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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:
IntheMotherhood · 22/01/2018 13:45

That's positive to hear soooooonowhat. It was a few years ago so things have changed. Heads really set the tone for their school and all the schools mentioned here have good Heads.

Tindrum · 22/01/2018 14:12

Lotsofsighing those were the figures when my DS applied too, and had been the case for the year before as well. Not sure what the head would gain by fibbing?

sooooooonowwhat · 22/01/2018 14:28

Dulwich is first choice for a lot of dc's at our prep so I thought that sounded reasonable plus as Tindrum says don't see why head would fib. I know some schools offer a lot more but I'm guessing they have gauged how likely they are to be first choice before coming to that figure?

Lotsofsighing · 22/01/2018 14:36

I think all schools fib as it makes them sound more prestigious to be everyone's first choice. I don't think it's unbelievable that they would be not entirely transparent with the figures as no school wants to admit that everyone isn't dying to attend. It's one of the things I take solace from when I'm fretting about the seemingly horrible odds!

I'm not from that part of town so maybe it is absolutely right, but City Boys and Highgate, for example, both over offer by a far, far greater margin. I'd have thought it would only be somewhere like St Paul's Girls that would have those sort of ratios.

IntheMotherhood · 22/01/2018 14:51

I suspect that's about right for DC as to date, it has tended to be the 1st choice for many boys. DC wouldn't need to over offer by much. I do know handful of boys who have declined DC for grammar, W and T as it was a better fit for them (even if other school didn't offer a better scholarship).

MumOfLL · 22/01/2018 15:56

In DS 10+ interview at W, we were told that 162 sat 10+ , about half of those have been invited for the interview. There are 3 classes of 20 boys each for year 6, so perhaps a few over 60 places will be offered.

Wimbles101 · 22/01/2018 16:00

Mr. Kennedy used to be deputy head I believe at DC which might explain the positive comments from current head at DC.

Good luck to everyone, I agree DC looks like a great school. Seeline thanks for comments further up the school. Good to know and prep DS for it!

I would just add that although T has this 'nice' image and btw my DS literally LOVES it as do all his friends and always go into school with a bounce in their step, the boys do work incredibly hard, so it's not a 'soft' school. The teachers are strict and have certain expectations of the boys. What they are really good at doing is making the boys really enthusiastic about learning. Teachers are on the whole quite young so easier for the boys to relate to as well.

sooooooonowwhat · 22/01/2018 16:02

Understand exactly what you mean about fretting re horrible odds Lotsofsighing! I don't know re Highgate but with City Boys it makes sense for them to offer more places because of where they're located, a lot of people are going to end up choosing schools that are closer to them, I know their location is the reason that fewer people choose them around here and end up going for St Paul's, KCS, Dulwich, Hampton etc. Even so even if Dulwich make only 100 offers that's a 66% chance of an offer which seems pretty good odds! Who knows, they may end up offering a few more but I guess there's no way of telling!

sooooooonowwhat · 22/01/2018 16:06

Thanks Wimbles that actually makes sense, I doubt they would get the results they do if all the teachers were pushovers! I got a state school vibe from Trinity, in a really good way. They have these great facilities but staff seem down to earth and approachable and they don't come across as mollycoddling the boys.

sooooooonowwhat · 22/01/2018 16:08

Inthe at our prep boys have only declined DC for KCS, so that meshes with what you were saying.

ChocolateWombat · 22/01/2018 18:15

I know if schools which need to offer 3x the number of places available to fill up. It's not uncommon. Even the very popular need to over offer by decent amounts.
In London where there are many schools near each other and many people sit for several schools, over offering is a necessity for all. Each child can only take one and whilst there is some kind of pecking order, a lot of the schools will be relatively equal in popularity and results, so the end choice of many parents can vary, depending on location, fees, general vibe and siblings.

This thread shows how past applicants have applied to all of these schools and had offers, but made a variety of choices for all kinds of reasons. All of these very good schools mentioned have people turn them down and they go elsewhere.
Those who are very limited for space and who really cannot cope with a bulge class if more people say yes one year, tend to only slightly over offer and then use waiting lists if they under shoot. Others might make loads of offers but use that's awful exploding offers system that City Girls had last year when more offers than places were made and once enough people had accepted, the other offers exploded and ceased to exist - it forced people to choose quickly and before state school offers had been made. Other schools make their offers and dot. Use any waiting lists, but know there are always a few late applicants and some of them will be good through the expntrance exam or by coming with CAT results.
The absolutely top 3 or 4 schools might be able to think few will turn them down, but even then, people have often applied to 2 of those top 3 or 4 and had offers from both - so even they need to over offer. For the next tier down in London, to be honest, there are a really good number of very good schools which we might all be desperate to get into, but many here will get several offers and can only accept one. Schools want to fill up. The odds are not as bad as people often think.

orangetiger · 22/01/2018 18:44

well said chocwombat

Wimbles101 · 22/01/2018 19:22

Sonoooowhat - yes that’s why we liked it. DS’ prep was very similar - lots of diversity and very down to earth.

PookieSnackenberger · 22/01/2018 20:37

So true chowwombat. I was wringing my hands over my youngest DC and my DH said exactly the same thing but far less eloquently (he said they need bums on seats to pay the bills Grin).

Yes, there is a perceived pecking order but one that is constantly shifting. Schools change for good and bad and parents are now so much more aware of choosing a school that is the right fit for their child. That means subtly different choices for different people. I know that my with my first child my pecking order completely reversed after visiting the schools and envisaging my child at each of them.

turboturtle · 22/01/2018 22:21

sooooooonowwhat
I hope you understand that the point that I was trying to make, was that we all have our preferences, and our experiences.
I had a similar experience with the previous head of Emanuel. I caught up with him after a tour and all he could rave about was how much they had spend on the renovations to the building and the new driveway. My DH used to go to Emanuel when it was all boys and initially we thought that it would be continue the tradition and send our DS there, but it is now a totally different school. Still a great school (I really loved their libraray) but not the school which my DH went to and enjoyed so much.
We all get a feeling or vibe for a school, and in many cases we have pre-conceived ideas of which secondary schools our DC should go to, and then the reality sets in.
You can have two children who are close in age, who have completely different personalities and as much as you would like them to go to the same school, it is not a one size fits all.
I am just glad that this thread exist and that there are many hands to hold.
I truly wish everyone all the best with their choices, interviews and scholarship assessments.
I think that it was ChocolateWombat who said that our DC are the lucky ones to have parents that are interested in their education.

Firefox1066 · 23/01/2018 06:21

So I'm guessing we are all done with interviews now? A friends DS had an interview at St Dunstans yesterday but other than that I don't personally know of any others

sooooooonowwhat · 23/01/2018 07:22

turbo yes of course, I totally get what you mean. It's why it's so much easier to do the hand holding on here than in rl as inevitably one person's dream school is not anothers and people are prone to taking things personally!

Firefox we have an Alleyn's interview this Saturday and ds has an art scholarship assessment there tomorrow. I think today is the last day of DC interviews too.

turboturtle · 23/01/2018 07:32

sooooooonowwhat
Well done on your ds getting through the Alleyn's exam. I was really blown away by the standard of art there. I wish him well for his assessment

sooooooonowwhat · 23/01/2018 07:36

Thanks turbo he's not the sportiest so it really helps his confidence to have art as his 'thing'. I think they haven't sent the letters out yet for the weekend interviews though at Alleyn's so more people will probably be hearing - they had to let us know earlier as the art assessment is tomorrow!

Tolacar · 23/01/2018 08:07

My DS has the Hampton interview today and Latymer on Saturday....still not over 😩
Good luck for all those who still have interviews and exams to come.

Firefox1066 · 23/01/2018 09:36

Best of luck to your DS's!

soooooonowwhat ... that's amazing! Art at Alleyns is exceptional so he has done brilliantly well to be called for assessment. Best of luck!

tinkerella1 · 23/01/2018 12:50

Just had the post through from Alleyn's; wasn't expecting it today so I guess they've got through all the marking... - DD got through to the interview... I'm really happy she's made it through. But it's a tough one to go through with so many applicants. I really don't like this did you/ didn't you get through for the kids. I don't know how many applied from our school but it seemed like a lot. It's an early lesson in diplomacy for the kids.

Radmumsie · 23/01/2018 17:49

Hi all just had interview at W went okay I think.
I wanted to know generally about how the scholarship and bursery offers work at W as I know that at T parents are informed at interview about the scholarships.

Firefox1066 · 23/01/2018 17:59

Radmumsie glad the interview went well. Was it 10+ or 11+? What specifically would you like to know?

Radmumsie · 23/01/2018 18:08

The interview was 11 plus.
I was just wondering if W want to offer a scholarship when would they inform you and are there any hints at interview I just know that a lot of parents know from interviews and I have not heard anything about W (not that I’m expecting one!)