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, well done and well done to your ds! Brilliant news, I'm so happy for you both. Thank goodness for your good neighbour!

Good luck for Tuesday xx

Hurrah great news fatal, I have been waiting for it

Fantastic news Fatal, you must be delighted. We are at W on Tues too.
T interview yesterday was interesting. My DS was asked questions about the Queen, opinions on staying in the EU and the power of the PM. His answers made me want to both cringe and laugh out loud. He said the teacher couldn't stop laughing at his responses.
I've come to the conclusion that as he's a quirky,opinionated and feisty character,which he didn't hide at interview obviously, the school can decide whether he fits or not.
I have suggested he isn't quite as amusing in his answers at W. They probably won't appreciate him wanting to be a rock band drummer!

suz742 - Wow! Cant imagine my DS having any answers at all to those kind of questions, let alone funny ones. What age group is your DS?

He's 10+. I think his answers were football related, need to stay in EU to ensure we stay in Euro Championship etc. Interviewer was a History teacher so maybe they are given licence to ask around their area. Goodness knows how they then judge or score them. She probably wrote my DS is a cheeky 'rough around the edges' chappy, if she was being kind!

suz742 - Wow again! Now im worried again, im sure my DS would not answer those kind of questions at all. Interview tomorrow, was fairly relaxed but now wish I hadn't looked at thread this evening

Hooray fatal! The fat lady sang!

I think we underestimate our children sometimes. I didn't think he would be able to discuss whether the PM or Queen has more power but they pick up info and opinions from school and TV. Certainly couldn't have prepped him. I think schools are looking for kids to be able to give their little perspective on life and even with prompting all of them have that. I made the mistake of saying tell them you want to be an architect, that sounds good. When actually asked this question he said my mum wants me to be an architect but I want to be a drummer! Teach me to interfere. Good luck tomorrow, I'm sure he'll shine.

Burntoutdad best of luck for tomorrow and for football callback. I really don't think you need to worry too much about what type of questions or how your ds will answer. Schools know exactly what they are looking for and will get the best out of all our ds's no matter how shy. Incidentally have heard of a number of callbacks for rugby some for cricket a few for both but no one else for football. Go back to relaxing!

suz742 - How funny is that??
Croydonmumtods - Just poured a drink and kicked back (well not kicked back exactly, as working late again making up time spent stressing during the week). DW prepping herself as DS said before bed 'Mum, Dad its a very important day for me tomorrow and they might want to talk to you too - so don't fluff it for me!'
Kids!

Hurrah Fatal! Make sure your kind neighbour is on the lookout for the letters on Feb 15th!!!
Burntoutdad try not to worry about the interview at W, it was friendly, and really you can view it as your opportunity to ask questions about the school. W really want you to like them too! And our experience was that the teacher interviewing was skilled and really "got" our boy in the short time he was with him. Best of luck!

Apologies, intruder (though big brother went to Whitgift). Just wondering why these two schools spark such big threads year on year. Is it simply density of population? Can anyone tell me how many apps there are per place? (interested to compare with grammars such as Tiffin). What are the differences perceived to be between Trinity and Whitgift these days? Sorry to butt in, but interested, mostly for old times' sake.

Fatal am so happy for you and your DS. Tapping into your luck for CLSB this week .

All the best for tomorrow, burnoutdad. And same to everyone else with interviews.

Fatal- sooooooo happy for you! Just goes to show that good things come to those that wait! Thought that it would b good news!
You must have been dancing round your flat! Good luck for tues. just take it easy - plenty of vino!!
My DS has interview Wed at T. Bit worried now I've read about what others have been asked! Sure my DS doesn't even know what the EU is! And I'm not sure he's even 100% on who the PM is let alone whether he should b running the country or not! Think I'm gona stop worrying about it. He is who he is - and he's a great kid so if they don't like him then its their loss!! He can only b himself right?!?
Kinda just want the whole thing over now! Not really sure we can afford it anyway!

Goldfish678mum - Here,Here! well said, could not agree with you more

Great news Fatal - really pleased for you!!

burntoutdad - good luck to you and yours at interview today. Hope it goes well.

Good luck to all those interviewing this week.

Thanks all . I am on a high, especially after seeing ds's face as he read the letter. Think he's now quite nervous but I've told him to just be himself and enjoy it all. Tbh the main thing for me is that he's passed the exam - I was so worried that I'd been pushing him to do something he maybe wasn't up to... anyway, smiles all round!

Loads of luck today burntoutdad! Trashpack I'm proof there's still time, fingers still crossed for you.

suz - I'm sure the school will not see anything wrong with wanting to be a rock drummer at age 11 - entirely normal boy, which is what i am sure they are looking for!

Could be a great career if he gets in the right band!

In DD's leaving yearbook at the end of yr 6 half the class said they wanted to be corporate lawyers when they grew up. Made me feel rather that they had all given up their childish dreams so young.

Alot of the questions asked don't have a right/wrong answer (apart from the maths obviously ). They are just looking to see if the boys have a bit of a spark - imagination, initiative etc. Moat will be able to respond in some way - although not necessarily in the way we would see as being 'correct'. That is why you can't really coach/prompt for the interviews - they are best left to their own ideas. Good luck to everyone this week.

Fingers crossed for every one :)

I agree - the interviews are more "chats". They want to know what your son is like. An exam won't tell them whether he is going to be the right boy for them or, perhaps more importantly, whether they are the right school for him.

I remember seeing lots of small boys trussed up in school uniform or shirt-and-tie clutching things which had obviously been specially prepared for the interview. I felt a little bit sorry for them. I took both mine dressed in ordinary clothes (clean and smart but comfortable!) and let them be natural. I think this helped them feel more relaxed about it all.

Also, I put on a damn good pretence of being cool calm and collected despite feeling sick inside!

Thanks to all the well wishers!- We are back after a very early start and now switch our attention to Wed's call back.
To all of those nervous of being interviewed - don't be!! (easy with hindsight I know). PopcornPizza is spot on. It is very informal and they put you at ease from the minute you say hello. We were totally shocked at the way DS conducted himself (after labelling him as shy and not talkative) and welled with pride when told he interviewed very well.
We were interviewed by the Dep head who was very nice and complimentary about DS. He sounded very, very positive, but we are still a little cautious as it seems that W put a positive slant on everything (as recall letter!!) and have read on previous threads that even when told DS is a 'very strong candidate' its still too soon to count your chickens!
He did say that he feels that DS is definitely ready to move on from current school to a bigger challenge, has great potential and would thrive there (but we already knew all of this )
Scholarship not mentioned and we didn't ask.

Sounds very positive. Well done to your DS.