Trinity/Whitgift 2020 entry

[Breathe10]

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?

I just called T but they are closed today obviously. I have to call 4 schools on Monday. I don't understand why schools cannot send follow up emails knowing how unreliable RM service is nowadays (only 1 has done so and I was so grateful).

My son was placed onto the waiting list for Trinity. Anyone have any insight into this and how it works/do wait lists get a place? Anyone have any experience being given a waitlist place? Unsure if to accept another school and pay the deposit or hold out for a place and risk loosing the deposit.

Kazziether I know last year there wasn’t much if any movement on the 11+ waiting list for Trinity. I would speak to the admissions as they will have some insight as to how likely. Fingers crossed x

Yes now the dust has settled a bit I'm wondering about the T 11+ waitlist - there seem to be a lot of us on it! All the 10+ boys seem to have been super successful - well done! The letter actually does say there is a 'good chance' a number of boys will be successful (but no guarantee etc). I hope they wouldn't write that if wasn't the case?!

We're unsure whether to continue to pursue it actually - we have an offer from what is my husbands first choice and DS' second choice. I imagine any T waitlist offer even if it came won't come with any type of sports award (which we were hoping for and had positive conversations with the coaches at T) anyway. Hmm!!

Freeasabird I think 11+ is more competitive than 10+. I know one boy who was offered a small scholarship at 10+, turned it down, and was only waitlisted at 11+. But with more prep, who knows - he has obviously done very well to be offered a bursary.

I think that bursaries go to boys who have performed the best in exams, so you are right in thinking that a bursary offer this year doesn't guarantee one next year, it would depend on how he performed against other candidates at that sitting.

There are no free holiday clubs run by T, as far as I know, so yes, extra childcare would have to be factored in (but this is probably the case for any indie).

The living within 2mins of school and therefore living near his friends might be a bit of a red herring - many boys travel quite far distances to come to T. We live about 5 miles away, and DS1's friends always seem to live 5-6 miles the other side of the school to us. But at least you'd only be a max of 6 miles away from his friends, not 12!

I think it would be a huge gamble, *

I agree that friends may well not be local at all. Both DSs had friends covering 5 minutes from home , 2 minutes from school to the far side of Bromley (we live in South Croydon). It was a relief when they got independent enough to use the free public transport. That said,
I agree that at least you are in the middle!

I'm not sure if T re-assess wrt scholarships and offer them to existing boys. I think they do x they certainly threaten to take them away boy fails to perform to the expected standard (DS1, I'm looking at you!)

11+ is more competitive and speaking from experience lots of boys with scholarships aren’t tutored. I do know boys though that didn’t pass the 10+ but then past the 11+ so sometimes being abit older may help.

The admissions team are very approachable why don’t you speak to them and see whether there is any negotiating.

Re location of boys, boys are spread out but lots Dulwich, Bromley, CP and Beckenham area. My D has friends 5 mins away and friends 30mins always, the school is very friendly so they make friends quickly.

The holidays that tricky, there are some sports camps you can pay for.

Goodluck with your decision x

We have also been offered a bursary for 10 + at T, which is great but a lot less than we had hoped for. Taking the place will mean significant sacrifices but I do feel that DS will have an amazing experience and will gain so much from the opportunity to go there.

It does feel like too much of a gamble to let the place go and try again for next year. I have heard of bright boys who I assumed would get a place at 11+, but have received waiting list letters. The risk feels especially high when our local state option does not feel like a viable choice at all.

Getting excited. Been looking at the T website all morning. We will release a W 10+ place for those on the waiting list

When looking at affordability, please remember to factor in annual fee increases of around 5% - they soon mount up...

Wow! Thank you all for your wisdom and experiences - it’s very much appreciated.

Agree it would be a big gamble to try for 11+ and from what you have all said I’m not sure I would be comfortable taking the gamble given its likely to be more competitive.

I’m also not sure my DS’s nerves would stand it, he found the process all quite stressful - not the assessments just the not knowing and uncertainty.

Based on all your feedback I will definitely contact the admissions team and see if there is any flexibility around the offer - although the letter we got stating what the fees would be came from the whitgift foundation and was separate to the letter from the school admissions - so not sure if I contact the foundation and discuss with them instead?

Grateful for the feedback about where the boys are coming from so seems like there is a wide area and thanks for the heads up about fee increases and holiday childcare costs. Trying to make sure I have my sums right.

Sadly one thing I would likely have to cut would be DS’s piano teacher which is about £80ish a month - are instrument lessons at Trinity free or paid as an extra? Does anyone know the cost?

I would speak to admissions first, they will advise next steps.

Re music lessons, they are paid as an extra unless they are included in your scholarship etc .

Goodluck x

Music lessons are currently £275 per term (10 lessons).

I would start by speaking to the admissions team, and they can always direct you to the foundation if that's who you need to talk to.

Good luck!

Freeasabird99 I thought bursary places took into account your financial situation to make it a viable option, so I would talk to the school if you think it would be a massive burden. It is another 8 yrs with fee increases plus extras.

Lovely to see lots of T10+ offers here! Think we've decided to go that way, it felt the best fit for DS (plus he has a good scholarship offer there!).

Is anyone else's DS in the position where they won't know anyone else going? We didn't know anyone else trying out and DS is already starting to worry about being the only one going without friends.

Hi all,
This thread is really useful- thank you for sharing so openly. My Ds has a full fee W10+ place. Was hoping for a small % off via a scholarship but haven’t been so lucky. Have been doing the maths this weekend to see if it’s financially viable, it will be (just about) but with lots of sacrifices eek. We stumbled upon the 10+ by accident so did some prep but am tempted to take the year for him to improve and go again for 11+. I have been told (not by W) that if they perform well then scholarships can become an option during their time at school. Has anyone experienced this?

We're also in the 'can we afford it/should we save a years fees and go 11+' camp too.
Are scholarships generally more generous at 11+ or about the same?
When you look at the potential long term cost over 6-8 years it's eye-watering and we'd always said 'if he gets a scholarship he can go' but the discount doesn't even cover the bus fare!

@PiedImperial thanks for the info on music lessons - assuming they are half an hour ?

@Abirdinthehand23 yes I thought that too and would have expected more of a bursary based on income but I wonder if they also adjust for equity built up in your home.. either way we are very grateful for the assistance at the level offered as without it we would not have a chance to access T at all

@Adaryn my DS will not know anyone as far as I know.. I think the people he did know who had T 10+ offers were full fee offers and they are going to take their chances with the grammars at 11+

Yes, the music lessons are 35mins long.

Neither of my DS knew anyone when they started at T, and honestly, it's fine. Yes, there are some prep schools that send quite a few children each year, but there are just as many children from state primaries that don't know anyone. The form tutors will keep an eye on them all and make sure they are all mixing and making friends.

@Adaryn
@Freeasabird99
We are T10plus and don’t know anyone else joining so in the same boat as you !

Does anyone know if there is an induction / welcome / taster day in June /July for the new starters in Sept ? For T10 plus .

Also Is there a second hand uniform shop ?

There are secondhand uniform sales on a Saturday - I think there is usually one in June and one in November.

There is a "new boys morning" one Saturday in June - parents also go, and meet the form tutors.

Then there is an induction afternoon in September, just before the start of term.

This is for 10+ and 11+

There are 2nd hand uniform sales a few times a year, but not a full time shop.

We're in the happy situation of having decisions to make at 10+ : T, W or stay at state primary for the year. T has been our preferred option, we just love the feel of the school - but I'm sure W would also be great (+ they've given us a better offer and it's easier/cheaper to get to).

I'm a bit surprised at the lack of info provided by W about the nature of sports scholarships and the commitments required. We have a number of logistical issues we'd need to resolve around sports with both schools.

What would current parents recommend as the approach? Do the schools allow prospective parents to come in and chat with the sports heads during this 'decision' period? Should we coordinate all this via Admissions office, or should we contact sports heads directly? And would anyone recommend trying to negotiate matching offer from T? It's not all about money, but of course it helps...

@Adaryn @jasmine372

Bit of a newbie on MN
I don’t know how to send private messages 🤦🏽‍♀️ but feel free to message me if you want to have a chat or meet before the welcome in June

Good luck to everyone who is on waiting lists and with all the final decision making and thanks to all those offering advice - it’s invaluable 😊 🙏

@EccaMoldcan - congrats on sports scholarships. I can speak on W only and I felt the same as you. We received a phone call from one of the sports team before making our decision that we would attend the school. So you may well get a call or you can contact them. You can ask them anything. It’s highly likely your DS will be in the A Team for a particular sport or sports. Boys also have sports mentors and attend talks on different subjects. They expect all boys picked to attend training and matches. That’s really the only commitment they ask at the moment. There are lots of sports to choose from and although you might come in as a rugby scholar for example, you may also find you’re great at hockey and want to specialise in that later on. They want you to try different sports regardless of scholarship, so everyone is given fencing and golfing lessons. There are plenty of boys not on scholarships that make various squads too. The only real difference between scholarship v non scholarship is the sports mentoring sessions. This will change as the boys get older and will be taught about nutrition and fitness - elite performers have their own gym. Let me know if you need anything else answered.