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!

The Head of St Dunstans has been quite open about his views on excessive tutoring from his experience teaching in South Korea (?), so this change is in line with supporting pupil potential and diminishing the advantage of excessive tutoring (regardless what sector your DC spends their primary years).

Personally, I think that's an admirable vision and Fleur time will tell whether the school succeeds in championing the child that the current admissions/ testing labyrinth doesn't spot at age 10,11,13 etc. (A.k.a different calibre candidate).
And what a powerful motivator for a child that is rejected from A,W,J,DC etc to know that this school took a leap of faith on them.

It could game change the admissions game but Prep schools would have something to say about it all.

We didn't apply for St Dunstans due to location from our house and the fact that my DS liked the extra curricular options at other schools better. Have many friends who send their kids there and love it.

Well all exams and interviews done.....somehow feel very flat and a bit worried now. Guess there's not much I can do! Now the dreaded wait. Wish I could hibernate for two weeks! 😩

Tolacar feeling exactly the same! Now not feeling as positive as I did before....

Me too spacecadet48.....wonder why!

Hello all! Another one here having "post exam stress blues". Also, feeling weirdly bored as have nothing to really fret about!

Yes v bored! Best get on with my tax return!

aaaargh wish you hadn't reminded me Tolacar! Had an email from my accountant a couple of days ago which I had forgotten all about. Replacing worrying about schools with taxes. Lovely.

I have a LOT of time for Mr Hewlett. I love the fact that he actively wants the school to reflect the local community (certain other schools could take a lead out of his book imo!) and he has very strong views on the excesses of rote learning facts, rather than recognising how these facts are applied. He took a lot from his experience in a South Korea and this has very much shaped his vision for the school. I'm not sure it will become like A, DC, T and W but I don't think that's the vision for St D's anyway.

Count me in as one of the "feeling a bit flat and bored" gang. The next 11 day are going to be excruciating!!

Tolacar you just reminded me to sort out my tax affairs too. Hope everyone fills the next couple of weeks with fun, distracting stuff. I really hope everyone's DC gets the outcome they want. I'll report back in after we hear results.
Thanks for listening ladies! ✊🏾🍀🍷

How much do schools over offer by normally? I am particularly interested in St Dustans, and how does it work if more children than they need accept the place.

Hi user147 from what I understand the schools vary in how much they over offer but it's based on historical data and usual take up rates. I know that some schools offer double - especially in London - whereas others offer less. The head of Dulwich told us they were offering 100 for 75 places - some mumsnetters were a bit skeptical re these figures but that's what he told us. Whereas with Alleyn's as I understand it's closer to 180 for 90 places. I don't know about St Dunstans but maybe someone can advise?

Also re how they cope if more accept than they expect - I think someone mentioned higher up the thread that T put on an extra class last year or the year before because they had a higher than expected acceptance. Perhaps they will trim back on the offers this year as a result. I know there's a girls' school - can't remember which one - maybe CLGS - that keeps the offer open until enough people have got back and said they will take the spot at which place they stop accepting. Quite stresssful for parents to do it this way imo but I can see why a school would.

All school will over offer between 1.25 - 3 ime. As already stated, they do this based on historical data. I would expect St D's to offer at least 2x as they are a back up to many other schools (all the ones in this thread but also Eltham College etc).

What are people's views on restricting the numbers of schools people can apply for? Was discussing this yesterday with a friend. If there was a centralised system for all independent schools and you could only choose say 3 schools would that help curb the current (admittedly London centric) parental angst? Thereafter, there could perhaps be a "clearing" system for those without places.

Thoughts?

oooh....that would be the SENSIBLE way, but would schools go for it? Who would organise? And that would also mean parents would have to know for dead sure their three choices are absolutely the ones they want for their child - do most people know this? And you would not be able to hedge your bets (apply for safety schools) that well...I'm assuming. It does seem mad how many people apply for - met a girl on the Jags tour that had sat 8 - 8!!!!

I don't think limiting people to 3 schools would reduce the angst
Most people I know have done 4 schools, some 6 but that's due to uncertainty about how their child will perform

Last year our prep had 2 children without any offers (at the initial offer round)

@AveEldon - wow, did that come as a surprise to the school? The 2 children without offers? Did they "over reach" or were they unlucky? :(

I guess the one advantage of the multiple exams, slightly ridiculous though they seem, is that many 10/11 year olds are not very consistent or great at exam technique, and it's maybe quite helpful to have a few shots at succeeding, preferably with different exam formats. My son's performance, as far as we know about it so far, seems to have been very variable across the range of 11+ and independent school exams, and I am finding it helpful to remember that he's probably as bright (at least) as his best achievements suggest!

Hello, everyone! Congratulations to all your hard work!

My DS got an interview from all the school he applied and now we are waiting for the letters. This is my first 11+ and there are still a lot of things I don't know. From your rich experience, please give me your insight! If you are given an offer from City of London Boys and Trinity, which one would you choose and why? City looks more prestigious and popular, and all mothers who got their son there, they really like it. But I really like Trinity too, I feel its potential, friendliness, fairness (they are very open to disclose the information). My son loves sports and also do music (but not so keen to practice. but he loves to play with others, that's why if he is at T, he may find more interest?) City is closer to commute and convenient, but T takes longer but is less busy, definitely he can sit on the train both ways. T may be with scholarship offer. I haven't seen this comparison before, City boys or T, would you kindly give me your analysis and advice?

I'm not sure about the restricting of schools....as a first time experience of the 11+ this year for DS, we have sat him for a number of schools to which he has gained interview for each one. DS current school did advise which ones to go for but it's trusting what they say that is hard as a first timer so you almost hedge your bets by applying for more. I now realise they do know what's best for him based on his performance so far. I think I will be wiser to it for my younger DS when his time comes around in 5 years time! And who knows what might have changed the system by then. Also performance on the day can vary for a number of reasons! Even though they've gained an interview doesn't guarantee you a place so I'm still worried whether he will get an offer or not! We still don't know if they rank 10th or 150th at interview stage too. I'm wondering if these schools talk to one another....somehow I feel they must do.

Lentils - the head blamed the parents not listening but I think it's hard for people to accept their kid may not get into a third tier school.

JasmineJasmine - if City is on your doorstep and the offers are equal I would take the nearest school. Long commutes with sports kit and instruments aren't fun

Hi Jasmine - haven't posted on this thread before but just to say that we had offers from City and Trinity last year. Really liked both schools and felt they had a lot in common actually - modern, vibrant and relatively diverse feel with a higher % of state school entrants than many independent schools - all of which appealed to us. We went for Trinity and are very happy with it so far. Like you, the commute to City would have been a little shorter, but in the end we balked at the idea of sending DS into central London on packed commuter trains in the morning (the trains into the City from where we are seem to be getting busier and busier). But that's just a personal thing - and I know that for many City's true "London" feel is part of the attraction. The fact that the head at City was changing at the time was also a factor as they hadn't appointed a new one yet - though I suspect they will have someone new now? - and Mr Kennedy at Trinity made a great impression on us. And also Trinity obviously has the space for all its sports facilities on site or down the road (though City do manage to pick an amazing range of facilities into their city centre building!).

As I say, we're very happy with T so far. Love the positive atmosphere at the school, the emphasis on making things fun and creating opportunities for all to join in with sports and activities. But as I say City is a great school too!

Jasmine I personally prefer Trinity and we didn't even apply to City for that reason, even though it was recommended for ds and is an excellent school. Having said that, the schools have enough in common to say go for whichever is easiest to get to! Ultimately you have to go for what you feel will be best for your ds. The pastoral care at T really impressed us and it looks like ds will be getting an offer (he had a scholarship interview and the head told us that means a normal offer at the least) and it is very much a contender because we have a very gentle ds who we think would thrive in the down-to-earth, warm atmosphere at Trinity! How much further a commute would it be for your ds to Trinity?

If City is the shorter commute and the offers are similar then I'd probably choose City.