10+ entry for secondary schools 2026

[Ready0rNot]

Hi, starting a new thread for those with children who are sitting for the 10+ exams this year.

Has anyone started prep yet and if so how is it going along with mock tests and reading habits etc. Keen to hear from others and share tips here!

Our target schools are Trinity and Whitgift.

Best of luck to all those interviewing tomorrow at Whitgift 🤞cant wait till this is all over 🥴

Good luck all! Hang in there - not long until it’s all over!

How did interviews go yesterday?

Ours went very well. DS said it was a very easy and fluid conversation with no academic tests or questions. Well, there was a simple maths question but other than that it was just a chat to find out more about DS. I’d say the same about the interview with us, the parents.

(In comparison, there was some academic questions at Trinity).
We left feeling positive but you just never know. We met during open days with boys who said they were interviewed in both Trinity and Whitgift, but only got offer from one, so it’s just a waiting game now. How did it go for you guys?

Hi everyone, I’m interested to hear more about out the writing assessment for Trinity and the responding to prompts task. Does anyone remember any of these questions? Many thanks

DS said the interview was fine and in his words “easy” (well easier than Trinity) he left feeling positive which is the main thing. Still no clearer on which school he prefers! As long as he gets an offer for at least one we’ll be happy. Interesting to hear other boys only got an offer for one.

Same here - not as intense or difficult as our DS or we thought it would be. A couple of questions regarding hobbies, what he is currently reading, why he wants to go to Whitgift. We were asked why we were choosing Whitgift. Fairly casual conversation. Now the dreaded waiting game 😬

@Rayo2025 Has your DS had is Trinity interview? My DS has his coming up soon, although it’s for 11+ and we got a similar email.

Hi @Abby12345 DS is sitting the Trinity 10+ on Saturday - a number of people have mentioned the same for their DS so think there will be a number of 10+ and 11+ interviews. Wishing your DS all the best x

Oh great, thank you so much, and I wish your DS all the very best too x

Trinity is the only school I seem to have come across where they appear to do different types of interviews (for some DS the parents also being interviewed, some DS have with classroom assessments)… I would love to know what the logic is behind it! I think the long wait to offer day is getting to me 😂

Ha! Me too! We (parents) had an “interview” did your DS have a classroom assessment? I wonder if that was for academic scholarship? I could be totally wrong though!

We don’t have our interview day til next Wednesday. Like you, we have a headmaster interview as parents; it doesn’t mention a classroom assessment for DS…

I honestly think I’m going a bit bonkers. (Our interview is soooo late, does that mean anything?! Our W interview is with Toby Seth according to the email… does that mean anything?!). It just feels like everything has been going on forever, and yet it’s still SUCH a long wait for results, I guess I’m looking for any sort of straw to grasp hold of! I am clearly not cut out for this process (as the number of exclamations in my post would attest); thankfully DS is a lot more sane and seems to dealing with things in a much calmer and more rational way!

You aren’t the only one! We had our Trinity interview back in December - the wait feels ever so long. We find out just before half term which is about 3 weeks which isn’t so bad.
I assume lots of boys to interview which is why they started in December. Lots of DS friends had their Whitgift sports assessment this week so there was a real buzz at school as they were all talking about it.

Roll on Friday the 13th (what kind of sick joke is that 😂)

Hello All,

Just thought I would give my POV as I have a boy at Whitgift.

Which gift is a truly wonderful school not just academically sports music drama trips community alumni. But it’s also beating other schools that used to be ahead of them in league tables. In fact last year it was the seventh best boy school in the UK as an all-round school, I found it amazing at nurturing every single part of my son. As long as he throws himself into school life, he will get everything back.

If you were interviewing with Toby Seth he is the new headmaster and started in September 2025 and by all accounts is a fantastic ahead so far. He’s very levelheaded has high expectations but is warm welcoming and really enthusiastic about the school. Don’t be nervous if you were seeing him he’s incredibly charming and is only there to get the best out of your boy at interview and to make sure you are passionate about being part of the whitgift community.

For those who are interviewing at Trinity on Saturday good luck. I understand the 10+ at whitgift they did ask some students some maths questions but not all and it was pretty straightforward hot hobbies, whitgift et cetera et cetera but Trinity they are asking some English and some maths questions in interview and the key is to tell your child to take their time. Pause they want to see your process of how you get to the answer, even if you don’t get it right. . Remember they have done enough to get the interview they just want to see that in interview they have resilience they have passion for the schools. And that they have a sensible thinking process when arriving to an answer. But hopefully they will get the answer right!

Just to also add for 10+ it seems they interviewed around 120 boys for about 48 to potentially 55 places they sent a letter out to all parents to say that they are making the class sizes smaller at whitgift so they will possibly be less offers. But you can contact administrations and ask them how many people et cetera went to interview how many people took the exam and they will give you a guide. This is just what some of the parents have told me who are supporting the interviews this round.

Good luck to all those going forward. If you have questions I’m happy to answer them.

@Helloworld2419 thank you for your insight. By any chance do you/anyone know how each aspect of the admissions process is weighed? The exam; the interview and also the school reports. I'm assuming the school take a whole holistic approach to how they select the boys who get accepted.

Maybe the stress and anxiety is getting to me. Just trying to stay calm for my DS so he doesn't take on any additional pressure ahead of Saturday.

Wow thanks for your insight.

Slightly worried about the possibility of less offers to boys at Whitgift! Does anyone know how many they offer? Can’t find anything on website…

We had our Whitgift 11+ interview this morning; the parents chat really was a chat. He basically recapped how our son had done in the exams and what our son had chatted about in his interview, and then asked what questions we had about it the school - very relaxed.

Our son said his interview was fun - they asked questions based on what our school had mentioned as being our son’s interests. Good luck to those of you with your interviews tomorrow!

Trinity offers out (for 11+ at least). Really thrilled DS has received an academic scholarship! Best of luck to everyone today, hope you all get what you’re after.

DS has also received offers from Trinity and Whitgift for 11+. We are so pleased. Best of luck to everyone.

anyone heard from Emanuel yet by any chance?

Not yet! Still anxiously refreshing emails.

We got offer from both Trinity (AS) and Whitgift for 10+ entry. Anyone from the 10+ group?

We got offers for both Trinity (AS) and Whitgift for 10+ entry too.