Whitgift vs Trinity ?

[ThinkingJanuary]

I am planning a visit to these two schools at their next open mornings.

Any advice anyone on here can give me would really be appreciated as to how to make the most of these visits. What questions should I ask?

The main Saturday open days are a "showcase", and realistically you will get little opportunity to question senior staff, though you will get an insight into your pupil-guide's experience (which may or may not be helpful - it is of course the insight of one pupil in a large and diverse school). It is worth additionally signing up for one of the "working day" tours which will give you an opportunity to meet senior staff and ask questions. And for either of these schools I would also recommend that your son goes on one of the courses run for prospective new boys (sport/music/science).

So I'd attend the open day being prepared to see the school at its best, and then allow yourself some time to think about unanswered questions and then raise those at the working day tour.

Agree with everything LM says, especially re the showcasing aspect. Both schools (and imo W in particular) are very good at putting on a grand and rather seductive spread.

But the specific questions you need to ask are rather dependant on what it is you're hoping for in the schools for your ds, and therefore it's hard to give you advice in this area without a bit more info from you. There are many MNers with experience of both schools who would be happy to answer questions. Or, you could search the long-running T&W admissions threads for a taste of what the whole process is like...if you have a few hours to spare

I agree.

You need to cut through all the showmanship. I remember DSs being particularly taken by the exploding melons at Whitgift and the chemistry teacher who made a flame thrower and also set his hands on fire (deliberately!)

Definitely send your son on the sports/science/whatever taster days.

I thought I knew which school I loved the most but I changed my mind after a couple of open days.

In terms of questions, personally I would want to know
-whether and when the boys are set/streamed and for what subjects. -how flexible is the setting.

-How frequently and in what format are reports/parents evenings/other feedback.

-What are the class sizes and the expected yeargroup size.
-At what points are formgroups changed (eg annually, or are they in the same group for a number of years). Ditto form tutors/heads of year - is there continuity or does it change frequently?
-When are subject options made.

-What proportion of boys stay on to 6th form.

• what happens when things go wrong (bereavement, illness, MH issues etc) - what support is in place, are resits etc possible
• if your son has a specific talent what support is in place should he need time off eg for national competitions?
• are there any compulsory co-curricular activities (eg CCF, Saturday sport etc)

[I'm not suggesting that these specific questions will unearth significant differences between these 2 schools, they're just questions worth asking for secondary in general i think] I would probably also be be cheeky and ask about the fee differential between the schools - historically it ran at 10-15% but is currently larger (I think), so would ask whether that will be maintained or whether T will try to catch up! When talking to the senior staff, it is worth noting that many of them will have previously worked at other schools in the area, or have spouses who work/have worked at other schools in the area or even children at other schools (ie so they have knowledge of several schools not just their own). It is a relatively small community in some respects.

There may be questions that are specific to your DS's needs (transport, any extra help, whether his hobby has an outlet at the school).

I think W is nearly 20% higher than T for 2014/15. It was less than 15% when DS2 had his offer 2 years ago.

Well, peacock feed is expensive

I've also been interested in the' non verbal ' aspects, if you will, when I'm looking at schools.
Examples ; are the 6th formers examples of pupils that I would wish my child to emulate.
How do the teachers respond to the child host showing them round ? Ie does the teacher clearly know them ?
I was shown round one school ( not one of these mentioned ) by a year 8 who was obviously clearly very shy and nervous but every teacher seemed to know the child by name and had an encouraging word , which I think spoke volumes about the overall ethos.
When looking at Primary schools it is hard to imagine the needs of a 9 or 10 year old when they are only 3; likewise it is hard to imagine the needs of a 17 year old when they are only 10 when you are looking at senior schools and all the teenage angst that comes in between.
For the example in this Op, the relevant question would be do you want( or think you will want/ have no idea) coed in the 6th firm