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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:
user1485549700 · 16/02/2019 22:24

Thanks everyone! DS is currently at state primary, so points mentioned above re SATS and also getting any other work done next year are ones I had not considered; we have a few days to think it through, but does seem like a no-brainer if it means we get to give 11+ a miss next year!

SheWhoMustBe69 · 16/02/2019 22:35

Does anyone know if your son is on a waiting list for W, what the rough number of boys is on that list and how many are eventually offered places at W? My Ds is on the waiting list and I'm losing my mind!!

turboturtle · 17/02/2019 08:53

SheWhoMustBe69, as you can see from this thread there are a number of boys which have since received multiple offers. T & W know this are therefore over-offer, but they may still find themselves with places to fill at the end of this.
Unfortunately it's a bit of a waiting game, as you have to wait until the state offers come out in a few weeks time. I think the acceptance date is the 15th of March
Do you have have alternatives or was W 'the one'?
Even after offers have been accepted, people do change their minds (even after paying the acceptance fee), so you could still be in for a chance.
Make regular contact with W and let them know that you're serious about going there.
Good Luck xx

walkingtheplank · 17/02/2019 09:14

It's also important that all of us who are holding more than 1 offer decline those we don't want ASAP. Even if waiting for state options, you only need to hold one independent offer until March.

I'll be completing that paperwork later today for the offers we won't be accepting.

SheWhoMustBe69 · 17/02/2019 12:23

Thank you turboturtle and walkingtheplank. W is the only one in consideration, he didn't get DC or T!. I think I will now develop into a consummate stalker of the admissions dept at W. They will have to offer him a place just to get rid of me!

Yes please those who have been fortunate to get more than one offer please decline asap, so that those who are in our position can accept somewhere! We have been told that we have to wait until around the 8th March, so another few weeks - by which time I will have lost the 2 stone I had been trying to do for years!!! Ah well silver linings!

Thanks again and it ain't called a waiting list for nothing!

chandellina · 18/02/2019 13:59

Got 11+ offers as expected from Whitgift, Dunstans, Colfes. Sadly Whitgift now a real longshot for us now though as its fees are quite high and one of the others offered a scholarship. Now waiting on the Sutton grammars (Sutton, Wallington) before deciding.

Ayinke · 19/02/2019 08:02

Does any one know how to get into Whigift in year 8? My eldest son said, one of his friend joined in year 8, we don't know how it works, bcos my son was not given an offer and my older son is there already, does Whigift do special offers for siblings? bcos we thought we will consider priority bcos we've got a son there already , it was disheartened for us when the letter came.

Dubai113 · 19/02/2019 08:19

Ayinke sorry to hear this. Try calling the Admissions team. As you already know, I'm sure, Mr B and his team are very approachable and will give feedback and suggest next steps.

Ayinke · 19/02/2019 09:11

Thanks for your advice, we will continue trying, it's very painful, he's been looking forward to join his brother.

MuMama25 · 19/02/2019 10:07

I know someone who got in at yr 8 Ayinke - but they hasn’t been through the process at year 7 and the year group was small

centreohwill · 19/02/2019 12:31

Hello, my DS got offers to Whitgift(11+) and Reeds(13+) We believe they are both good schools but each has a different feel. Loved the facilities at Whitgift, and loved the pastoral care at Reeds. DS Will need to take school bus for both. I’m leaning towards Reeds but DH wants DS to just get on with it and start at 11+ at W. I don’t think I mind either entry point (i.e 11 or 13) and my decision will depend on the school itself and fit for DS.

I would really appreciate any insight from parents with experience of either school . DS is sporty and loves maths but needs to improve in English. He is rather sensitive IMO . We've heard great things about both schools so harder to decide! It would be great to decide and free up a space for someone on waitlist at either school.

I had started a different thread in link below but now wondering if I should have posted my question here (I'm a newbie on mumsnet :)). If not, please reply on thread below. Many thanks for your help!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/3511713-Whitgift-versus-Reeds?watched=1&msgid=85030665#85030665

MumOfLL · 19/02/2019 16:25

chandellina, we are in the same situation. DS got offers from Alleyns, St Dunstan's and Trinity, which one is an academic scholarship offer. Still couldn't make decision, will wait for the result of grammar schools. (Sutton, Wilson's and Wallington)

What is your DS 1st choice?

ladygaga01 · 19/02/2019 16:26

centreohwill - Reeds School struck me as a caring, genuinely happy environment. If you can get to Clapham Junction or Wimbledon you can get there fairly easily on overland trains to Oxshott.

Is your son quite independent? Whitgift is the more academic school, but I have heard that Oxbridge entries have dropped. What sports is your son into?

Would he strive in a larger, more robust environment (W)?

SparklingNotStill · 20/02/2019 07:49

Morning All,

We got offers for both T&W. However only T offered a scholarship. W is our 1st choice but no scholarship offer. We also have scholarship offers from our 3rd choice. However, we are conscious of the difference in the school fees and the additional financial relief a scholarship offers. Does anyone have experience in negotiating a fee reduction/scholarship reassessment? DS had Fallen in love with W since Year 4 and is over the moon about his offer. Getting some sort of fee reduction would make the choice all the more sweeter.

SparklingNotStill · 20/02/2019 07:52

I meant scholarship decision reassessment

Yey22 · 20/02/2019 08:24

SparklingNotStill I would phone Whitgift and say that you have been offered another scholarships but Whitgift is your first choice and may not be able to accept. I know another of boys who have declined W scholarships this year so there may be some flexibility. Good luck

Yey22 · 20/02/2019 08:24

A number not another

Mugglingstrum · 20/02/2019 09:16

Hi sparkling. Do you mind my asking what size scholarship T offered?

Mugglingstrum · 20/02/2019 09:23

As well as the scholarship size there is also the £2.5k difference in fees between T and W. If the scholarship is substantial then the total difference in outlay for the 7 years will be very significant. There is a good chance that W will match your T scholarship offer.

SparklingNotStill · 20/02/2019 09:25

Thanks Yey22

SheWhoMustBe69 · 20/02/2019 13:09

Can anyone give me some advice how much is too much? As you know my son is on the waiting list for W. I spoke to the admissions team and one lady in particular who was lovely. I followed up with an email and she replied saying to keep in contact. I phoned again on Monday spoke to another lady she was ok but seemed slightly irritated. I would like to know how many more times should I contact them without being deemed a loon, a stalker or a complete nuisance???? They did say it would be March before I knew. Does anyone also know traditionally how many they take from the waiting list? There does not seem to be a hierarchy on the list but I wonder if you're not taking/wanting any form of financial assistance, does that fair you better? Any advice anyone?

NotARegularPoster · 20/02/2019 15:09

W used to tell you where your DS performed against the cohort sitting exams, particularly. Scholars are usually in the top 10-15% of performance (I think).
I would assume waitlist places will be offered in order of exam performance?
@SheWhoMustBe69 the week after national state offer day tends to be when big shifts happen - kids accepting grammars release multiple offers that they’re sitting on. My understanding is declines that have scholarships aren’t reoffered....but who knows what really goes on?!
Hope everyone gets the place they need/want.

lemonandgingertea · 20/02/2019 18:27

sparklingnotstill we're in a very similar situation but the opposite way round. Offers at T&W - T is 1st choice but scholarship offer at W. And also scholarship at 3rd choice. I think we are going to have an honest conversation with T next week and see if there is any possibility of a fee reduction/ reassessment for a scholarship. Nothing to lose I suppose. But again if anyone has any advice it would be very much appreciated.

walkingtheplank · 20/02/2019 18:44

That's interesting Lemonandgingertea. We have scholarship at W and 3rd choice and full-fee place at T which was our first choice. However, I can't see how we can go from not good enough to be considered for a scholarship to getting a big enough one to make the 2 financial situations equal so we're accepting the W offer. It is quite painful to turn down lovelyy Trinity though.

johnsmith75023 · 22/02/2019 11:36

We have 20% scholarship at Whitgift but none at Trinity.

Has anyone managed to get Trinity to match a scholarship offer from Whitgift?

Who do you talk to at Trinity and is it just a matter of being honest?

We would prefer Trinity as it is closer and his friends are going there.

Has anyone managed to increase Trinity scholarship offer in the past and if so how do you go about it.

Thank you so much.