So where's this years Trinity/Whitgift/Dulwich/Alleyns thread

[soooooooknowwhat]

And any other schools you may wish to add... Have used threads from the previous few years as part of my research and ds sat Trinity today! I'm more of a lurker than a thread starter but decided to bite the bullet and offer a hand to hold. Good luck to all dc's sitting exams over the next few weeks!

Dropped off DS2 today for 10+ Sports Assessment. Around 45 boys, with specialisms in all manner of sports.

Very inspiring speech by Mr Osborne (heard it a gazillion times with DS1 but still inspiring nonetheless) marketing the school etc. DS2 very nonchalant, he loves playing sport and we've been keen to ensure he sees the day as showing what he can do rather treating it as a "sports exam".

orangetiger How did you find it this morning?

Spacecadet48 - thank you so much for your insight. That is exactly what I wanted to hear. I know several families with children there now and who have left. My impression was that the span of ability was wider (that is what I want) but that standards are high across the board and there is opportunity for everyone to achieve and shine. Two girls who attended gained stellar results and are spectacularly bright so it seems there is something for everyone. Just what I'm looking for.

Angstridden40 - my oldest two went to Trinity during the Mark Bishop years. It is a wonderful school with opportunities in sport, music, drama as well as high academic standards. Recent years brought more academic monitoring and tracking of results to drive up standards. Both of my older boys loved it and did not want to leave. They made lifelong friends, both did extremely well academically and developed their interests, one in sport (rugby & hockey), and one in drama. However, the improved results have raised the bar at entrance and I think it is harder to get a place now.

I am wondering if 10+ entry is actually a little harder. At 11+ all the independent schools take a large proportion of their intake. There is also the grammar school intake to consider (and large in this part of London - Wilsons now take an extra class too). My DS3 was offered a significant scholarship by T at 11+ but chose Wilsons. His choice not mine I have to say. There is a finite pool of parents with the resources to pay fees and all schools have their places to fill - I'm trying to give myself hope here!

morning Firefox1066 thought Mr Osbourne's presentation was very impressive love the ethos. DS was tied/nervous/excited, sounds like it's going to be a fun day. Do you know how many sports scholarships they allocate for 10#? Best of luck to all boys doing assessments/i/v's today.

AngstRidden My DS is currently Y11 at T having started in Y6. So far we have been very happy with the school, and much of what you say about W is true of T. The school 'knows' boys - it knows how to teach them, how to get the best out of them and how they respond. And that isn't just for the stereotypical boy - it deals with the full range! There is a good relationship between school and parents, as well as staff and boys.
Sixth form offers 4 A levels plus an optional EPQ. The boys know the entry requirements and know that if they are not met they will be out. T 6th form has the co-ed element too, which seems to have worked very well and added to the school overall.
My DS wasn't sporty or particularly into anything when he started from a state primary. He ended up playing rugby (albeit for one of the lower teams) up until 3rd form which wasn't something I'd ever envisaged. He was picked out for his singing abilities and has had some fantastic experiences singing at the Royal Opera, Royal festival, Royal Albert Hall etc as well as in Germany Italy and Japan. Again, because his abilities were picked up by the school.
If you have any specific questions either myself or others will be happy to try and help.

My DS sat both W & T for year 7 entry. So far rejection from T (via letter) , but not yet heard from W. Does anyone know if all those who passed the W entrance exam have been notified? I cannot work out if its a good sign that we have not heard yet or is it likely that he has not passed!. Any suggestions?

just wanted to say good luck to all the DC interviewees. DS is in year 9.

His interview was v low key - had to read a passage out loud and then answer questions (maybe his English paper was weaker?) and then there was some problem solving and a general chat. he came out bouncing - it just confirmed it was the school for him.

Parents also get time with the Master - make sure you have a question prepared as it was a very structured session!!

FWIW they haven't phoned anyone with Tues-Fri interviews for several years now. The admissions team there were the best that we came across and were always happy to answer questions.

Also have dd Y7 Alleyns if anyone wants info on any aspect of that.

I’d say emanuel, royal russel, st dunstans and kingston grammer are less academic.

But emanuel is super popular and SO many parents fall back option. It is I think a very good school and last 2 years had close to 1000 applications

Can anyone who had whitgift interviews today please let me know what sort of questions you and Ds were asked?. I'm so nervous for my son's one. Good luck to everyone I wish they had space for us all x

I don't think Emanuel should really be thought of as a backup option any more. I think competition for places is too tight.
We didn't go for it this time as neither of my daughters warmed to the school and preferred to go for another Girls schools instead. Didn't realise they had 1000 applicants!!
Yeah I guess it's not as academic as Alleyns or Latymer Upper (in terms of results not in teaching only because those schools do getter the pick of the coed candidates) but as a co-ed its a much better choice for a child who really doesn't fancy a single sex school. When we did a tour a couple of years back they mentioned how they wanted to get a greater percentage of girls - which if they have done this will probably pay off with better academic results - if you go by the standard of girls performing better academically than boys. I just don't think that any school can be regarded as a back up plan anymore... And if jennawade has any tips for Alleyn's that would be great. It's the 1 coed we did go for and I think the process has changed since DD1 Also a note on waitlist places. If you get waitlisted for Emanuel (or any school for that matter) and aren't going to take it don't just forget about it! Tell the school even when you don't need a waitlist place. A girl in DD1 year was waitlisted so they accepted a girls school place. She was offered Emanuel after the deposit for the girls school went out. They took the Emanuel school place and no they didn't get the money back from the girls school.... and it was only a matter of days! (read the small print... ) The list would have moved faster if others had declined the waitlist never mind the offers. Nobody wants to be in a double deposit situation like that.....

can't comment on Emmanuel specifically but it's horses for courses and for some kids it's better to be a big fish in a smaller less selective pond than to be the small fish in the more competitive school?

Alleyns - the interview process changed last year. They do a group activity first - about 20 kids at a time. First did some ice breaker activities to get to know each other and then had to find some objects hidden in the room. Then they had to work in pairs. dd was able to choose her partner so went with someone she knew. They were given a few of the objects and had to weave a story linking them which they then took it in turns to relate back to the group. So more to see how they socialised and focused rather than any logic skills.

Then the traditional interview which was about 20 minutes long. All the usual questions about hobbies, why Alleyns etc. And then 3 whacky ones:-

1. Describe the colour yellow to a blind person.
2. If you came home and found a penguin in your lounge what would you do?
3. There's a lake at the bottom of a mountain - give me 3 ways to get the water up hill.

Quite funny hearing the kids' range of answers afterwards - again it had to be more looking at how they reacted and tried to respond rather than what they actually said?

Best of luck all.

orangetiger Im afraid I don't know how many 10+ scholarships are available. In my experience, however, W focuses on performance and potential and there is some flex in the scholarship allocation. As such, I think they look at it on a case by case basis before seeing how it all adds up.

In past years, those called for scholarship assessments were likely to be offered at least a full fees place (unless they assaulted the teacher at interview!) but I don't think one can be so sure of that anymore, given the large numbers of applicants.

W 11+ interview today was extremely friendly from a parents point of view. I had built myself up for challenging/awkward questions. they already knew our school choices but did ask what it was about whitgift that we thought suited our son etc. They did tell us he had done very well in the exam and came across confidently and well in the interview. They couldn't have been more friendly and welcoming. DS did have to do a maths question and read a poem, plus a few other questions on topics. Good luck! I came away thinking it would be a great school for DS. And I feel they generally have a caring positive attitude towards the boys there.

Emma303 & Tolacar - my DS had his interview for 11+ W today also. It was with the head of lower school. He had a mental maths question and general questions about himself and likes and dislikes. My DH went and they asked him Why whitgift type question. They remembered my eldest who had gone there ,now 22. They said DS did exceptionally well in his interview which i think was her being nice as he is an anxious shy boy. He did well in maths and his reasoning tests which they said showed his potential but less well in English, which we were expecting but had a good chat with my DH about some of his health challenges and how they can offer support around his English if he was offered a place. They said the head makes the final decision. My DS and DH were happy so all we can hope for now is an offer in Feb!

Emanuel has been pretty much 50/50 for the sexes for the last 5 years or so.

It's 'less selective' because siblings and drama/art/music/sports scholars only have to get a bare pass on the exam (they look for DC who will bring things to the life of the school, not just pass exams IYSWIM). But the standard for oldest/only child has been high for the last 3+ years, and the top sets have their strings of A*/A. So if you like the school (and not everyone will) you don't need to worry about how your clever child will do

Caveat: new head this year, no changes to siblings/scholars policy but who knows what might happen when he's settled in a bit (he came from KCS). There have already been changes to application policy - they'll no longer be guillotining after certain number of applications (750 for 11+) but accepting all registrations within a set window. They no longer guarantee an interview for every candidate (no idea how they'll be sorting who is interviewed and who isn't, because they used to interview before exam)

Picked up a very bouncy but ultimately shattered DS2 from his 10+ Sports Assessment today!

All in all he gave his best and had fun, which is all we can ask for! He really enjoyed cricket (which was a huge surprise to us) and said all the boys got along well.

Interview on Friday and then it's the dreaded wait!

Not so much bounce more shattered but he gave it his best shot and had a great time and wants to go more than ever. However, we really need the scholarship to make it work so potentially awkward times ahead ...

My DS sat both W & T for year 7 entry. So far rejection from T last Friday (via letter) , but not yet heard from Whitgift. Does anyone know if all those who passed the W entrance exam have been notified? I cannot work out if its a good sign that we have not heard yet or is it likely that he has not passed!. Any suggestions?

Amonzo i know a few people who haven't heard either. From others on here it appears that it doesnt mean its bad news and they are interviewing from the 10th- 24th January so still time to hear. I would call them.

orangetiger The bounce barely lasted until the bottom of Nottingham Road! He fell asleep pretty much instantly.

At the end of the day, our DS's have given it their best shot so let's just see where we end up. When is your DS's interview?

Amonzo Wayyy to early to be reading anything into not hearing yet. As others have stated and as I personally have seen when DS1 did W & T, they are interviewing all this week and most of next.

I would call them if you haven't heard anything by the back end of this week.

Amonzo- I should add that we received an email from W. So you might want to check your emails and spam just incase.

Thanks Firefox1066 you are so right! I/v Thursday.

amonzo i agree with spacecadet48 I think there are lots of people who haven’t heard. Feel for you.

Fyi of the 4 schools our son sat emanuel is absolutely by a mile his 1st choice.

And if we got an offer there then in all likelihood thats where he’ll go above dc, w and t

Marbles - same- DC has sat for some more 'academic' schools but Emanuel def first choice. And I do know people who haven't got into Emanuel but have got into DC etc. It's not nearly as straightforward as 'easier' and 'harder' schools.
Someone mentioned KGS as less academic- it is now one of the most popular and sought after schools round SW London and it's tricky to get an interview let alone a place.

Agreed, thing about emanuel is they interview all children ahead of exams. Getting 80 or 90% is no guarantee of a place. They have to like your children. Far tougher im some respects than other schools. It’s certainly notba gimmw these days!