Alleyn's 11+ 2019

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I have seen threads for Whitgift/Trinity, Dulwich College and others but I haven't seen much about Alleyn's.

My dd sat the exam last Tuesday. She found it "not too bad" but definitely got one of the later Maths questions wrong.

Just wondering if anyone else on MN waiting to hear about interviews?

MumofLL that's tricky. Can you rearrange the St D's interview? The two schools aren't miles apart distance wise but Saturday traffic in the Catford/Forest Hill area can be bad.

think this always happens.

if it's logistically possible (given the timings) then I would go with what you've been offered. Alleyns claim to never reschedule interviews. 2 Interviews in one day should be ok?

Scholarship interviews at Alleyn's are on a different day? 29th and 31st. Maybe you will get a scholarship interview at Alleyn's too ? Good luck.

I wish I could stop thinking about the letter being on its way to us !!!

MumofLL- we also have an academic scholarship at st dunstans on the 26th - will wait and see what happens tomorrow but I think it’s too much for my ds to attend 2 interviews on the same day!

Anyone heard anything yet?
I can see the postman at the top of our road- the post is on its way!!
Feeling very nervous...
Fingers crossed for everyone!

DD invited for interview - she will be so pleased.

Good luck everyone!

Well done! Ours too! Good luck everyone x

Well done to your DDs! Are the interviews next week or this Saturday? I’m at work and won’t find out until this evening!

Hello any ideas of what to expect in the interview?

Gah, and it was no for us! well 2 outta three aint bad!

MrsPatmore It is very tricky and they do not offer an alternative appointment. Luckily, a invitation letter from Alleyn's early today offers an afternoon session while St Dunstan one is in the morning.

OTT2019 Indeed, two interviews on the same day! 30 mins x 3 subject sessions for both schools. I do feel for my DS, but he seems to be alright. (came back home, listened to the news for 30 secs and off to play games! ) Well, good luck to you and everyone waiting for the news.

It’s a no for us too. Poor DS worked so so hard and hes really disappointed. But also 2 out of 3 for us so still pretty good! But still a bit sad

Nothing in the post! I wonder if I should call them tomorrow. Anyone else still waiting to hear?

MumofLL- well done to your DS and good luck to him for both interviews. I’m new to mumsnet and finding it a great source of information. Thank you all 😀

Sorry to those disappointed, it is a really difficult process.

MumofLL - good luck with the 2 interviews, your ds sounds very relaxed which is great!

OTT2019 - If you don't get a letter tomorrow then I would ring Alleyn's. JAGS have said that they will post offer letters but then also email in case people don't get them.

onechance - not sure what interview will entail but previous years have involved talking about a picture or poem, asking how child will get to school, recent books read, favourite subjects etc... I think they like to just get them talking, shouldn't be a problem for my dd

We received our letter today and unfortunately is a 'No' so very dissapointed. It does say that they have had over 900 applicants this year.

MumofLL the Alleyns Saturday interview is not 3 x 3 subject interviews, it's a group fun exercise and then an individual 20-30 minute interview with a teacher. The 3 interview set up is for a scholarship interview which is not on the Saturday.

Those who got a no - Alleyns will give you feedback if you ask.

For us it was a no too. There seems to have a been a large number of applicants, does anyone know how that compares with 13+? The number of places is significantly lower, is that the same for applications?

Blodwen9 Oh! thank you for your info. I must mix up with St Dunstan's interview , just remember in the letter Alleyn's said that we will spend 90 mins in total.

DS is invited to an academic interview which is not really a surprise. Like to share some of my thoughts, but Not sure if everyone likes this (definitely not a show off) - it's more important to focus on improving our DC's performance rather than calculating the odd. My DS took the SPS exam and he saw pretty much the same group of children in KCS, Alleyn's, Dulwich exams. I believe those children are top 10% of their peers and they are very likely to be offered by those schools.
If your DC is not within top 15% of the group (not in his class or his schools, but in all 10-11 years children), probably the chance is slim.
13+ and 16+, I would assume is even more competitive.

I understand the disappointment and the hurting feeling when getting a 'no' as we experienced the same last year in 10+ (I still remember my DS covered his face and tears tickled down his cheek, on his hand it's a 'no' letter from a school last year). Positively guide your DC, do not give up and work harder, it will be paid off eventually.

Good lucky to all your DC.

JCDaddy top 10% is meaningless though? Depends which primary/prep school you are at? My dc's school about 50% would get offers from the kind of school you mention

I think with most of these processes there is a huge element of luck. If the exam falls on a day they're not 100% / they get stuck on an early maths question / they don't like the comprehension text -then the whole thing is blown apart?

So I have a DS who got DC but not Alleyns - his best friend had the opposite result. And also know of examples of kids getting scholarships to ne Dulwich school and not even an offer from another.

Just saying that it's all very random and that a 'no thank you' from one of these schools is pretty meaningless in the fullness of time.

re the 13+.... Alleyns is mega competitive. only about 20 spots available and they all go to superstars.

Agree with you Blodwen9, it is very random. Ours got Kings (13+) but not Alleys or Dulwich, unfortunately Dulwich is the one he wants so we will try again at 13. Luckily he can continue at his current school until then and if he is unlucky again, we possibly have Kings.

JCDadday - how do you know where your child sits within his/her year group? We did very little prep for 11+ and, as the main exit point for us is at 13, the school only prepared us for ISEBs. We obviously know his CAT scores and he is in the top 5% but it is also a question of preparation not just ability and I would expect a lot/most of the kids were thoroughly prepared. I am now just trying to figure out how much extra work we need to do to get to Dulwich next time around. For me knowing how many other boys he will be competing against would be helpful. Would also help in deciding whether we will give Alleyns another try.

DC have a huge intake at 13 (roughly 80 boys) - the year goes from 6 classes to 10. Alleyns take 20 max - so 10 boys and 10 girls.

Luck & random is part of the game but not play a major role. 1 interviews/offers out of 5 schools applied - this is luck or random. 3 or more interviews/offers out of 5 school applied - this is the ability.

When preparing such a stressful 11+ exams, I certainly would not hang the hope on luck or other random factors, but well-prepared.

Apparently, schools have their own focus. In my own opinion, Dulwich is more Maths-focused school whereas Alleyn's & KCS are more on English. That means it's more likely you get interviews/offers from Dulwich if Maths is the children's strong subject but English is slightly weaker. That also explains why some children admit to school with scholarship but not offered by other schools.

@wildviking, ISEB exam format is different as it's computerized multi-choice. Not sure 13+, but with my 11+ experience, If your DC got Kings but not Alleyn's & Dulwich, I can only assume his English is much stronger than his Maths, as King's Maths is probably the easiest amongest the three schools (by looking at sample papers).

You can talk to the head teacher of his school to ask where he stands in the school and in the borough. In general, e.g. top 10%, top 15% or top 20%.
Also, you can take the mock tests to see where your child stands compare to children in other boroughs.

None of these gives you an exact estimation but it will be good enough.

Hope that helps.

JDaddy - I never said that you should depend on luck? Just that this is a random process. Of course you should prepare, but even the best prepared brightest kid can still stumble in one (or indeed several) of these processes.

Getting 3 inerviews out of 5 similar applications - that is random. The child can jump the academic hurdle but somehow miscued it twice. I do agree that at interview schools can be looking for slightly different things - but ultimately these schools all want bright, enthusiastic kids?

Completely disagree that DC is stronger in maths and Alleyns at English? What are you basing that on?