The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013

[hardboiled]

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

trash - sorry to hear your news but trying to be positive a 'very unlikely' is still not a 'no'. at least by Monday you will know either way, I agree the not knowing is difficult. It seems that the rejection letters haven't gone out yet so many more parents would have been waiting this long, not so nice .
The numbers seem to change on every call to the office - 600 then 800 and now 900. it seems to grow year on year which is making me think that next year, if we have to do it all again the competition will be even higher.
Still rooting for you trash, you seem very supportive so whatever happens im sure your DS will be fine

trashpack part of me thinks that if a boy doesn't make it to interview, then it wasn't the right school for him. Doesn't make it any easier mind you.

Thanks kima, I'm sure your ds will do very well in whichever is your preference.

I love your description of "a warm feeling" , I think we all know that feeling when it comes to our ds's choice of school.

Good luck with the back-up - should you need it.

Sorry trashpack I havent made the call! I know I will be told the same as you but would just rather hear the news on email or in a letter! Will let you know when they respond to my email. So at least there are 300 other parents/DS who have been in the same situation as us - just wish they had been on this thread - was a little disconcerting being the only two not to hear! Make sure you let me know what happens on March 1st. Thanks for your support.

Thanks burnt and soup, your comments mean a lot. I admire your positivity burnt but I think it's the end of the road.

That's a great way to look at it soup, I think you're absolutely right if a boy doesn't make it to interview then it wasn't the right school for him.

soup, you're mumsnet royalty and I feel honoured that you've made a comment! trash curtseys awkwardly

I am so not royalty I've just been here forever.

Sorry Bedgers, I wasn't sure if you were going to phone or not. But your ds could still get a call on Monday though. From reading between the lines of the phone call, I feel the lady knew ds's name not on her list of names for phoning.

Gosh, when you say it like that - there are 300 other parents out there going through the same thing. That never occurred to me! I thought it was just you and me!!

Good luck to your ds for next school...did your ds take exams at any other schools?

Trashpack just to say that am confident that with an involved mum like you, your DS will be fine(whether it is at W or somewhere else) and also wishing you the best of luck for 1 March offers.

...thanks everyone for the good wishes; even though am tagging onto this thread.

Trash and bedgers- I feel your dissapointment. Been there, felt that hence having another go this year so put it down to experience and a year makes a big difference if you decide to go for it again. Your ds will know what to expect, nerves won't be quite as bad, year older etc etc.

Burnt-ds felt more confident after interview this year than last. We know his weaker subject last year was English, so hence he saw the English teacher for interview. This year we've been told he more than scrapped through however he saw an English And maths teacher and came out with a big smile on his face and said it went well. So who knows!
Did anyone else see both teachers at T?

From this forum it seems that T interviews are tougher on the DS's than at W. Is this the case?

Hi not sure if T interviews tougher or not! Someone told me that her DS was asked how to separate sand and salt at W interview! My DS just had to answer some maths questions at T and didn't seem too phased by it. Although him saying " I felt fairly confident that I had answered them ok but they were quite difficult" doesn't fill me with much confidence! Really hope he gets through on sporting ability!! Did anyone else get a phone call from the sports master? We did and I don't know whether this is good news re scholarship or not?!? I do hope so but I'm prob reading far too much into it!!! Read loads on here re academic scholarships but don't know much about how they decide the sports ones. Im pretty sure My DS won't qualify for an academic scholarship, so counting on sports and bursary!!
In ref to the back up plan, we are really lucky that we do have a really good state secondary near to us which DS will go to if T doesn't work out. I'd be happy for him to go there, although I do love T!!

My DS found T the easiest one. No subject questions at all - just a general chat.

Trashpack and bedgers - you're both going to get the right results in the end. Wherever your dses end up going to school, they're going to be happy and do well because they already have the most important aspect covered - great parents who are involved and committed and who care. And that sounds like a platitude but it's not! Fwiw I also think Soupy is right... there is a reason behind this stuff that isn't always apparent at the time but I'm a great believer in fate etc. Your boys will go to the school they're meant to go to...

Goldfish678mum - not sure about T sports scholarships but at W they have an assessment day where the morning is spent doing conditioning games and fitness testing. The afternoon is spent playing the 4 core sports rugby, hockey, football and cricket. Boys who are applying for specific sports may be called back for a reassessment in their chosen sport.
Once assessed the sports coach puts his recommendations into the head re scholarships. only x pot of money so could be shared between boys or all given to one 'star'. Havent had call from sports head so don't know if this is done at W, but it sounds as though they want you to know he is being considered for a scholarship but without actually telling you maybe.

DS found T interview definitely more challenging than W, but said he enjoyed the T one more. He was interviewed by Just one person at T, lasted about 30 mins or so . And talked quite a bit about the trophy he took in, had comprehension as well as maths. Maths was def. more changeling at T.

At W he was asked about himself, had very basic maths and to talk about his composition.

Thank you stress and Fatal, too true about believing in fate. If its meant to be...it's meant to be. Tbh, I think ds would have struggled at W and I wouldn't want that for him.

REALLY hoping you all hear good news on the 15th....but especially you stress, after last years disappointment (fingers crossed smiley!)

Trashpack, sorry to hear that. Catholic is a good alternative I think.
kimalima, my DS only sat for 10+ so we still have another year of waiting anxiously if he doesn't get in this time.
Backup plan is to apply to a few schools including flexi boarding, we are prepared to move if need be!
This sounds bad, right?

We had rugby recall yesterday. Very muddy boys at the end of it all! Good thing was W let them shower afterwards.

Goldfish, did T call you about anything in particular re sports, or was it a general chat around sports? We had a sports assessment as well, but no phone calls.

Also, does anyone know if T does call backs for any sports?

Last year a friend's DS got a callback for sports at T. I don't know if they always do though.

Hi somelikeithot -well done for recal - we had sports assessment and apparently DS called over to see swim master to ask him some questions about how long he'd been swimming, where, what galas etc, then we got a call the next day asking us the same things plus if we had applied for other schools etc.
Said he was impressed but didn't give anything else away! Maybe we were called because they don't do recalls for swimming so maybe they do this instead?!? Who knows! DS then had interview a few days later but nothing mentioned about it. Didn't speak to he head thou. Don't really want to know his failings just yet. I'll ask if we have to go through this process again next year (please no!!) good luck x

Somelikeithot: sorry I lurk in the background cheering when things go well commiserating when they don't and adding a comment here and there. I have heard of only 1 other person who got a phonecall from t after sports assessment and that was re rugby so wouldn't worry if you haven't heard as seems to be exception rather then rule and no one seems to have had any callbacks. Hope this helps.

Very very best of luck to everyone for the 15th.

Soup, goldfish & Croydonmum, thanks for your responses, all helped. I guess with everything we can physically do over for now, the only thing to do is ponder.

Roll on 15th of Feb.....

Trash-you're an angel, thank you. x

All the best to all those who have interviews today.

seems to have gone a bit quiet on here? Everyone over the initial shock to the system and slowly returning to getting on with their lives I suppose Anyone have interviews today and want to share their experiences?