Whitgift school

[DivaMum23]

Hi Everyone I am new to this site and would appreciate your help with my dilemma. Just done the rounds of schools open days/evenings, my DS loves Whitgift I also like the school, problem is do I let DS sit the 10+ I feel he would benefit from another year at his current prep school then do the 11+. However I feel he would stand a better chance with the 10+ but I am worried about DS starting secondary school at 10+. Would love to hear from anyone whose DS started at WG at 10 how did they settle in what is the level of homework. Thank you

Um I don't know how much use this info is to you but DH (now mid 40s) started Whitgift as 10+ entry and it was the best thing he ever did educationally he feels (even to this day he mentions it!) .

He transferred from state primary and the "lower 1st" as it was then gave him a bit of a running start to catch the prep boys (who at that time did latin etc as well as a much more structured day etc).

Prep- early start at secondary perhaps isn't such and issue but I know my 3 bright state educated kids would have absolutely loved it and thrived educationally, instead of the "treading water whilst the others manage decent SATS " which is what the year really was.

Particularly if you think he'd have more chance of getting in at 10+ than 11+ go for it. As I say they have been taking 10+ entry for donkeys years and know how to look after the younger ones.

Definitely 10+ - the boys have a fantastic year - because they're not doing SATS or preparing for 11+ they have loads of time free in the curriculum to try out different things. The staff get to know the boys really well and the boys get to feel comfortable with the school routines so by the time the 11+ cohort arrives the lower first are all old hands. It is a completely different experience to the stress/boredom that is most kids' experience of year 6 - go for it :)

Homework was more than the minimum my ds had been doing at state primary but I suspect less than your ds has been used to at prep

They all find the first half term exhausting but after the half term break all ds' friends had settled in beautifully

Hot on discipline (one boy got asked to leave in y6) but again if your ds is at prep then prob not much different

Ds has been taking himself to school on the train now since he was 10 and it's done wonders for his confidence

I've also been thinking about sitting ds for the 10+ at Whitgift. I'm pretty sure my brother started there at 10, not 11 - will have to grill him about it He loved it, anyway, and I have heard good things about the Lower First year.

Ds is at a state primary - and whilst he loves it there I agree with the 'treading water' comment...

Will watch this thread with interest!

Thank you to everyone for your fantastic feedback. I have one more question does anyone who what the Whitgift pass mark is for 10+

Sorry my last message should have read
Thank you to everyone for all your fantastic feedback. I have one more question does anyone know what is the pass mark for Whitgift 10+ exam and scholarship pass mark. Thanks once again

It is not as straightforward as a single "passmark" as such, unlike the grammars. If a boy falls down on one paper this is "tested" at interview. The Headmasters report may make a difference. What other skills/talents a boy brings to the school makes a huge difference, and the school will look for raw academic potential (in particular via the verbal reasoning) rather than fully fledged achievement. Looking at boys who have/have not been offered places or scholarships I would say that the interview is very significant.

Ladymuck thanks for the feed back

If you let DS sit 10 plus and he fails he then gets a second chance next year.

Hi

I would like o try my daughter for Old Palace than a grammar school due to the fact I know she is quite talkative, good at English not so much maths and may take an average score. Could I ask if you are using a tutor to prep or know of any in the Croydon area?

Will be great help.

Thanks

LadyLapsang, that is my thought also he would know what to expext if he has to sit the 11+.

ROZ12 no I am not using a tutor DS maths is good, just needs a little help with his English. Speaking to his English teacher I know where he needs help so I use the Bond books. I also have a word list stuck on a wall for new words learnt, he then has to use the new words in stories he writes just to help extend his vocabulary. I found the Bonds books very good specially as you can chart their progress as they work through the books.