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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Trinity/Whitgift 2019 thread

862 replies

enterparentone · 14/12/2018 17:04

Is there a thread yet for parents with kids doing entrance exams in Jan? It's been so helpful looking through previous years threads and now we're going through it I'd love a hand-hold and any advice on what to expect!

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OlennasWimple · 15/12/2018 14:15

Following for sage advice and shared experience

walkingtheplank · 16/12/2018 00:26

I'll join in! DS doing 11+ at both. Not nervous about it at all - oh no! Confused

Original poster
enterparentone · 16/12/2018 19:49

We're 10+. Getting so nervous (me, not him fortunately!) How can so much hang on a couple of hours one morning in January?? My son is so inconsistent in his work so I have no idea what to expect. Does anyone know what the numbers are likely to be for taking the exams/interviews/offers? Any idea of how many/what level scholarships are?

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Wobblypig · 16/12/2018 20:23

Hi all . We did 11 plus last year at both schools and my son will be part of the welcome on the 4th. The schools do their best to relax the boys . Trinity’s is more organised however because they stagger arrival.Whitgift is chaotic at arrival -allow plenty of time as the traffic queue to get in is mad. We had to let my son out and let him walk in on his own rather than risk being late .
Whitgift exam is easier especially because the timing is more generous. Trinity timing is tight especially for the comprehension. We didn’t tutor and completed relaxed over xmas which was the best thing to do. Really took the stress out of the situation.

OlennasWimple · 16/12/2018 21:28

Another inconsistent performer worry here, OP. On his day, DS would walk into any school. On another day... Especially the English paper - any tips for how to best prepare for that Wobbly?

walkingtheplank · 16/12/2018 22:42

My DS is inconsistent too, especially in his English. A bright boy who often hides it unfortunately.

PeekaPeeka · 17/12/2018 06:38

Hi OP, we went through the 10+ twice with our DS. So glad it's all over now - I feel your pain, though, it does put a bit of a dampener on the Christmas holidays!

DS are in 2nd year and j bugs at Trinity now. When they sat, there were 150-180 sitting at T, more at W. For the last few years T have taken in about 50 boys to the junior year.

Original poster
enterparentone · 17/12/2018 06:59

Sounds like our DS are very similar! It seems so black and white on the day - I guess there must be questions designed to bring out their strengths, but given the value of things like scholarships that then last for so many years, it seems crazy all that hangs on whether they have an off day or not when they could only be about 9 1/2 at the time!

That's not bad odds for the 10+. I'm glad they make the effort on the day, as regardless of how cool they might seem at home, suddenly facing 150+ children they don't know in an exam hall when they're used to only 30 in a class would be quite overwhelming.

English is my DS's weakness too - typical boys eh? I'd welcome any tips to prepare him too! Although I can't see the prospect of doing English over Christmas going down too well here...!

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3Kids3 · 18/12/2018 16:22

Does anyone know the pass mark/percentage for Whitgift? I appreciate this will change annually depending on applicants- just looking for a rough guide.

PeekaPeeka · 23/12/2018 23:44

Enterparentone my DS2 wasn't strong in English at all, but did v well in the maths & VR, which more than made up for it.

I think they do the exams in classrooms rather than the main hall, so your DS will only be in with 20-30 boys, not the whole lot - not quite as intimidating.

And they generally have all their friendliest teachers helping on the day to put the boys at ease, and lots of lower school pupils around as well (both my DS will be helping).

PeekaPeeka · 23/12/2018 23:52

3kids the schools never publish a pass mark.

And in fact there probably is no pass mark as such - yes, they use the exams to do an initial filter out, but they then pick who they like or think will be a good fit once they've interviewed - this won't necessarily end up being the top 100 (or whatever) in the exams.

Original poster
enterparentone · 24/12/2018 07:46

Thanks for the insights PeekaPeeka (Pokemon fan?? Can you tell I have a 9 year old DS?!) That's so reassuring about putting them in classrooms rather than a big hall. They really do know how to get the best out of them don't they?

Is the VR multiple choice does anyone know?

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PeekaPeeka · 24/12/2018 21:05

Enter - DS1 is the Pokemon fan, and sometimes calls me pikachu, for some unknown reason!

The VR is multiple choice, yes.

Pickofthepops · 30/12/2018 10:56

Good luck everyone. Also joining. 11+ at Whitgift on 10th. Fingers crossed.

Bondiboo74 · 30/12/2018 13:45

Hi all, joining too if ok. My son is sitting the Trinity and Whitgift 11+ exams.

Original poster
enterparentone · 30/12/2018 15:35

Hello! How's everyone feeling?

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Bondiboo74 · 30/12/2018 16:02

Nervous but trying not to show my son that. What will be, will be eh?

Original poster
enterparentone · 30/12/2018 16:08

How does the 11+ differ from the 10+ does anyone know? Is it basically the same format just slightly higher expectations?

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walkingtheplank · 30/12/2018 16:25

DS has completed some English practice over the past few days and his work has been truly hopeless. Worse than I thought.

I am having to reconcile myself to sending him to local comp - which to be fair isn't too bad, just not what we had in mind for him. Sad

Am now wondering how long it takes to receive the 'we won't be inviting him to interview' letters.

Original poster
enterparentone · 30/12/2018 16:52

I know how you feel walking. Take some comfort in the fact that everyone I've spoken to says their boys are weaker in English. The beauty of T&W is that as they're single-sex, our boys are up against other boys so the playing field is levelled somewhat.

It's so tough seeing them not produce what you know they can. Let's keep everything crossed that they will be swayed by the Big Day into pulling something magical out of the hat and it's just tiredness and post Christmas slump that's affecting them at home now.

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walkingtheplank · 30/12/2018 17:27

Thanks for the positivity. I am probably comparing DS to his older sister who was on a whole different plane when she took her 11+. However, I have to concede he just doesn't seem to understand what is needed from him in reading comprehensions. I'm trying to lower my expectations and hopefully we'll be pleasantly surprised. Confused

Original poster
enterparentone · 01/01/2019 21:42

Does anyone know if you get any feedback if your child is unsuccessful? Eg marks in the papers at least, so you know what to work on?

Slightly disheartened here - my son is usually very strong in maths but seems to have lost the plot over the holidays - he got 25% in a paper this morning! Wondering if we should have been doing more over Xmas but it's so hard when they're little, tired from a long term at school and you just want to enjoy family time! I'm at the point of thinking what will be, will be. I don't think it'll help much to try and drill more into him over the next few days - I expect it'd be counter-productive as he'd pick up on my anxiety! I just want this over with now so we can have a break!

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enterparentone · 01/01/2019 21:43

This reply has been deleted

Duplicate post

Original poster
enterparentone · 01/01/2019 21:44

Ps plank we tried a comprehension today too and my son didn't even pick up on the fact the character in the text was dead(!) Confused

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walkingtheplank · 01/01/2019 23:00

That's quite funny enterparentone. It makes you despair doesn't it?

I can't wait for the exams to be over.