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Secondary education

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Original poster

Trinity/Whitgift 2020 entry

780 replies

Breathe10 · 07/12/2019 12:31

I've read through lots of chat re 2019 but can't see a 2020 10/11+ 2020 thread. How are your DS's getting on?

OP posts:
PopGoesTheWeaz · 14/01/2020 16:17

I think they try to give you two or three days notice, so have tried to keep my work schedule as flexible as possible for next few weeks

Anno7 · 14/01/2020 16:29

Croy23XP congratulations! Is your surname early in the alphabet out of interest if they’re going in that order?! Thanks so much

Croy23XP · 14/01/2020 16:41

@Anno7 yes it is!

Anno7 · 14/01/2020 16:59

Cory23XP thank you! 🤞

Yey22 · 14/01/2020 17:27

We heard very early on with regards an interview for Trinity and very late on for Whitgift so until you hear a no, stay positive.... goodluck the wait is awful x

MissVal12 · 14/01/2020 19:40

Got an email invite from Whitgift 10+ Music Scholarship this coming Monday. Does that mean he got a place? Don’t know how to tell him in case he thinks he is in. Nothing from Trinity yet..

Delices · 14/01/2020 20:04

From experience if anyone has had this experience ! When do whitgift send the no emails ?

Enpot2007 · 14/01/2020 20:05

No it doesn’t mean he’s got a place yet but he has passed the entrance exam. He will have a general interview too. Sadly you can still do all of this and not be offered a place, not offered a scholarship or put on the waiting list. Or offered a place with or without scholarship. Fingers crossed for you and everyone else. You will know for sure on offer day. Sometimes hints may be dropped - but until you have that little piece of paper in your hand...

Enpot2007 · 14/01/2020 20:26

Can I also add Whitgift admissions are really on it and very accommodating. If you do have any queries and interview clashes with other schools they will try their best to work with you and will answer everything you throw at them as quickly as they can.

For those who have interviews the staff are brilliant. They will find out what your boys are interested in. My son was wearing a school council badge and they asked him about why he was voted on the council. (He put it on in the morning and I was like don’t wear that they’ll think you’re a geek). How wrong was I? Smile He was asked how he felt going from his very tiny school (one form entry) to a large school. He was also asked how his friends would describe him and what the journey would be like as he would have to get a train. He came out laughing and said the teacher was funny. Can’t remember other stuff. He wasn’t asked anything crazy unless something has changed in the past year. You’ll be amazed and incredibly proud how your boys will come up with fab answers and be incredibly honest. Just don’t over prep them. Let them just shine Grin.

volpemum · 14/01/2020 21:38

Agree with the poster above...the interview at W could not have been any nicer both for DS and for us! They immediately put my son at ease and chatted about his favourite sport and asked “why W” (easy question for my son as it was always his first choice!) The parent “interview” is not really an interview but a very informal chat. In my (limited) experience I don’t know anyone who got invited back for a scholarship assessment that wasn’t then offered a place. But I could be wrong. Also last year the interviews e mails were definitely not done alphabetically. I know this for a fact as we are at the end of the alphabet and got an e mail quite early on and DSs best friend is a B and didn’t get an interview invite until 2 weeks later (and was offered a place) ! So I think it’s honestly a bit random. good luck to everyone! I went through the 11+ process last year for my third and thankfully last time and I know it’s such a stressful time! My DS has very happily settled in at W and is so far really loving it. Hope you all hear back soon!

champagneandfromage50 · 15/01/2020 09:35

I agree to with the W interview. My DS was from a state school and a lot of the boys were waiting in there smart prep/ private uniforms so he did stand out and was a little anxious. However the head of year was lovely with him and told my DH that it was lovely to have a boy show humility.

Adaryn · 15/01/2020 10:15

We've just received a letter from Whitgift inviting DS to a sports assessment day. Haven't heard about an interview but taking this as a positive sign! Just a bit confused as it says he is being assessed for hockey, despite never having played before!

nogoingbacktothefuture · 15/01/2020 10:22

Had a call for T 10+ interview on Friday

Anno7 · 15/01/2020 10:45

Adaryn, congratulations! We just got the same letter- I called the school to check as my son doesn’t play rugby or hockey and they said that they will play all sports even if they are not their core sports so I think they are prepared that some will never have played some of the sports before. They also said that to get this invitation then they will have had to have done well enough in the exam and interviews will be arrange separately. Hope that helps!

piupiu · 15/01/2020 10:56

Has anyone heard anything about 10+ Scholarship assessments for Trinity yet?

Walkingtheplank · 15/01/2020 11:42

My son is Y7 at Whitgift. He is escorting parents and boys to their interviews today. He is actually slightly nervous but I've told him that the parents and boys being interviewed will be far more nervous.

I would say not to prep your son for the interview. I did that in advance of the Trinity interview and it definitely caused it to be his worst interview.

DS was at state primary - quite a scruffy uniform, no badges etc. I can't stress how much this does not matter. There are no extra points for having a smart prep school uniform.

Definitely last year's interviews were not done in alphabetical order. We're towards the front of the alphabet and were called late for them.

Regarding sports assessments, DS had a day where he was assessed in rugby, hockey and football. He didn't have any experience of 1 of those sports and there were definitely boys there who only had football experience.

Good luck every one!

Enpot2007 · 15/01/2020 11:55

Yep don’t worry about not playing any particular sport. There will be boys who specialise in a sport and others not. Round one is also about spotting potential. All around ability will be tested. So sprinting, jumping, listening and teamwork. They make the day really fun too. Good luck. I overheard the coaches saying how much they loved spotting potential and new talent when we attended the assessments last year. Good luck!

starwars10 · 15/01/2020 12:10

congratulations 'nogoingbacktothefuture' for getting T10+ interview.
We are still waiting - can I please ask if your surname is towards the beginning of the alphabet?

Adaryn · 15/01/2020 12:13

Thanks everyone. I called them in a panic, thinking I'd done something wrong on the application, but they reassured me it was just cos his main sport isn't one of their core sports. Sounds like he'll have a great day anyway, whatever happens.

eagle92 · 15/01/2020 13:04

Has anyone had a rejection from W yet?

nogoingbacktothefuture · 15/01/2020 13:06

Hi Starwars thank you. We are middleish in terms of surname lol

Adaryn · 15/01/2020 13:22

Just got a call from T, typically they have invited DS for an interview on Monday when he already has the W sports assessment... Now have to wait for them to try to rearrange. At least I can relax a bit for now.

Anno7 · 15/01/2020 13:39

Thank you walkingtheplank did you say earlier that you got the sports assessment offer and then the interview date took a while? Just madly trying to shuffle work next week to do sports assessment and then a cricket assessment, wondering what next re times for interview etc! Thank you

starwars10 · 15/01/2020 13:42

'nogoingbacktothefuture' thank you so much and good luck to your DS :)
If anyone hears anything else from T10+ please keep posting! Too much stress ...

chalkyc2 · 15/01/2020 14:14

Has anyone heard anything about T sports? I think the first date was supposed to be Monday but haven't heard anything as yet. Ahh this is all going to be a massive juggle!