The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013

[hardboiled]

I thought I would start this tradition once again while we all wait? DS only sat Trinity...

Fatal nothing here either, no phone call, no letter, nothing!
We are none the wiser since ds did the exam on Jan 10th.

Hang in there Fatal & Trashpack - Unfortunately someone has to be last in the long process and there are still a few days to go. We know someone who got a call (not letter) around 3rd week after exam and DS is at school now.

Fatal & Trashpack - listen to burntoutdad and keep telling yourself that no news is good news. Are you waiting for Whitgift, Trinity or both? The Trinity 10+ letter that we got on exam day said if you haven't heard anything by tomorrow you could phone admissions...

Thanks for your words of support burntoutdad and Inneedofwine, it is a true waiting game. But that's encouraging about the ds who got the call 3 weeks after exam.
Ds did 11+ at Whitgift only.

Hi all, taking ages to catch up on thread. Oh yes, I remember the peacock scenario and I was guilty of stalking the postie-poor chap, he's going to be looking over his shoulder all over again this year! Don't give up fatal and trash pack. We received a letter and phone call today confirming sports assessment Monday and interview on Tuesday. FYI, my ds passed the 11+ exam and apparently did well in the interview with T last year but still didn't get in. I believe this was because his English let him down and at the end of the day, 80 others had a higher mark and accepted the place.
The anguish is bad now but believe me, from experience, it gets much worse when waiting for the acceptance letter in February. I turned from a couple of glasses of vino a week into a fully fledged alcoholic!!

Sorry Trashpack just want to clarify, if you havent heard from Whitgift by Saturday then assume you are waiting for a rejection letter? I know Trinity have already sent a friend of my a rejection letter (DS didnt sit exam there). Also was told that everyone gets accepted to Royal Russell but the places go to the first to call up, accept and pay terms fee on Feb 14th - is this true?

Yes Bedgers, the Admissions lady told me that if we hadn't had an invitation by Saturday at the latest, then we could assume that ds hasn't done well enough to be considered for interview.

But from what other helpful members have told me, it isn't over until the large boned lady sings! So, I'm hanging in there...along with Fatalflowergarden and everyone else who is waiting for news.

Does anyone have any idea at all how many (roughly) are rejected after interview at W for 10+?? I don't know what feels worse - getting rejected after exam, where at least you know that its the exam work that needs improvement or rejected at interview where they decide that although DS passed the exam DS would not quite make a suitable 'Whitgiftian'
I wouldn't think that they actually go to waiting list as they seem to over offer by a large margin, so the interview is your shot! but cant explain that to a 9 year old, it seems a bit too final.

I don't think so badgers but not sure. Royal Russell have fewer places available than those who sat the exam.

Thanks Trashpack. Its been such a stressful time. I'm willing Feb 14th to come so it will all be over - What a great Valentine's Day!

Burnt out dad I asked how many they interview, I was told about 85% who sit the exam. They examined about 190 at 10+ so I guess the odds post interview are still between a 1 in 2 and a 1 in 3. I really dont feel confident after the interview. It was indicated that although he had done very well in maths his English was below average. The interviewer also commented that he seemed very young -well he would he was only nine at the end of August.
Fingers crossed postie brings good news today for Fatal and trash

Bedgers, was thinking about your question this morning about RR. That can't be true as the girls all received their offers week beginning 14th jan. so the girls part is complete.

therugratref thanks for getting some info on interviews and offers since I was really curious myself. Yikes 85% of W test-takers get interviews! I agree with burntoutdad that if my DS doesn't get an offer I really wish he hadn't "passed" the test in the first place! I know it's traditional to wait at least until noon to hit the bottle but I think I might start early . On second thoughts my company policy probably doesn't allow it...

therugratref - If your info is correct the odds may be better than you think. 190 take test, around 162 interviewed (85 %) and say around 115 offered. This gives around 2 in 3 (no help if Ds happens to be the 1 in 3!) but gives a hope. It is though assuming a 60 pupil intake.
They usually over offer because as I've posted previously, for some it wont be first choice (may prefer T, as it seems quite a few do), some may not get financial assistance/scholarships which means they have to reject the offer, and some have done it for the experience and didn't intend to go in at 10+ anyway. At 10+ they are not competing with the grammars, but at 11+ some rejections will happen due to this.
Your DS is very young, he did well to get to get to interview and surely they should take their ages into account? The grammars add points on for age groups to even scores. My DS is young too, i think that there is a difference between 9 and 10 year old boys, they seem to 'grow up' around this age.

Thanks burntoutdad. Hard to know how much age is taken into account. My DS sat the 11+ and being July born is the youngest in his class (he's gone to some of his classmates 12th birthdays! yet he's still 10.) I think if parents point it out and explain this it gets factored in though (which we certainly did.) Don't ask me why there are 12 years olds in Year 6 -- that's another topic I suspect.

Most boys will have sat for both T and W so that adjusts the odds as they can, obviously, only accept one of them (and there may be other schools they have sat for, particularly at 11+)

rugratref I know DS2's scores from last year's T 11+ and he did "very well" in maths. His English mark however was half this! They still offered him a place and were very keen to have him.

I think that they give the English test at 10+ (10+ is the same exam as 11+ btw) as a gauge to see what level they are at and do not necessarily expect boys in particular to pass with flying colours (my DS for instance wrote some random essay so we pleasantly surprised to be called back!). Those that do well may be offered higher academic scholarships. I believe though that they expect maths to be at a high level, and it seems this is borne out in interviews where it seems the majority have been asked maths questions.

Can anyone advise what type of maths questions are asked? are they quick fire mental or asked to write answers? Simple or tricky? any examples (i understand if some parents are competitive so wouldn't want to 'give anything away )

burntoutdad the math questions weren't particularly tricky. My DS did them in his head but then he's never been one to ever write anything down much to my annoyance and detriment to his grades--. The questions were word problems rather than a simple "what's x divided by y..." DS sat the 11+ so could be different for other years.

I know off a boy who was asked a
Maths question about the volume of the room !!!

Hurray! Just had a call phone T re interview for DS (10+) on Wednesday!! Looks like they are still calling out! Hang on in there anyone waiting for a call!

Burntoutdad my DS at 10+, had very simple questions at maths. Simple arithmetic type question as far as I remember.. He isn't one to give much detail and I didn't want to stress/ harass him, but he said he had to do addition, subtractions etc and easy enough to do mentally.

All the best to your DS.

Kylep, is that at 10+? Wow!!!! Maybe he is scholarship material!

Well done to Goldfishmum & all the best to your DS

Somelikeithot yes it was for 10+ lucky enough the boy knew how to work it out, they had been taught it at ch my ds wouldn't have had a clue well done to your ds goldfish it's a great feeling first hurdle passed