02/2012 06:47

Good morning all, one more wednesday till letters....hope today will go as quickly for all of you as it will for me Grin

havinganightmare · 09/02/2012 07:22

Br

havinganightmare · 09/02/2012 07:23

Bring it on. Losing ability to operate machinery clearly.....

Seeline · 09/02/2012 09:20

Right - positive frame of mind this morning Smile
Reading back over past posts I saw someone mention going back to re-visit schools after offers are made - I assume if you are in the lucky position of having more than one offer. Is this an acceptable thing to do - just ring the school and say I'm not sure and can I have another nose round (presumably during school hours) Grin

one week to go.......

SoupDragon · 09/02/2012 09:27

Absolutely. The T head said DS1 could go and spend a day there, sitting in on lessons, if it would help him see T as the preferred option (DS1 wanted W. Mostly because of the exploding watermelons I think :o) We didn't take him up on this as I knew in my head which was the best choice for our family and it wasn't going to be DS1 making the decisions.

Ladymuck · 09/02/2012 09:29

Absolutely acceptable. I think that you view a school slightly differently once you know that your child has got an offer, and you are signing up to a hefty financial commitment.

Seeline · 09/02/2012 09:39

Thanks LadyMuck - your advice is really appreciated by complete (naive) novices such as me Thanks

Perhaps when this is all over, we should create an edited version of this thread and get it printed as a guide for parents in future years Grin

Ladymuck · 09/02/2012 10:22

Ds2's prep school does just that! And provides a contact list of parents who are happy to be phoned about their senior school experiences. This is just the virtual equivalent with Soupy, BasildonBond, NotsoStressedErica etc doing the same. That said I think that the local prep school experience is slightly different as everyone is sitting for the same schools, and you can't escape it at all.

Seeline · 09/02/2012 10:35

I do think that there are definite disadvantages in coming from a state primary where very few try for private secondaries (especially at 10+ as in my case) Even then you do not talk about it at school so you go silently mad Confused
Having said that I can see that everyone going to all the exams/comparing interviews/offers etc must be equally difficult!

frankies69 · 09/02/2012 11:22

It is horrendous being the only one at my DS school putting him for W and T as I have absolutely no-one to chat with. A lot of the parents think we are trying to get above our station sending DS to to a 'better' school!!! I am sure it is just school envy but is it really necessary to feel like that??? Confused

SWStressed · 09/02/2012 16:28

DS at state primary too and I am really glad I have this as dont want to have to put DS under more pressure by everyone at school knowing which exams passed/failed /places offered etc bit tricky managing expectations and emotions of a 10 yr old and don't want him to be a stressball

SoupDragon · 09/02/2012 17:09

I good handful of boys at DSs school sit for T&W each year. They also sit Wilsons and others and, often, the academic test for the local state comp.

It is still awful as you feel you can't ask how they did for fear of making them feel bad if they've not passed! A good friend's DS sat T and has been interviewed - that wait for interview invites was horrendous, especially when DSs came through a few days before hers. I am dreading results day as it could end up being bittersweet. I am sure both our DSs have got in though.

frankies69 · 09/02/2012 18:22

My Ds schools claim to fame is that they had one girl go to OP last year, but they very rarely get boys or girls applying for any of the grammar or indie schools. Still just makes the whole experience more special Grin

SoupDragon · 09/02/2012 18:27

Well, they'll be able to have another claim to fame courtesy of your DS :o

frankies69 · 09/02/2012 19:31

Soup Thank you xx Wink

SoupDragon · 09/02/2012 20:09

Of course they will have to brush under the carpet the fact that his mother is in prison for assault committed upon a poor unsuspecting postie Wink

frankies69 · 09/02/2012 21:53

he he....poor postie Blush

Selina · 09/02/2012 22:35

@frankie69 .... We were also slightly off radar as most of the boys were not thinking of Whitgift -- all off to boarding schools or v v expensive day schools.Lucikly found out 2 other boys sat for W so keeping our fingers crossed for all of them .
@ Juicy well done DD whichbchoolmwas it ?
I love reading this thread and never miss a night catching up after work...

I have to admit I'm not stressed over this but probably because DS can stay on until 13 at his prep school.Only a handful have sat 11 plus type schools ,most do common entrance.

1 more week..7 days ....and 49 posts to go.I'm not thinking about it ....really ..no..I'm not .....

I feel like I know you all and think it's so funny.DH thinks I'm addicted .

Live in daytight compartments ...one day at a time ....
Night night ..its snowing in SW20