The Trinity-Whitgift thread of 2013 continued

[Somelikeithott]

Hi all as I posted on previous thread, I realised we had hit the 1000 mark, do felt obliged to open a new one. Hope everyone finds this thread easily

Feel like I'm changing this thread to a currents parents thread but the other issue doing the round is the proposed inflation busting fee increase for next year. At over £16k for us full fee payers the cost is heading into the territory of the super selectives like KCS etc. I have 5 more years left (hopefully!) and i suspect that I will be looking at more than £20k per annum which is frighening when I think about it now.

Anyway, as said just posting to make people aware of current school gate chatter

shazoom I have no knowledge of GCSE process yet so excuse me asking what may be a very stupid question but are you saying that a boy who was previously doing so well that A's were predicted has out of the blue been told he can't sit GCSE at W?? Was there absolutely no warning that he may be struggling?

shazoom thank you so much for replying. can I just confirm that this boy has effectively been asked to leave the school on the back of some average mocks? as a fellow fee payer I am quite disturbed by this, as I can't find any reference to this practice at all.

nothingyummy you read my mind re having this info in January not now but if school is undergoing a change may well be better for us in the long run. Entering at 10+ gives you plenty of time to assess the situation for yourself and still plenty of time to move ds if it dosnt meet expectations. I wouldn't want to have to move ds but it is always an option. Can't help but think we will benefit from the changes but do feel desperately sorry for anyone at GCSE level or close to that who dosnt have the options we still have. Hope you sleep well tonight!!!

Some quite negative "information" suddenly appearing. I just handed in my acceptance and deposit to W today.

We are from overseas but currently live here. We are full-fee paying, boarding place, so according to those negative (or realistic) postings, I must be the one hit worst because we deliberately chose to apply for a weekly boarding place to ensure my DS GET IN a GOOD school. If day places are still there to be just claimed by anyone who can afford, this makes me the saddiest parents this time around.

I don't compare W with St. Paul, Westminster, KCS Wimbledon as I know they are in a different league and my DS unfortunately wouldn't get in anyway. 8 Oxbridge this time but it was around 15 last time. I did some math while ago on "Oxbridge+LSE+Imperial+UCL" numbers divided by year 13 co-hort and it was around 25~28% which was similar to Dulwich college (which I consider a peer, but slightly upper league). And I think the fact that they at least send in some boys to those Univs would create enough environment for "most" boys to be in a "studying" air.

Also senior school guide on W from my DS prep says "rather unpredictable on whom they take". I guess this neither good nor bad, maybe reflecting wide arrange of considerations at W admissions -- social mix, sports, etc..

I just hope the new boarding would prove best choice to me after couple of terms.

• I don't still understand the mechanism asking W boys to sit GCSE at another school. Is this possible? But regardless of what happened to this (failing?) small group, most of the GCSE math enters are above A, which shouldn't be ignored.

I don't think the reference to boys being asked to sit GCSEs at Croydon College means they will have been asked to leave the school (though I could be wrong). It's more likely that, as the exams are taken somewhere else, they won't appear in W's published figures (or affect their place in the league tables). I have absolutely no knowledge of whether this practice is taking place btw, but if it was I think that would be the likely reason.

Have just been reading whitgift or dulwich thread from last year to which soup lady muck and Basildonbond contributed. Makes our exchanges feel positively tame! Do you all still feel the same about W?

lfs2126, not been asked to leave, still be at Whitgift and participate fully in lessons and school life, will simply be asked to enter the exams privately and not under the Whitgift umbrella, depending on results may then be invited back into the fold for 6th form.

Why stop at those predicted B and C...why not keep the A only, everyone go take your exams somewhere else, get 100% A credited to the school, pretend the others never attended, and beat St Paul's on the league tables. So simple. Wonder why not everyone does the same.

Aggghhh. New parents...unfortunately there are league tables and it's ugly out there. But remember all you are hearing from the current parents is "my DS is happy at the school." Focus on that. That's a lot.

OK i thought w had removed themselves from the circus that is the league tables so this farming out stance wouldn't make any sense. I'm sorry but the cynic is coming out now, there is more to this thread than meets the eye and I can smell sour grapes a mile off. # just saying...

Simply trying to be rational and helpful (!) and convey the real feelings and emotions of Whitgift parents.....no sour grapes or agenda from me.

I will leave the thread and and casually observe from a distance.

All - Stop stressing and embrace your decision, move forwards positively and remember the reasons you chose the school. Oh and make sure your Ds works hard enough to get the grades required. If he is not doing so well here imagine how well he would have done in the local state which could have been more of a challenge (those where state was an option) or grammars where the same practise must go on, or other schools were the intake is so bright they don't have to worry about it.
Cmon guys we have heard from 2 slightly disgruntled parents (appreciate the advice) out of how many, and its more likely that people put 'pen to paper' when complaining than otherwise. I don't even think that the advice given is particularly eye opening either.
I think that there has obviously been a drop in resources to cater for the new boarding house, but I think it will settle and fees do not necessarily have to rise by those amounts once the fees from boarding are incorporated.

interesting article here on W and its mix of pupils

www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/yoursay/schools/10037929.MR_PAUL_WILSON_____I_FIND_THERE_IS_SOME_BIAS_TOWARDS_SPORT_AT_WHITGIFT_____INTERVIEW_BY_SAMUEL_HERMAN_WILSON/

Lfs2126 From my understanding, League tables are still published for all GCSE's by the Local Education Authority. It is the A Level ones that the Whitgift foundation have extracted themselves from. www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/education/school_tables/secondary/12/html/306.stm

My friend's son at W had to sit ONE exam as Croydon College. Not all just the ONE. Various reasons around it but it happened. FACT.

Likewise as Burntoutdad flagged if you don't make the grades for A Levels you may be asked to leave.

Accusations of sour grapes are really very unfair. I think folks are trying to portray a realistic scenario. Likewise I have a very fair knowledge of T, by talking to colleagues and friends whose DC's attend. Not all good but would it affect my decision, no.

Shazoom, personally I thank you for your honesty.

As others have said - not one post where 'negative' points have been raised did anyone say that their DS's were not happy at the school. To me that speaks volumes.

Sorry for the rant , I just couldn't keep quiet.

Burntoutdad was looking for the 'Like' button. So will give you flowers, wine and biscuits instead , , .

Hooray... let calm be restored.

Awww thank you Kimalima - there should be beer & curry smileys for us dads!

Yes well said burntoutdad everyone's experience of any school will be different and there will always be gripes and moans. Most parents will be oblivious to this if their ds is happy and if like me you take school gate gossip with a shovel of salt all will be well.
Bring on the beer and curry specially for BOD.

fondofuk - just wanted to say congratulations on your decision - and welcome to the 2013 intake.

Another feature to recognise me by is that I'll have no hair left in September. And I may be clutching a bottle.. going around offering random dads beer and curry.

nothingyummy sounds like we have so much in common! LOL

nothingyummymum -- thank you for welcoming.

I have no regret. In fact, we didn't have a choice. DS has very good math, but really low English mark. As these days most overseas boys whether on parent work assignment or genuinely on alone for boarding come here with very good English, it was very difficult for us to get a place at a "reputable" school.

Quite relieved now, but only additional finance matters! Not all overseas boarders are rich... Heard they start with about 50 boarders for now, half of full capacity. My DS will enjoy double spaces in the meantime! I am sure they will take good care of new boarders.

croydonmumtods - and then I may also be yelling out to croydon mums to come over for wine!! I suspect we'll REALLY add to the diversity. Can you imagine the horror stories next year's thread will hear?

Cinder - thanks that's made me realise it was the right decision my ds is going to trinity

kylep - come on now, we could probably wheel out someone from T that would make the same kind of comments and make those at W feel they had made the right choice too (which we have of course!).

God some long discussions busy at work today , so unable to contribute I've had a negative comment about T ( oh yes ) !!!

burntout exactly. The info is out there. Everyone here has made the right choice - lets just enjoy ourselves now.