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Secondary education

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Original poster

Trinity/Whitgift 2021 entry

558 replies

Onvacation · 27/09/2020 20:44

I have found the previous threads for Trinity/Whitgift entry really helpful, and I don’t think there is a 2021 yet. My son will be trying for 10+, and for a sports scholarship. He is bright, and pleased to be back training for his sports, but he gets really stressed in exam situations and works slowly. He is only trying Trinity this year because he is not at all sure he wants to leave his primary school, but if he managed to get a scholarship I think he might decide to go.

I was hoping the activity on the exam day might help motivate him, but we got the email saying it wouldn’t be happening because of Covid. Can I ask if anyone had more success at 11+ than 10+? Do they ever offer academic and sports scholarships? I am assuming that we will more have the issue of him getting stressed in the exam, and not passing, than standing a chance of a scholarship, but just thinking of best possible scenario Wink. Thanks!

OP posts:
Teacakes100 · 02/03/2021 13:08

@Lovestodance2 I think you maybe right, Friday maybe the first contact.

I would have thought they would at least indicate by email to all how many on the WL and if one called your DS's position.

Even the state schools can tell you that.

Has anyone called today and got any more info?

Skatingpark97 · 02/03/2021 13:33

@Teacakes100 , private schools rarely give out WL positions, they use more vague wording like "high up". The important thing is that they know you are interested and if they call you you will take up the place and pay the deposit that day.

Croydonmum3 · 02/03/2021 14:01

@Skatingpark97 thanks that is reassuring intel!! When I rang T they were lovely and very helpful but did say they didn’t have a ranking they could give me, and just to hang on till the end of the week.

Teacakes100 · 02/03/2021 14:20

@Skatingpark97 that is true, gives them more movability when selecting off the WL.

Any idea how many on average are normally on the WL for either school?

Clearly this year is not normal in anyway.

Skatingpark97 · 02/03/2021 14:27

@Onvacation sorry no idea this year, but re all schools when they ring with the offer they don't want to have to sell the place to you, they want a response of joy and speedy bank transfer!

Croydonmum3 · 04/03/2021 16:35

Does anyone know when the cut off point for accepting or declining your trinity place was/is?

Lovestodance2 · 04/03/2021 17:13

It’s 5th March (tomorrow) so hopefully there might be some movement 🤞 I also spoke to admissions who said same keep on waiting !

Croydonmum3 · 04/03/2021 19:04

Oh the waiting!! Yes something should happen tomorrow, even if it’s a no. Our whitgift deadline was 12 tomorrow I was wondering if trinity was the same time. I know some of us leave it to the last minute! We have declined our whitgift place now so hoping that helps someone.

Lovestodance2 · 04/03/2021 19:26

I know it’s tomorrow but don’t know if there is a time limit on it?
Fingers crossed we do hear something but it might roll over to next week....another weekend of waiting 😬🤔

Yey22 · 04/03/2021 19:39

I doubt waiting lists will hear tomorrow or even next week as the school need to go through all the accepted offers and work out how many places they have. Most school offer 25% above allocated places initially.

Don’t give up hope if you don’t hear straight away. This is a unique year so I’m sure there will be more movement that most.

Fingers crossed for you all

NamBo · 04/03/2021 21:26

The schools will first try to contact anyone that hasn’t replied by the deadline. It won’t be a case of rushing out new offers to those on the waiting list.
Good luck to those that are waiting

Teacakes100 · 04/03/2021 21:59

@NamBo and @Yey22
The schools will not be chasing people up who have not contacted them by the deadline ie noon tomorrow. If someone hasn't told them they want the place then that place is lost. Nor are they going to be sitting there counting how many offers they have over the next week, they know how many places they have because they have spreadsheets!! So after 12 noon tomorrow, if there are any spaces, they will be calling.

If you have seen the girls 11+ SW London chat - their deadline was noon on Wednesday and by 12.30 the Waitlist offers were being made.

@Croydonmum3 T deadline is the same as W. Thanks for declining W early - wishing your DS and you good luck for tomorrow.

DonGray · 04/03/2021 22:16

W chased today - I believe they will chase up again tomorrow for outstanding answers

Teacakes100 · 05/03/2021 07:53

I may have not explained myself well. I am certain that schools will be chasing people up before the deadline but will not be chasing them again if they have not responded after the deadline at noon.

@DonGray thank you very much for the info 😊

ElonanotAlone · 05/03/2021 10:20

Good luck to boys waiting today for a call.
We released our places earlier this week on both.

notabirthday · 05/03/2021 18:41

Had a "you're still on the waiting list" email from T earlier. We're also on the waiting list for our preferred state option. One of them has to come off, surely!

Teacakes100 · 05/03/2021 19:01

@notabirthday really hope that works out for your DS, we all thought the stress would end today. I am certain there still will be movement, as grammar places come available or parents realise its going to cost £175k to send DS private after price rises each year and they still have 2 more DC to pay for in a few years.

We accepted Dulwich as a back up, as we wait on a grammar WL.

Thanks everyone for all the support, hope all your DS enjoy year 7

loopeydoopey · 05/03/2021 19:21

Teacake are you not worried about the term fees you will have to pay if the grammar WL does not come through?

Teacakes100 · 05/03/2021 21:51

@loopeydoopey a very valid and sensible question. We discussed this for ages and came to the conclusion that £7k (terms fees) discounted over 7 years is a lot cheaper than £175k over 7 years.

loopeydoopey · 05/03/2021 23:45

Hope the grammar comes through for you. When you think of £175K it is an eye watering amount.

Teacakes100 · 06/03/2021 14:24

@loopeydoopey yes £175k is eye watering. But I have been through Indies with older DCs and I will tell you the truth, so many DC have extra tutors for subjects in years 9-13. That is at top indies. So once you start factoring that in your £175k will be well over £200k. Make sure you know why you want an indie. What exactly are you paying for, remember they are a business. My older DCs did very well at indies. But the world is really changing. Good luck to your DS and to you as well.

ProfessorPootle · 06/03/2021 18:35

We applied for international school as a back up for the indi we really wanted when ds got WL. For both of them to do 7yrs with school bus one way worked out in the region of £450k. Eye watering! Would have saved £18k if I’d driven them home, it’s in the middle on nowhere, no local train, 30min drive but over an hour on various public transport.

WL came through thankfully, that’s in the region of £250k for both so a total bargain in comparison!

Teacakes100 · 06/03/2021 18:49

@ProfessorPootle please don’t forget the compound min 5% pa fee rises. Because of COVID the indies froze fees, but that is going to be clawed back in the next few years, so most prob looking at 6-7% pa. That’s the killer! Then the extra tuition.

Wow the International fees, mind blowing. Well done to both of your DS’s getting T WL.. must be relief. Good luck.

Walkingtheplank · 07/03/2021 01:16

Hopefully waitlists will start to move now.

With schools using ISEB, I think the average number of schools applied for will have increased where 1 test = entry for multiple schools. I expect in the usual 11+ year boys have good test days and bad test days so may be offered a scholarship at one school and nothing from another. This time around, it looks like there have been more boys with lots of offers and more boys with nothing. But each boy can only attend one school and I expect there could be more movement on the waitlist than usual. Movement for grammars might be even later due to financial uncertainty in a COVID world.

You also often see around this time on schools threads (here and elsewhere) negative comments about certain types of school e.g. grammar vs comprehensive vs independent or specific schools e.g. Dulwich v Trinity. There will inevitably be an element of some parents doing this to influence others to make decisions which might move waitlists along in their favour.

Hopefully those still waiting will start to hear on Monday.

Teacakes100 · 07/03/2021 17:56

@Walkingtheplank I was giving an honest cost analysis of what a private school will cost having 2 older DC in the process. That is all. I was naive on costs when I started with my first DC. Do I regret paying for the oldest 2 , no it was the right decision and I would do it again. This time I understand the costs and so am making a decision that I feel is right for my specific third child. Would he benefit for the excellence of Dulwich or is a grammar or state best for him. It is an individuals choice, but one best made with eyes open. That is the only comment I was making, sorry if it was felt that I was in some way trying to influence decisions for my benefit, but that was honestly not my intention.