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Secondary education

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Original poster

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

999 replies

soooooooknowwhat · 05/01/2018 21:18

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! Grin

OP posts:
Wimbles101 · 16/01/2018 11:07

Hi all, I'm a lurker. Just wanted to wish everyone luck, and hope you get the school you and DS want. My DS1 sat Trinity last year for 11plus, and is there now. Loves it, so will all be worth it in the end ;)

Wimbles101 · 16/01/2018 11:10

MeetieVonWrinkleSqueak we had a similar 'chat' with Mr. Kennedy. He does these with the boys who have scored very well. HTH. It's definitely a good sign ;)

Wimbles101 · 16/01/2018 11:21

Wherearemymarbles - KGS (kingston grammar) is definitely not less academic. It's taking all the Grammar school and KCS rejects. Not a good word to use, but I meant is it gets some really bright kids, who have often just missed out on KCS or Tiffin locally. In fact some people prefer it. I know you posted that a while ago, but will surprised to see it listed with Emmanuel.
We didn't sit the exam as we much preferred to T but by all accounts it was comparable in difficulty, plus you're competing with girls as well.

Catchmum2017 · 16/01/2018 11:55

Got an email from T regarding interview for DS . It’s on Monday . Have been told that we will have a parent from the school answering our queries while son will be interviewed which might involve Maths and English topics . From all previous threads whatever I read, it might be a borderline case and feeling gutted about it especially DS was excited after the exam and was happy with his performance . I know he is just a 10 year old and one of the youngest in his class and should not trust him much on his confidence after the exam as children tend to forget and often what seems easy is actually not . We were very much looking forward to T this year .. Any thoughts mums of T ?

Seeline · 16/01/2018 12:12

If he had done disastrously Catch he wouldn't have got an interview at all, so keep hoping. Were you relying on a scholarship, or would a full-fees offer be OK?

Catchmum2017 · 16/01/2018 12:39

Not sure at the moment . Still waiting for offers from the local Gs’s As well but yes a scholarship is a necessity at this stage :-( . With scholarship there would not have been any second thoughts really !!

orangetiger · 16/01/2018 13:03

hi Firefox1066 just seen there is a W sports scholarship recall day next week for all ages for football & rugby. Do you know anything about this? i'm not asking because we have been asked to this btw, it's just i saw it and no-one has mentioned it before... the waiting is hell...

Radmumsie · 16/01/2018 13:53

Hi I’m new to mumsnet but have read the tread.
Amonzo have you heard yet? We were in the same position and called yesterday and they told us so worth calling I heard they have a backlog

MumOfLL · 16/01/2018 14:12

Many thanks, Seeline It is a big step-up indeed. Good point that DS wouldn't have to do SATS! in year 6 if he get in at 10+ He might like that idea Grin

MeetieVonWrinkleSqueak · 16/01/2018 14:23

Thanks wimbles - yes, indeed - we were told he’d scored very highly indeed in our chat with Mr K Smile

catchmum, be positive - my DS2 was definitely not borderline!

mum, we sold the 10+ to DS1 along the lines of:
if he sat it, he’d only have to do 2 exams (W & T) whereas if he waited for 11+ he’d have to do W, T, the Sutton Grammars, and maybe Caterham. And also SATS (we somehow forgot to mention all the end of year exams at T, though...)

We pointed out that most of his friends wouldn’t be going on to the same school as him anyway (state primary - probably >75% go onto the local comp) and even if they did, the chances of being in the same class were slim.

Plus of course we highlighted all the cool stuff he would be doing at T.

He LOVED the Junior year last year, and is so glad that he didn’t stay at his primary for Y6.

Firefox1066 · 16/01/2018 15:55

Hi orangetiger Yes I knew about call backs. Generally speaking a callback is a good thing, whereas not getting a callback isn't necessarily a bad thing IYSWIM. I'll be glad when interviews are out of the way and then the long tortuous wait for 9th Feb!!

Familyforever2002 · 16/01/2018 16:03

MeetieVonWrinkleSqueak if you don't mind me asking, did your email invite mention that you will get the chance to talk with the head as catch mentions in her email it says a parent will be available... Ours says we will get the chance to speak with the head whilst son is in interview Hmm

MeetieVonWrinkleSqueak · 16/01/2018 16:31

family, I’ve just checked, and yes, our email said we would have the opportunity to talk to the head (in fact we were whisked off for a 1-2-1 almost straightaway).

There was a parent in the waiting room though who we had a chat with while we waited for DS2 to come back from his interview.

Familyforever2002 · 16/01/2018 16:34

Ok thank you. I guess it's just to be patient and try not to speculate - not an easy task Smile

Emma303 · 16/01/2018 17:10

Had my son's Whitgift interview today. And I don't no what i was so worried about. It couldn't of gone any better. The teacher kept saying how impressed he was with DS. He even said it's a shame it wasn't his decision as he would love to teach him. I asked about his exam he said although he couldn't tell me scores ds scored above average for his English above on his essay and slight below on his maths. Hoping the interview is part of it as I left feeling great.

So now it's just a waiting game! Thanks all for the advice now to try and cope waiting until feb 😂

Wimbles101 · 16/01/2018 17:34

Hi ladies I have a quick query: I have a friend who’s not heard back from W yet after the 11plus exam - does that sound right? Hasn’t everyone heard back now?
TIA

Emma303 · 16/01/2018 17:48

Wimbles101 I'm not sure as they said today they had interviews until the end of the month

Catchmum2017 · 16/01/2018 18:18

Thanks ,
I know I can’t do anything at all by worrying so much but since my email clearly mentions that I will get to meet a parent and all my queries and answers will be replied by them if any , it somehow sounds a bit hopeless case for us . :-( more and more I think it’s a borderline case and interview is just to see him and see if there is any scope for him at all .. feeling gutted to be true ..
DS is doing sports assessments and he has been recalled again for Friday . But pretty much that’s it for us . But all the best to everyone and let’s hope for the best !

MeetieVonWrinkleSqueak · 16/01/2018 18:42

catch, I’m sure they wouldn’t have bothered to call your son back again for sports, if he was borderline / I’d have thought they were much too busy for that. Maybe they do all the sports/music scholarship etc interviews midweek, but the head doesn’t get involved in them?

Who knows - at the end of the day we’re all just speculating. I always wonder whether the admission teams read these threads and have a little chuckle at all the theories flying around.

sooooooonowwhat · 16/01/2018 19:05

Emma so pleased to hear your good news! Sounds like it went brilliantly! Catch try not to worry, like others have said, no way of telling and don't assume he is borderline. There was a parent helper there today at ds's interview and our email sounds like it was the same as yours - we were just told there could be some academic questions but ds says there weren't any.

Turned out ds had done really well in the exam and they were offering him an academic scholarship. Massive relief and cheered ds up no end after the tricky Saturday exam!

sooooooonowwhat · 16/01/2018 19:08

And thankyou Meetie and Rocket for the words of encouragement!

sooooooonowwhat · 16/01/2018 19:11

agree with Wimbles re Kingston, it's definitely considered an academic school, only a back up to kids applying to v academic schools - most often nearby Hampton although when we did the tour (we decided not to apply) there was a boy who told us he didn't get into Hampton but got KGS while his friend didn't get Kingston but got into Hampton, so I think they are different but equal in many ways, with Kingston appealing more to those looking for a co-ed, less pressured but academic atmosphere.

Gettingthroughtheweek · 16/01/2018 19:18

Catch - we were in your position last a year, and my DS had a midweek interview with a focus on English comprehension; feedback was he had been weaker in that exam but in the interview he showed he could reach the standard, and he was offered a place with an extracurricular scholarship. So see it as an opportunity to impress, not a threat! They wouldn’t be seeing your DS if they weren’t interested in him.

MeetieVonWrinkleSqueak · 16/01/2018 19:21

Fab sooooo, really pleased for you & DS!

emma, it sounds like you had a good interview too. Fingers crossed for you both.

sooooooonowwhat · 16/01/2018 19:36

Thanks Meetie genuinely wasn't expecting it at all so it was lovely news!