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!

I think they will prioritise the scholarship pupils for a bursary then go down the list I guess until the money runs out!

Sorry meant, the children who have applied for a bursary who are at scholarship level.

We have unexpected good news! Had a phonecall today from the head of lower school at the v academic school that ds was so upset about, he has been offered an all-rounder scholarship! Over the moon but now some difficult decisions to make as we also really love Trinity. Feel a lot more relaxed now about our other applications, wishing everyone good luck and am here to hand hold!

Mrspatmore - yes that’s my experience re bursaries

soooooo that's fabulous news! Hard to believe he was so upset about it...decisions, decisions, nice position to be in

Thanks spacecadet yes we are so relieved as we had honestly written it off! It will be hard to choose so I think we will take a few days to calm down and then think objectively about where ds will feel comfortable and happy. Would love to hear from wiser mumsnetters who have been through this - how did you choose? I'm guessing it ultimately comes down to gut feel and practicalities (transport etc), at the moment I wouldn't know which way to go, just happy we are not at that horrible point where there's the fear there will be no offers at all!

Congrats to you and your DS soooowhat how come you found out so early? I thought boys found out 9 Feb (11+)

sooooo with my eldest I knew W what was right for him. Even though A and DC were on our doorstep I knew they were not the school for him. He however preferred St D but we made the decision (that was ten yrs ago and St D is doing really well now) he doesn't regret us making that decision as he loved the school and has friends for life. So whilst your little ones opinion should form part of the decision ultimately you are in the best place to know which school suits him and will stretch him to his potential. Take time to think about it

That's amazing soooooooonowwhat! What a nice feeling to know you definitely have an option! I didn't think any schools were offering until the 9th but I thought wrong! Do you have to accept before the deadline of 5th March or earlier out of interest?

That's amazing soooooooonowwhat! What a nice feeling to know you definitely have an option! I didn't think any schools were offering until the 9th but I thought wrong! Do you have to accept before the deadline of 5th March or earlier out of interest?

soooooo well done! We were v lucky last time round with 4 offers. We were able to narrow it to 2 quite easily, but the other 2 we did take the offered opportunity to go back and have another look around. That was v useful and doing it with an offer in hand rather than a hopeful possibility gave a different view. We were happy with either, and so DC was able to choose. Was def right choice. Don't rush it.

Hello all! Thanks for the congratulations and the advice. Inthe and Tolacar I'm not actually sure why we found out so early tbh. We were told we would hear by post at the end of this month (the school is not one of the four in the thread title so they did have an earlier date when they said they would let us know). It was a huge bonus to hear a week earlier than I was expecting though and I thought it was extremely courteous of the head of lower school to ring around and make the offers, although it could of course be in part a very smart way of trying to gauge how likely people are to accept them. In my excitement and relief I didn't ask when the school needed us to accept or reject the offer by, but I was told I would be receiving a confirmatory letter in the post so I'm assuming details will be on there!

spacecadet and citykat thanks so much for the advice. They are very different schools which share the one thing we felt was important, a reputation for great pastoral care and a generally warm vibe. I know it sounds silly, but in both cases we liked the lovely manners not just of the kids we met but of the staff, from reception to teaching staff. The one thing that put me off the 'more academic' (I don't know how else to describe it, it probably isn't any more academic but higher up the league tables) school was there were quite a few wealthy and seemingly entitled families applying to the school. Nothing wrong at all with being wealthy but I met a few people who seemed to consider themselves and their children quite superior. I have to stress though these were people who were applying to the school, not people who have necessarily got a place so I don't want to make an unfair judgement on the school on this basis! I think re ultimate decision making - at the moment ds is just so happy to have offers. We have never talked about any kind of pecking order for the schools so as far as ds is concerned they are all equal. I think we will use some time getting to know the schools a bit more for now and get back to you all with nitty gritty things to compare them. Thanks so much!

One thing to think about is single sex v co-ed. Eg. When choosing between T and W there is the added fact that Trinity is co-ed in the 6th form. From a personal point of view, this has worked really well. Someone told me that you can not switch between T and W for 6th form (I don’t know if this is true) so this is something you should think about now, even though it seems many years in the future!

Mostly the choice is down to gut feeling though I think. Plus the practical day to day stuff like how much of a pain the journey is. I’ve said it before but academically there’s really not a whole lot to choose between them and, if your DS is offered a place at any of them the likelihood is that he will do similarly well at any of them.

So pleased for your talented ds sssooooo. Quick question, has anyone heard of a ds getting an interview and not being offered a place at W? I wonder how many places they offer v boys they interview?

Yes, it does happen I’m afraid. I know of a few from my small experience. I don’t know what the numbers are of interviews v places though.

thanks soup and did the people you are thinking of get any feedback for the reason, or did they get a feeling why it might have happened?

orangetiger Yes it does happen unfortunately. However, in my experience it tends to happen for only 3 reasons...1. The school believes that the parents won't take the offer and are using them as back up (W in particular dislike this) 2. Something happens in the interview that explicitly displays that the boy has been tutored to pass an exam but is unlikely to thrive at the school 3. Something extreme happens.

Regarding numbers, the numbers I've been told for this year W 10+ were as follows:

160 sat; 95 interviewed; 80 offered for c.60 places. I was told at 10+ the vast majority will be full fees and that around 20 will be offered Sports Scholarships (don't know about any other co-curricular. Sorry!)

I was also told that both W and T over offer by an extra class at 10+ I.e W will offer 80 for 60 places and T will offer 60 for 45 places.

This was told to me by one of the admissions staff at W but don't take it as gospel!

Thanks Firefox - does anyone know the same stats for 11+
I don't really need to know as it won't make a blind bit of difference at this point....but I need to keep the overthinking going...!!!

Ok thanks firefox the odds don't look quite so bad when you display them like that - i was thinking it was 50/50 but the odds are much better.

The odds are "better" but only helps if you are a full fees parent. For those needing bursary and/scholarships then it's a very different equation.

IntheMotherhood, I heard something along the lines (for W) that almost 700 took 11+ exam, they interview around 400 and offer around 175-200.
Not sure how many actual places there are, as you have a 10+ class going into year 7.
As it has been said here before, the school knows that the boys will have multiple offers, and that many of these offers will be turned down for various reason.

Inthe I don't have the 11+ numbers I'm afraid. It if I were guessing I'd say it was probs let something like 450 sat, 225 interviewed, 170 offered for c.120 spaces

But that really is just MY guess!

Firefox1066 We collected ds from the sports hall at W. DH done a quick tally and said there were more than 600 waiting to be collected.

Thanks Turboturtle and Firefox...I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the final decision meeting. How on earth do they decide amongst all the talented kids ...and how on earth do they remember them all?
I recall that the Heads of W and T compare lists if offers across the 2 schools but this could be an urban myth.

IntheMotherhood Both schools are part of the Whitgift foundation. I don't know how the foundation splits the money between T, W & Old Palace. Not sure if the heads compare lists and hedge their bets.
I know a few parents in previous years who had others from both W & T, so doubt you are penalised for trying both. They are two different schools after all.
I heard that 10 years ago or so, there was much more of a fierce rivalry between the two schools, and that if one knew if you had applied for the other, it was held against you. - Probably another urban myth.