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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:
stressederica · 24/02/2011 07:55

Thank you generalhaig and cooney for feedback on W. You are all so helpful! Glad to hear that both your DSs are doing well at W.

generalhaig, did your ds travel on his own on public transport from the start? Where did he travel from? I'm hoping that we will eventually end up with the same scenario, i.e. where he finds friends to travel with. This is the only aspect that is still troubling me. I still walk DS to school.

Cooney, thanks for the tip about the exhaustion. We have been warned. DS probably wouldn't know what's hit him. He is enjoying such a cruise at his current school that he'll probably get the shock of his life.

Has any of the DSs ever used the school bus service? It just seems to leave the school so late. Do the boys have lots of extra-curricular activities after school? When do they do their homework? Is there a lot of it?

Sorry about all the questions. I'm a first timer!

generalhaig · 24/02/2011 08:06

stressederica - yes, ds went by public transport from the start - we did a phased withdrawal for the first week - day 1 dh went with him all the way to the school gates and I picked him up, day 2 dh went on the train but left him at South Croydon, and I met him at South Croydon on the way home, day 3 we took him to the station here (one of the Streatham ones) etc so by the end of the week he was happily skipping off by himself. He had a cheap PAYG mobile so if there was a problem with the trains he could let us know. It was all remarkably easy and they do grow up enormously very quickly.

It helped that we have a simple journey with no changes and that there are loads of boys on that train plus a couple of teachers - the W boys tend to stick to the same carriage and by the time they get to South Croydon there's about 35 of them all trooping down the hill. The older ones are very good at looking out for the littlies if needed.

Homework - there's not too much (although ds would probably disagree) = certainly less than friends with dc at the grammars - if they get the school bus they either do an after school club or go to the junior library and get most of their homework done there

first half term is absolutely shattering - they really need that 2 week half term break - and they come back from it rejuvenated and ready to go

a lot of them are in the same situation - many have been big fish in very small ponds, cruising along at the top of the class with minimal effort and finding themselves in a group of similar boys can come as a bit of a shock ...

stressederica · 24/02/2011 12:11

Great generalhaig! We'll give the 'phased withdrawal' technique a go. DS's journey on public transport would involve tram or train plus bus from East Croydon. Once he's through the first term, I'm hopeful that things will get easier and that he'll settle in nicely and get used to the new routine. I so agree with 'big fish in very small ponds'. DS has got to a point where he really needs to be challenged and pushed and being with boys of similar abilities will definitely stimulate and encourage him to use his full potential. So much to look forward to! Like any other mum, I just want him to be happy. Smile

cooney · 24/02/2011 15:53

DS takes the school bus (he hasn't enough hands to carry kit bag, school bag and various instruments - including doublebass). Twice he has missed the bus and had to take public transport (doublebass stayed at home!), first time was rather nerve racking for him until he got to the station and there were a number of other W boys at the station and he followed them. At East Croydon he met 5 boys from his own class and came to school with them. The bus does leave late however DS has something on nearly everyday until the bus leaves. On the rare occasion that something is cancelled I'm afraid that it is not homework he chooses to do but 'chat' with his friends, but is OK too as there has to be time for friends also. Now, though I don't need to call him in the morning he is up showered and packed by 6.30. I'm no longer like a fishwife in the mornings trying to get him out of bed and in the car at 8.00am. It's a calmer world all round.

SoupDragon · 25/02/2011 10:57

You're not longer like a fishwife?? How the hell did you manage that?

cooney · 25/02/2011 14:52

Ok still like a fishwife at bedtime!

stressederica · 28/02/2011 10:22

Thanks for all your reassurances. Somehow, I can't imagine DS being up, showered and packed by 6.30! Who knows? I may be in for a surprise. We'll use the school bus service for the first year and see how we get on. DS is very excited about starting at W and really can't wait!

albird · 28/02/2011 14:38

stresseserica

We accepted the place at Whitgift this morning - I feel a lot better now! I will take DS for first term and see how it goes, then think about the bus - may see you at the bus stop!! I can always offer lifts in emergencies!

Good luck to your DS in year 6.

stressederica · 28/02/2011 19:29

Great! Congratulations! See you at the bus stop. We'll start DS off on the school bus and see how he gets on. Thanks for the offer of lifts in emergencies. Smile Same here!

Good luck to your DS too. Isn't it so exciting for them?

I have to figure out how to keep DS interested and focused at school for the next couple of months! He thinks he's entitled to a very long extended holiday!

4schoolmum · 10/03/2011 21:13

Postscript.......We got the right envelope!!!

morethanlikely · 11/03/2011 09:42

Congratulations to your DS!

Got the right envelope too. DS starts W Sept.

bandasmum · 18/09/2011 14:36

Hi

My DS will be trying for the 10+ at both T and W in Feb 2012. can anyone advise if we have any hope of getting a bursary, our income is low but we have a lot of equity in our property, is it worth trying at all? He is also going to try for a sports scholarship. Also, if we do apply for a bursary place and he passes the exam and excels at the sporting appraisals but we are not awarded a bursary does that exclude him from being offered a "normal" place with maybe a scholarship?

Ladymuck · 18/09/2011 15:30

At the risk of being a pedant, the 10+ exam is in January, not February. I believe that your question should be answered here, but basically the scholarships are awarded by the school and the bursaries are awarded by the Foundation. So it is perfectly possible, and reasonably common, to have both a scholarship and bursary. The school decides how much they want him (either as a normal entrance or with a scholarship) and then the Foundation determine what if any bursary he could be awarded. At the girls school there is a "no bursary before 11+" rule, so it may be worth asking whether you have a better chance at either 10+ or 11+.

Asterisk · 02/10/2011 19:31

Hi all. Does anyone know if the verbal reasoning at T is multiple choice or not? I forgot to ask at the open day yesterday. Thanks!

ROZ12 · 02/11/2011 01:41

Hi all,

Do any of you know a good tutor for private school entrance tests in Croydon area?

Private message be great with any contact details.

Thanks

frankies69 · 07/01/2012 08:45

Hi all

Has anyone sat for W last week?? My son sat and said he feels it went quite well. He is sitting T next week, we are just hoping for one of them.

My son is 'very enthusiastic' for W but goes to state school and therefore doesn't get the additional support the private schools give.

Would like to hear from others.

frankies69 · 07/01/2012 08:48

Hi the vr at W wasn't...would assume similar at T

SoupDragon · 07/01/2012 08:50

DS2 sat W and also feels he did well. Who knows? :o He's also at state primary, as was DS1.

He's also doing T and DS1 goes there. TBH, I don't care which DS2 gets to (vague preference for T I guess but I"m not overly bother). Whichever wants him the most can have him :o

Assuming someone wants him.

frankies69 · 07/01/2012 09:23

Hi, my DS is our first!! We didn't even think of these schools until he was in yr5 and went for a week exchange programme and came home saying "I want that as my senior school!!!".

My hubby is preferential to W but I like both...wasn't sure of W at first but now after a second visit and chat with HM I am equally happy with both. Just hope he done enough for interview!!!
Have you applied to state schools too???? :o
Hope your DS does well

SoupDragon · 07/01/2012 09:36

Yes our fall back state schools are Wilsons and Riddlesdown.

I think the feel at T & W are very different. I felt comfortable at T and slightly "I Shouldn't Be Here" at W. Academically, there's nothing to choose between them really.

Good luck to your DS too :)

frankies69 · 07/01/2012 09:44

He didn't like Riddlesdown, did it as a taster for him. Plus it a bit of a distance for us...

Done Wilsons but unfortunately was just off the mark...he done lots of work since then so hopefully he done enough.

He said his other favourit was Shirley High cos of the performing arts and music so he sat that...Roll on March for that one. Confused

My preference is W to be truthful!! Blush

:)

SoupDragon · 07/01/2012 09:48

I don't like Riddlesdown much but at least it is a guaranteed place. DS2 did pass Wilsons although we have no idea whether he is high enough up the list to get a place (340 passed, 120 places or something like that).

DS1 did not pass Wilsons, missed by a few marks, yet gained places at both W and T with a good academic scholarship at T. There is hope!

W - I've said it before and I'll say it again: Flamingos, purple capes and peacocks. What's not to love? :o W will always be my favourite in my heart but my head tells me that T probably suits us better.

SoupDragon · 07/01/2012 09:50

When I say I don't like Riddlesdown, it;s because DS2 would just coast along there I think. He is very bright but very lazy and stubborn as hell.

frankies69 · 07/01/2012 09:54

It is refreshing to talk to someone who has been and is going through the same as us.
It frightens the hell out of me that my DS is going to big school in September!!!
Lets hope he just gets into one because it will break his heart if he doesn't!!
But we told him his best is good enough for us, if not for them!!!

Here's hoping for a phone call or letter in the next week and the misery waiting for W will be over and we can then just put all our hopes into the other!! lol

Sounds promising if you DS1 was in the same boat as our DS but they look for different things at Wilsons, it because they free!!!!

Oh well a few more grey hairs over the next cpl weeks won't hurt I suppose

frankies69 · 07/01/2012 09:56

ooh SoupDragon just seen your second post...Your DS sounds EXACTLY like mine!!! They would get on well if they met!!!! :o

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