The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013

[hardboiled]

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

Is it true that more are interviewed at W than at T (in terms of interviews/places)?

Just realised that question wasn't entirely clear. I've heard that they interview up to 80% of the boys who sat the tests but at T it is much lower, and therefore, more likely that you will be offered a place. Any truth in this?

EyesWideClosed - apparently 900 sat in total (all ages) 600 passed exam and so would be interviewed. this breaks down roughly to 200 at 10+ with around 160 interviews. last year 115 offers made for 60 places. So very approx. 2 out of 3 get offers after interview.

When put like that, it all sounds quite reassuring....

Yes it does, if you have had an interview there is a good chance but still the possibility of being the 1 in 3 !! I think that those whose DS did very well in exam (came in top group for instance) and have been told as much should be reassured, its those in the middle ground where it becomes a bit murky as unfortunately there must have to be a cut off point somewhere. Therefore we are treading carefully and hoping DS has done enough, but we just cant be sure and the nagging doubts start to creep in

Anyone else finding this last bit of waiting agony?
It makes no sense at all to worry because I can't do anything. The phone is not going to ring nor a letter arrive for NINE DAYS.
I've tried:
(1) going cold turkey from this thread for fear it was feeding the anxiety (quite helpful but then missed out on all the encouragement from fellow parents on this journey)
(2) doing a killer session in the gym (different agony, walked slightly awkwardly for a couple of days)
(3) sharing my agony with DH who laughed quizzically and then said "You really can't stop thinking about it can you?! while silently thinking he's married to a nutcase
Ho hum, not long now. Perhaps I'll try kneading bread or line dancing or cupboard cleaning. Dare I ask for suggestions?!!

Funny you should say that, I made a list of cupboards to clear out, in the vain hope of killing a bit of time, only today. Note I said 'made a list', haven't got round to actually cleaning them yet...

Popcorn - I sympathise with number 3. I keep trying to analyse every nuance of the interview with DH - out of earshot of DS - but his eyes just glaze over and he switches on Top Gear again.

Burntoutdad - Great stats on Whitgift any on Trinity?

Trinity 11+: just under 500 entered, 200 interviewed, 75 places.
TBH it doesn't help me analysing as either my DS gets 100% offered a place or 100% rejected. Oh unless he is waitlisted. Perhaps that third option would be worst. Stresscity last year must have been true agony, you are truly resilient to choose to do this again...

Any stats on Trinity 10+?

Popcorn pizza u are so funny :-)

Stats for t at 10+ are I believe 200 sat exam , 100 interviewed for approx 48 places.

I was with someone today in a professional capacity, enjoying switching my mind away from all this, and I swear I don't know how it happened but I ended up discussing schools and the 11+ with him!

They say you can't go anywhere in LA without bumping into an aspiring actor...well you can't go anywhere in London without bumping into someone who has/is/will be going through the 11+!

sorry not a clue about T.
Popcorn - just to ease your anxiety (not) I don't think that they ever get to waitlist. They usually over offer to a large extent knowing that a large number of parents will except offers elsewhere, options obviously less at 10+ than 11+. So it is basically 100% offered a place or 100% rejected as you say.

I also sympathise with no 3 - but in our household im the one stressing and DW thinks im a pain in the butt keep talking about it and telling her all the tales from here and last years thread. (if she knew I actually posted on Mumsnet, she would never let me live it down!!)

My gut feeling is that T is less likely to over offer having been caught out 3 years ago with too many acceptances.

Food for thought here for all of you thinking about scholarships, bursaries and school fees for Whitgift and Trinity.

A friend of mine sat the entrance exams to Whitgift and Trinity in 1965. He remembers sitting the exams for Trinity in the old school which was demolished to make way for the Whitgift Shopping Centre. He was offered places at both schools.

His parents chose Trinity...possibly..... because as he was in the first new intake at the new school at Shirley the fees were set at TEN GUINEAS per term for the whole time he was attending the school.

But when his brother joined the school five years later the fees were in hundreds of ££ per term.

....I'll get my coat....

Soup - maybe then that's why the interview numbers are less at T. Perhaps they will offer less and go to waiting list this time. How about years following this 'bulge' year do you know if they over offered in those?

house - and now in the thousands £££ - that's economic progression for you!

So this time next week will be Valentines Day but MOST importantly T & W staff will be putting letters in envelopes with all our results !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

W got burnt by overoffering when ds went into y7 - I think there's aournd 205 boys in his year ... they are much more careful now ..

when ds started the full fees for T were around 10.5K and for W around 11.5K - don't know what they are for T now but W are more than 15K ...

not long now ...

For Trinity, The school fee for 2012-13 is £13,056.

Bond - Was that last year or previous year? W over offered last year at 10+ (115) but filled only 57 places, 11+ may be different. I guess that if they do fill more at 10+ then there are less spaces available at 11+ in the following year.

As ive posted previously we will miss the post on the 15th. We've now decided that we will call the school in the morning for the outcome, but will try not to tell DS if it is bad news until we come back from our break. I know that this is going to be very difficult to do and actually filled with dread even just writing this!! Would it be wrong to keep it from him? I know he will be talking about it all week.
On the other hand of course if its good news then problem solved !

Kylep, yes, the letters will prob. Have started to be sorted now, or en-route at least.

Burntout, hopefully, not bad news but if it is, then I would say depends on your DS's personality, if he is the type that can move on easily after a nice pep talk and the holiday will help him take his mind off things and come back refreshed, ready for a new start then tell him. If not, then no, I don't think it will be wrong to keep it quiet until after, so at least he is able to enjoy the holiday. Well hopeful all that won't be relevant and you will all be able to have a blast, with the good news. Your post re DW, made me laugh. My DH has rumbled me, the week after I started posting. I had it coming really, because I told him about the site. But it is good to be out of the 'closet' as we can obsess together, since he is almost as addicted as I am. ( sorry DH).

Popcornpizza you really made me laugh! Yes, agony but we said one more go then that's it, 2nd time lucky. T went to waiting list last year and took on about 10 surprisingly. A friends ds was on the list and made it through.
Yes, each day the wait gets a little worse, and just wait til Monday, Oh God those last few days. Just make sure you stock up on the vino, it's the only thing that gets you through