The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013

[hardboiled]

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

I've just remembered that when DS1 was going through this whole circus, the Trinity headmaster offered him the chance to spend a day at the school as part of a class.

Just to say, I do know of a boy from by son's prep school who started T year 6 (sept '11) and left after a year. He passed the 11+ exam and was offered a place at Wilsons which they accepted and he started Sept '12.

P34ches, yes. At T they do seem to tell the parents of scholarship candidates that an offer will be made, which is good of them because they get there first and steal your heart...

Next question then: how does the quality of education of Trinity compare with that of Wilsons?

Thanks soup and GoldenTicket

So pleased to see the thread active again, I was beginning to wonder how I was going to cope over the next 2 weeks ( less now).

It is hard not to dwell on the positive slant of interviews, we so will those potential offers to be so. Can't wait till the 15th when the letters are in our hands.

I know W, does a programme where schools in the area can send their boys for classes for a few days, I believe it is year 5 boys, or maybe end of year 4.

Does anyone know how W and T fair in the GSG?

Another question: how many of you have applied to both W and T, rather than just one? If you have applied to both, do you have a clear favourite?

We applied to both, and I know they are very different schools, but we see great advantages/opportunities for DS at both schools. If we are fortunate enough to get offers from both schools, it is going to be one tough decision to make. A very good problem to have though!

Eyeswideclosed, what about you?

I did hear that some ds take 10+ then intend to sit grammar exams and move if they pass. The schools obviously do not take kindly to this practice and i have read in the W literature somewhere that there is a financial penalty for this. i.e. If you leave in this way you are still liable for the next term/years fee as you have effectively signed a contract with the school.

Somelikeithot: ds has sat for both. Really liked both schools but T is the preferred choice.

how does the quality of education of Trinity compare with that of Wilsons?

I would love to know as DS passed the exams for both. Anyone has some insight to answer this very very interesting question?

eyeswideclosed, we only applied to T, because of the music.

We have only sat for W this year (10+). If ds isn't offered a place this year we will sit for both W and T (and prob Wilson's/Wally Boys). W will always be first choice for a variety of reasons but they are all great schools with plenty to recommend them. I'd be over the moon if ds was offered a place at any of them!

But W... it's just something special. I fell in love with it 25 years ago and have never changed my mind

eyeswideshut My Ds is currently a JBug at T (nickname for Y6s!) and whilst it was an incredible shock for him when he first started, he is now settling in and enjoying things. From my experience, the school is as good as it seemed on open day. Staff are friendly and know the boys really well. Even as a Y6 he has access to all the facilities such as sport, science etc. The older boys seem happy to help the younger ones, and are polite and friendly. All dealings I have had with the school have been friendly, polite, prompt and helpful. It has been a huge change from DSs laid-back state primary though, and I can imagine the step-up for some Y6s may be very daunting indeed.
AFAIK there is one boy leaving DSs class at the end of the year for financial reasons. I don't know if any sat 11+ for the grammars - DS didn't mention a large abscence of friends at the appropriate time

how does the quality of education of Trinity compare with that of Wilsons?

I think they are broadly comparable if you look at the results. I think the results are perhaps difficult to compare due to the difference in exams being taken (this is why W & T withdrew from the league tables IIRC).

It's not just about the results though. DS2 got a place at Wilsons and I sent him to T instead. The style of teaching and general atmosphere suited him more and I believe T will get the best out of him.

Fatal: that's a very long love affair! Don't people quite often change over time? Are you sure W is still the same? Soup: How would you characterise the 'style of teaching' at T?

I get the impression that they coax the best of of the pupils. DS2 is a challenging child. The sort that would spend a lot of time rubbing the wrong way against inflexible rules. The impression I got is that T doe actually listen to their pupils. I guess it's more of an atmosphere/ethos than the actual style of teaching - that depends entirely on the teachers.

Having said that, I was tempted to go with W for DS2 purely as they offer boarding even though we live 15 minutes away by bus

soup

:) Honestly, I do love him dearly as he is adorable. His "issues" mean he is the catalyst for 95% of the family bickering though.

Although I have less experience than Soup, I would agree with what she has said. The teachers are so helpful too - my DS has several times not fully understood homework so has emailed the teacher concerned. In most instances there is a near-instant reply explaining things, with offers of meeting up to explain further if neccessary. DS is enjoying most lessons, and is being taught to think for himself in ways I wouldn't have thought possible 6 months ago (particularly as a Y6 student). I'm baffled by some of the work

Obviously I should have said I agree with what Soup has to say re T.
I couldn't possibly comment on her DS

EWC tbh I'm very pragmatic about the school that ds ends up at. It may well not be W this year, or next. And naturally there have been changes but the basic ethos of the school hasn't changed afaic - but 25 years is not that much in the school's history anyway

Did anyone get an idea for how many children sat the 10+ at Trinity/Whitgift and how many got interviews? Just so I have something to think about whilst I idle away the time until the 14th. I suspect we are not "top" of the list so would be nice to have an idea of the odds!!