Choice between St Olaves and Trinity

[SpringBoyMum]

We're in an fortunate position to choose between some very good schools. We have always liked Trinity for its friendly atmosphere and fantastic music opportunities. However academically would it challenge and stretch the top 5% boys? Son has a substantial scholarship offered as well. We've already turned down scholarships at Alleyns and Dulwich.

St Olaves is very well known and remains one of the ccountry's top grammar schools. It's much harder to get into. However when I look at the secondary school league table both schools' results seem to be very similar. Why? How is the teaching at St Olaves comparing to private schools?

I really appreciate if any existing parents would share some views.

Congratulations for your son!
My son goes to St Olaves and he loves the school. The school has more clubs including VEX Robotics. My son never complained about the teaching and he is doing really well. The teachers are really supportive and if he falls behind on any topic, he will get some extra sessions after school or during breaks. I have no problem in communication with the school so far.

Lilly21: thank you so much for your insights about St Olaves. It's reassuring to hear that there are interesting clubs to attend apart from excellent teaching.

These were our 1st choice schools, although DS missed out on at olaves sadly, but for us both schools has excellent academics, and brilliant music. Personally, it would come down to either money or commute. St olaves would have been a long commute for us but a top notch education for free, trinity around the corner but with the large fees of course. Does your DS have a preference? Hopefully some parents with children at these schools will give you some advice. Good luck with your choice!

Congratulation. Lovely position to be in. We turned down a grammar place for a place at Trinity (we also turned down dulwich) it really just came down to the feel of the school and that fact we felt it was very well rounded.

Our son has been so happy and school has gone beyond our expectations.

You can’t really make a wrong decision, I would go with your gut. Good luck

@Croydonmum3 Location is very important. We're prepared to move closer to the chosen school. I'm sure your son will be happy at Trinity.

My son prefers St Olaves slightly. He said he's looking for some challenges academically and wants to save us money to do other things. However he's only been to the school for the first round of exams. I suspect his view about the school is purely based on league table. Hope the online offer holder session will give us more information.

@Yey22 thank you for sharing your story with us. I'm interested to know what's exactly exceeded your expectation?

I love they really know the boys. There is something for everyone, they keep them interested and busy. They expect a lot from the boys and challenge them but do it in a way that I think makes the boys want to achieve.

We turned down grammar school places (Tiffin, SGS and WCGS) and a selective state for Trinity with a scholarship and never regretted it. Trinity has the right balance of academics, nurturing and a rounded education, lots of sports and clubs in addition to the outstanding music.
They have also brought in a couple of years a new director of learning who has implemented a program and activities for scholars to be stretched but also to actively participate in the school life and contribute back.
Expectations are high of all boys, not just academics but also in behaviour, effort and commitment. They do know and look after the kids, the school size is reasonable.
in addition, it is a really friendly and grounded down to earth school. lots of pupils have bursaries and scholarships from lovely families.
I can't comment on St Olaves but the grammars we were looking at were very heavy in sciences and maths, with not that much of a provision in humanities and languages. We were looking for a more rounded education.
Well done and good luck ! you can't go wrong !

I echo everything @Iamsodone has said!

Good luck x

I would echo the above - DS1 is now yr 10
at Trinity and an academic scholar - the boys are all stretched and expectations are super high - we have just done his parent teacher meeting and the teachers all expect him to reach his highest potential. The teaching is truly inspiring and most importantly the boys love going to school every day.
He is also a musician and was in the boys choir - honestly the opportunities are amazing - HTH
DS2 has also now been offered a place and although he also has grammar offers we would be very loathe to turn down his place at trinity

If your son is in to music Trinity is really outstanding - it has a smaller music budget than Whitgift but hits far above its weight.

St Olaves also has got the great musical support. Please see the link for more info on Music
www.saintolaves.net/36/subject-information/subject/7/music

My DS left T last year having started in Y6, and DD has just started in the 6th form. We love the atmosphere and ethos of the school. Students are expected to perform at their best, staff are really supportive and know the students really well.

The opportunities - both academic and extracurricular - are amazing. The range of clubs is outstanding. Boys are encouraged to try out for teams regardless of ability - D and E teams are often put out in the lower years allowing all boys to represent the school.

Music is outstanding. DS was in the boys choir and performed at the Royal Opera House, The Proms, recorded film scores at Abbey Road etc Also went on tours to Germany, Italy, Japan (no cost to parents).

The school also ensures all students give back to the community through volunteering - old people's homes, local schools, environmental schemes etc

The school has been amazing during the last year, switching to online schooling overnight when the first lockdown came in. A huge array of extracurricular activities have also been provided on line.

Thank you everyone for your nice words and detailed insights. We've decided to accept Trinity's offer. Hope it will benefit someone on the waiting list to St Olaves. I'm sure boys will come out equally great from both schools.

Hi, I am a bit confused. In the CAF form, you list your schools in order of preference. How is it possible to get offers from more than one grammar school ? I am new to the system. Please kindly help
On the CAF form, i think they go down in order of priority. Isnt it
just keen to know how did you get offers from tiffin, SGS and WCGS. SGS and WCGS come under SET . I know they independly review exam scores.

People often say that they got places at multiple selective schools, when what they mean is, their DC did well enough in the entrance exams for those schools to be qualified to be considered for a place (or even, know that s/he did well enough for a place to be guaranteed, were they to name that school as their first effective preference on their CAF). They may not even name any of those schools on their CAF in the end. Or, possibly submit a CAF at all...But you are correct, if a CAF was submitted, only one place will be offered on National Offer Day. (There are a couple of exceptions to this, but they are very, well, exceptional).

However, it is possible to be offered e.g. preference 3 on March 1st, then subsequently preference 2 and / or 1, if the applicant gets to the top of the waiting list and a place becomes available. But the parent turns them all down, because they have a preferred place outside the state system.

Historically, do we know to what rank wait list clears for st olaves?