Trinity/Whitgift 2019 thread

[enterparentone]

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!

New to all of this. What does the Whitgift sports recall comprise of?

Jige, it is for W.
Yes! I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders 😁

Does anyone know if a boy can be awarded a bursary without a scholarship?

Yes, they are two separate things. It's difficult to say what combination of scholarship/bursary/nothing someone has or how often you get one without the other as no one really publicises what they get or ask others.

Cheers soupdragon but I would assume to be eligible for a bursary you would need to be of or near academic scholarship standard?

I suppose it must vary year on year depending on the standard of the other bursary applicants. They won't have funds to support everyone who applies. I suppose bursary applicants are less likely to have been able to afford private preps or extensive tutoring so perhaps they won't do as well in exams as a group?

I think I read about 20% are on bursaries

PlasterDisaster, I think it is pretty rare at the top schools as they have many bursary candidates so can afford to choose the children who can offer the school something special ie, academic, sporting etc

I would imagine that they offer the bursaries to the boys they really want, whatever reason that might be. I remember being told that the interviews are to help them spot the talent behind the exam result so it might not be exam based but some "spark" they've seen. I don't think they are ever going to say though.

The Whitgift Foundation website says that 47% across the three schools have financial assistance. They also say:

Bursaries, or reduced fees, are limited and available at Old Palace of John Whitgift, Trinity or Whitgift Schools to parents whose income falls below a certain level and whose son or daughter performs in the top of academic assessments. At Old Palace of John Whitgift School bursaries are available from Year seven.

The Whitgift Foundation supports a high number of bursary places, however demand is extremely high and therefore bursary awards will be offered to selected pupils following their entrance examination

Which I think supports the idea that they are offered to the children they really want.

There may be boys that they don't have enough money left in the scholarship pot for.

Excellent. Confirms exactly what I thought. Thanks

I do know that with all schools bursaries are means tested (based on income) and scholarships are based on ability

Good evening fellow netmums could someone kindly point me in a direction of a good tutor for 10+ and 11+ in the Croydon area. Just moved to London and would like my boys to join either whitgift or trinity school. Would like my boys to have a go at the 11+ for 2020 so we need to start preparing soon.

How's everyone feeling?
Just 18 l-o-n-g days to go.

Has anyone changed their preferences/views of any schools during the process?

Hi walking. I’ve definitely changed in the way I feel about all the schools we applied for! Don’t want to be too specific right now (waiting is fuelling paranoia ) but one school has gone down in my estimations as I thought they were the least parent/child friendly in terms of the process (if I say exam in a big hall and evening before notice for sports scholarship attendance some will know who I mean )

I really like the way Eltham interview on the same day as the exam - half the stress and time off!

Whitgift I can’t help but be wowed by every time I go!

Can’t stand the waiting! DS has written a countdown on my whiteboard organiser which is not helping either of us!

This is a really good question Walking. Our views have definitely changed based on what we have observed through this process. Credit to most of the schools involved, they have done their best to make the experience enjoyable for the boys. However one of the schools we went for (not W or T but a co-ed in S London which is known for being "nurturing" and I believe not as academically selective as W or T) had a really horrendous on-line test and many children came out in tears afterwards - which is completely inexcusable in my view. My DS said it was the hardest thing he's ever done. It ought to be very possible to assess academic standards without destroying a 10/11 year old child's confidence in the process. This school is now right at the bottom of our list and I wish we hadn't put our DS in for it.

When I went through this with DS1 (he's 19 now!) I started out wanting W. I absolutely loved it. By the end of the process I had switched to T and haven't regretted it for a single moment.

Hi all - should we write to thank staff / pupils who we saw at interview? Would that seem as tho trying to be too creepy?

Very creepy and desperate!!!

I think it's fine to compliment/thank the pupils as they're volunteers. The staff are doing their job. If the pupils did a particularly good job of putting you at ease I think they would welcome the positive feedback.

It's not going to affect your application either way.

Thanks soupdragon - will hold fire till after DDay and msg about a young guide whatever the outcome for us.

Interviews for both W and T now officially over!! What a massive relief! Did anyone get any positive vibes from either or both schools? I found W to be a lot more persuasive in accepting if a potential offer is made.

I think W like DS academically and T liked him in terms of sport. I can't second guess whether either will make an offer - could be both or neither.

I'm glad the assessments are over though. Things were starting to get fraught at DS's school with a bit of jealousy cropping up with some boys getting interviews/scholarship assessments - and others not.

For that reason walking I'm dreading offers day! It'll be so harsh for the children who don't get offers.

Did anyone get a nod at interview about offers/scholarships?

I guess them is some logic to the timing of offers as they won't be in school the following week. I've told DS that I won't tell him about offers, or lack thereof, until we are outside school gates and on our own.