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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!

OP posts:
helgwyn · 19/01/2019 23:25

DS11 just had Trinity scholarship auditions this week for drama and singing and interview today. Massive longshot but good confidence boost for him to have got to this stage. Keen to hear when others get news as don't know anyone else up for the school. The waiting-for-the-letter/phonecall bit is the worst, isn't it?! And a very strange feeling for all the (frankly ghastly) work to have come to such an abrupt end. Wish I had the energy to celebrate! :)

MuMama25 · 20/01/2019 07:00

10+ interview done also but music audition to go at W on Tuesday. Also feeling like I hope I haven’t scuppered his chances by saying the wrong things in my bit! 😕

Cantsleep2 · 20/01/2019 09:03

So happy I have found this thread, reassuring to know I’m not the only one consumed by anxiety! After a long wait am thrilled to hear DS has 11+ interviews at T & W this week, am so proud of him to get this far. New anxiety is about my meeting with HT, can anyone shed light on questions asked/ questions to ask? Single parent so going it alone and feeling quite overwhelmed!

MotherofPirates · 20/01/2019 09:20

Easily said but try not to worry about the interview too much Can’tSleep so far it has been one of the nicest bits! DS and I were both very nervous but they do everything they can to put you at ease. When we went most people only had one parent with them (me included).
Are you sure you are meeting the head at W? Most people I’ve spoken to so far have had another member of senior staff.

Cantsleep2 · 20/01/2019 09:58

Thank you MotherofPirates, that is reassuring...am definitely overthinking it! You are right, senior member of staff at W and HM at T. Wishing you and DS the best of luck X

turboturtle · 20/01/2019 11:03

BlueandPink1 Sorry for the late reply, and especially sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

”There will obviously be boys who excel at sport or music…….but they do also want boys who have varied interest.”

The key word there is also, so if your DS loves music, he should not downplay this. He sounds like he has a real passion for music. As you probably already know the music at T is excellent and it sounds like he would be a welcome addition to the school.
What I was trying to get across (especially for all those who are lurking), is that there is hope for boys who are all rounders and not just those who are grade 8 piano at 10 years old, or who play cricket for Surrey.
We know a family whose son applied for a music scholarship who was not grade 5 in his instruments - Think he had grade 3 and grade 1. He did not get a scholarship but he was given a music award, as he showed great potential.
I agree with SpaceOpera. He should definitely attend the Music Scholars info session - This usually takes place in November so keep an eye on the school website. Mr Swinson is really nice and will give honest advice in that session, and your son will get a chance to play for the teachers and will receive feedback. We went to a similar session for another school, and we were a bit underwhelmed. T was better by far!
Have you looked at the Purcell school of Music? It may be too far in terms of travel but I heard of a boy who left Trinity mid way to attend that school as music was his absolute passion.
Good luck for your application next year.

mrsnobble · 20/01/2019 12:11

Does anyone know what sort of maths/English questions are asked at T interviews?Thanks!

BlueandPink12 · 20/01/2019 18:40

TurboTurtle, thank you so much for your reply! Several people mentioned to me before that we should try and audition for Purcell, but I don’t want DS to become a professional musician. I’d rather he did well academically in a school with a strong music department, that’s why we are so keen for him to join Trinity.

Fbgarcia · 21/01/2019 16:08

Is anybody still waiting to hear from W? This waiting game is killing me :(

MuMama25 · 21/01/2019 16:23

Blueandpink are you looking at whitgift for music too? Also have very musical DS going for scholarship and interested as to opinions in music at both

Balancedmum74 · 21/01/2019 16:29

Yep .... still waiting Envy

gingershotting · 21/01/2019 16:34

Fbgarcia and Balancedmum, still waiting too

gingershotting · 21/01/2019 16:37

but to be honest I now start preparing myself that it likely will be a 'no thank you but thank you letter' for us - especially when I read about the amount of tutoring that seemed to have happened, no chance for a normal rounded boy without extra tutoring...

Fbgarcia · 21/01/2019 16:38

Thanks! I was so tempted to call them today. Feel better knowing some other parents still waiting. Fingers crossed :)

Balancedmum74 · 21/01/2019 16:46

I emailed them to ask if it was a negative outcome would we have to wait until end of January to find out and I haven't had a reply. It's such a shame they don't adopt the Trinity approach where they send out rejections straight away. I didn't apply to T but have read it on the feeds.

OlennasWimple · 21/01/2019 17:16

Interviews go on until Jan 30th, so still time to get an interview date through.

Fbgarcia · 21/01/2019 17:45

Balancedmum74, the letter they gave us at Trinity, kind of gave away that. The longer you waited for a reply from them the better news but W didn't say nothing likectgst so not sure how they do it. Guess we'll just have to wait :(

Balancedmum74 · 21/01/2019 17:48

Just had a lovely reply back .... still none the wiser but a nice email:

Good afternoon,

Apologies for not replying sooner.

Thank you for your email. We are continuing to slot applicants for interviews at present and will be continuing this week, we are really sorry that we are unable to let you know any further news at this moment in time.

We do appreciate your circumstances and you are very welcome to keep checking with us.

Thank you once again.
Kind regards.
The Admissions Team.

Fbgarcia · 21/01/2019 18:46

Oh! That's great. Let's hope we get good news. Keeping positive. Thanks for sharing. :)

walkingtheplank · 21/01/2019 21:34

That's a nice response from Whitgift. I'm surprised they can't say whether an interview is in the offing.

Anyone else have any interesting news?

OlennasWimple · 22/01/2019 01:05

If DS gets an interview for W, I firmly expect it to be on the very last day of interviews for various reasons (he sat from overseas, so timings were just slightly later; our surname is definitely in the second half of the alphabet; we applied right on the deadline... Basically anything other than DoB sorting would see us at the back of the queue)

So I'll let you know if / when we hear anything Smile

turboturtle · 22/01/2019 08:35

MuMama25
Both schools do an orchestra course, usually held on a Sunday.
W call their’s the ‘Prospective new boys orchestral day’ which this year will be on Sunday 10 February 2019.
T already had their’s in October & it is called the ‘Junior Orchestral day’.
It is worth attending these so that they can get a feel for the music provision at both schools.
T obviously has just refurbished their music department so in terms of facilities and environment, they win hands down.
If your DS loves singing then both schools offer scholarships for choristers, but W offer a flexible boarding place for those days when they have evening performances and going home would mean too much of a late night. Choristers do appear to be really busy.
Do go along to the musical events which both schools hold at various times of the year.
Some are general while others are for specific instrument groups. T also has a summer prom which they hold in the school grounds. Details are listed on their web sites.

Seeline · 22/01/2019 09:12

Music is amazing at T. The new music block has amazing facilities including a recital hall, loads of soundproof practice rooms (of various sizes), a choir room and recording studio.

If your DS sings, the opportunities are fantastic. My DS has performed in operas and concerts at the main concert venues in London, as well as in Germany, Italy and Japan. He has recorded film scores and albums. All as part of the Trinity Boys Choir (usually just trebles). The Choristers (4 part male voices) sing an Evensong roughly once a month and take part in concerts etc. They also have an annual course during the Easter break when they stay for a week at one of the Cathedrals and sing all the services there. The school has numerous vocal groups including concert choir, Male Voice Choir, Chamber Choir (with the 6th form girls) and a girls choir.
The school has several orchestras, ensembles and jazz groups. Again they go on tours and perform at concerts. They also have a residential orchestral course during the Easter break.

MuMama25 · 22/01/2019 09:53

Thanks v much both. We did attend the days and were v impressed with both, but W much more convenient for us and for instrumental players and pianists and though they were on a par - agreed for singers thought T was better. DS grade 7 on 2 instruments and lives/loves music also. Just hope I’m not him a disservice in the school choice. Thanks v much for the info though.

MuMama25 · 22/01/2019 10:14

*and though = I thought

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