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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:

bilton2 · 03/02/2011 11:35

I'm new here, so first of all HI!!! :)

My DS took 11+ at both W and T and has been rejected by both. (although not in writing by W, we found out on the phone!)

W was our first choice and DS is really upset about it. He's very sporty and we have a family connection to the school so we thought these things might go in his favour, but obviously not!

I was just wondering if anyone has any idea if there is any point reapplying there at 12+, or if the fact that he didn't even get an interview at 11+ will have put them off? Any advice would be fantastic!

stressederica · 03/02/2011 11:38

Thanks SoupDragon, that's really helpful. I feel like I'm the only one who's fretting! DS and DH are both quite cool about the whole thing although DS is getting increasingly excited about the prospect of starting at either W or T. He is not being stretched or challenged at his current school and I'm worried about year 6 being a complete waste of a year if he doesn't get offered a place. Do you know how many offers T and W send out? Someone told me that her nephew who sat the 11+ has already been offered places at Caterham, Whitgift, Trinity and Sevenoaks! Is that possible? I thought all the letters are sent out on the same day, i.e. 17th February. Is she bluffing?

Ladymuck · 03/02/2011 11:46

Bilton, Sorry it was bad news. The differences in the way that the 2 schools communicate also doesn't help the process. Neither school will object to another application at 12+ or 13+, though of course you need to think about getting another head's report. Certainly the local 13+ prep schools (Cumnor House, Bickley Park, Homefield) all take in boys at year 7 and prep them for 13+, usually with good results. It has been known for boys rejected at 11 to get scholarships at 13.

bilton2 · 03/02/2011 11:55

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement! That certainly makes me feel a bit better! I was actually considering moving him to Cumnor.

It's interesting that you mentioned the head's report as I was wondering how much influence this has on the decision making process at Whitgift. We know his report from his current school wasn't good, so is it possible this made a difference, as that would explain alot??

SoupDragon · 03/02/2011 12:04

Stressederica, I am fairly certain that neither Whitgift nor Trinity offer places before the February date, although it was clear from our interviews that DS1 would be offered places at both.

SoupDragon · 03/02/2011 12:06

Bilton, did he get an interview at either?

morethanlikely · 03/02/2011 12:17

i am slightly worried about the possibility of having no offers despite interviews for W&T. I have a feeling that the 13+route is even more competitive with a greater number of exams to prepare for. is this the case/

Original poster

mummax · 03/02/2011 14:05

We were told by our DS's Head teacher and at our W and T interview that the school report carries a fair bit of weight.
We also know of a child who was turned down at 10+. He was invited for an interview after the 11+ exam on the proviso that his school report was good and showed that he had made all round improvement. At the interview he had to talk about any improvements he had made and what he would do to continue improving.

Therefore it is worth applying again.
After all things can change.

OP posts:

stressederica · 03/02/2011 14:26

SoupDragon,how was it made clear to you? Did they specifically say so or did you infer it from their comments? Where is your DS now and how is he getting on? Thanks again for all your help.:)

It's nice to see some new posts. I've been reading last year's posts over and over again for the last couple of weeks! Glad I joined.:)

SoupDragon · 03/02/2011 16:07

The didn't say "we are going to offer DS a place" but it was fairly clear it was simply a matter of what scholarship they would be offering. It was last year and I was a bit freaked out by the whole process TBH :)

IIRC, they made a big thing of how well he had performed in each part of the exam, in one case showing me his marks when they "weren't meant to". They made it clear that he was being considered for a scholarship and, in the case of Trinity, I was under the impression that the interview was a formality to check he hadn't been hothoused. Other than that, I think it was the language they used eg "he will do very well here". As I said, it's all kind of hazy and I was kind of being swept along by it all.

SoupDragon · 03/02/2011 16:08

Oh, he's at Trinity and loving it. Although he needs a rocket up his rear end at homework time - that's the shock of going from state primary :o

cooney · 03/02/2011 16:46

Well, got our rejection letter today. Beack to the drawing board for next year.

4schoolmum · 03/02/2011 19:33

OH NO...sorry to hear that (sad) I hope your DS not too upset....I think it is us parents who are most devastated. I am still hoping DS gets a place . I think he will have had good reference from current school so hopefully that helps and he says he did well answering the maths questions but he is always overconfident....I am now fretting because when he came out the teacher who had questioned him (It really can't be classed as an interview!) looked at me shiftily!!!( LOL....now I sound completely mad !!)..as if he couldn't meet my eye as DS had failed!!
Oh Soup Dragon.....wish I was in your position with son already in!

morethanlikely · 04/02/2011 08:33

any response to my prevoius queries. i am trying to prepare for all eventualities if there are no offers come february.

Ladymuck · 04/02/2011 10:09

If I recall correctly Whitgift and Trinity still do their 13+ on the basis of maths and English papers prepared by the school - can't remember whether there is still VR at 13+. If the boys pass this then they do sit common entrance but only for setting purposes. Wallington Boys also has a 13+ sitting, as does Caterham.

How competitive really depends on how many other boys sit and how many spaces are available, which tends to move each year. As T has become more popular the school is now making fewer offers/place as it is probably only in the last few years that they are the preferred school over W for the majority. But all schools over-offer as they know that the strong candidates will invariably get a number of offers.

It certainly isn't easier to get in at 13, but I'm not sure that it is vastly more difficult, and obviously it gives some boys the time to mature and prove themselves.

SoupDragon · 04/02/2011 12:17

4schoolmum - don't envy me too much, DS2 sits them next January :o

Last year, Trinity over offered, or rather had a much higher take up of offers than they anticipated at 11+. They added an extra class. I wonder if this is why the exam this year is rumoured to have been noticeably more difficult than Whitgift.

Ladymuck · 04/02/2011 12:59

Certainly we know more boys who were interviewed by W only, but didn't get asked for interview at T. Mr Bishop has been very clear all year that he doesn't intend to have an extra class in future years.

But then I think for both schools it has been the highest number of boys ever sitting the exams.

morethanlikely · 04/02/2011 13:37

Thanks Ladymuck. May explore the prep school route as a back up. Ds not particularly strong academically a good average actually but loves the sports side of school life. fingers crossed that all goes according to plan.

Ladymuck · 04/02/2011 13:54

Did he get offered a sports assessment? Has he done the various sports courses they do for potential new boys?

Unfortunately I think that both schools are primarily after bright boys, and only then look at sport/music, though of course there have been exceptions over the years (and in some years lots of exceptions!).

morethanlikely · 04/02/2011 14:55

No didn't even go there as I thought that they have to be potentially at county level. he simply enjoys sport, plays for the school team in rugby, cricket and football but he is not exceptional. He said both his interviews for W & T went well although he did say that he found the T papers quite hard. so if they weed out after interviews I'm hoping that I do not have the.... it's with regret we are unable to offer.....

SoupDragon · 04/02/2011 16:42

Oh god... I so do not want to have to do this again next year! It's all coming flooding back...

stressederica · 04/02/2011 16:44

SoupDragon, glad your DS is doing well at Trinity. I'm expecting a real shock to the system for my DS too if he gets offered a place.His current state primary seems to be a walk in the park and that's year 5! There was a lot of talk about that year being very important, challenging, a step up etc but it's been anything but and DS is so ready to move on.

What made you go for Trinity over Whitgift? I don't envy you having to go through all this again next year.

Hi all, DS found the 10+ at T a lot harder than the one at W. Mr B told us that he wants to avoid an extra class this year because of the big uptake last year. DS's interview at T was also tougher. He had to answer some mental maths questions as well as read a text and answer questions about it.The feeling I have is T is definitely weeding out those they want from the interviews and I also hope I don't get the 'It's with regret..'

SoupDragon · 04/02/2011 18:50

They offered him the biggest scholarship :o

No, seriously,

he is a keen sportsman rather than a gifted one so would get more chances to play (allegedly) at Trinity.
It is just so friendly. I felt relaxed there compared to Whitgift (which I loved) where I felt like I shouldn't be there.
Trinity will suit DS2 far bettter than Whitgift. I felt that Whitgift would try to shove his square peg into their round hole whereas Trinity would gently mould him and find middle ground. He is, shall we say, a Live Wire.

NoseyNooNoo · 04/02/2011 20:58

Hello, sorry to hijack the thread. My children are years off from applying for independent schools in the area but their state primary schoool is unlikely to helpful in preparing them for entrance exam and interview. How do you know how to prepare your child for the process?

basildonbond · 04/02/2011 21:31

soupDragon

my ds is a 'live wire' (slight understatement there )and W has been perfect for him - the staff have only ever approached him as an individual - they know just what makes him tick and he is extremely happy and doing very well

T comes across as more gentle and touchy-feely, but to be honest, I think it's a very superficial difference

the other contrast between the two schools is that W actively welcomes boys who may have had difficulties fitting in at primary school (as long as they're bright and have something to offer the school) - it has quite a number of boys with statements for various reasons, whereas T won't accept boys with a statement

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