Current Whitgift parents, I need your help

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bbstgb
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Current Whitgift parents, I need your help

Postby bbstgb » Fri Feb 14, 2020 7:45 pm

Hi everyone,

I am a first time poster so please go easy on me.
My DS received his Whitgift offer today and we are absolutely over the moon. He also had few other offers too and we are now looking at the ‘small print’(so to speak) and gathering all the information that will make things a bit clearer when confirming the place.
I would like to commiserate with everyone who didn’t, I know the feeling too well as my older DS didn’t manage to secure his place in any independent schools in the past, but he is a fighter, settled and performing really well at current school.
I would really appreciate an insight into the day to day life of a year 7 child at Whitgift but also the parent input into the school as well as all the ‘hidden’ fees that come with it (food, travel, trips etc).

Thank you in advance,

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Goldhawk
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Re: Current Whitgift parents, I need your help

Postby Goldhawk » Mon Feb 17, 2020 9:47 am

Well done to your son

Re costs - I think my child did one day trip in Y7 that cost around £20
There are residential trips but not everyone attends these eg sailing or cricket tour
Payment by installments is normal for those

Uniform is similar to at other schools - expect £500 for the first set of stuff
There is a second hand uniform sale that is worth checking out - usually once a term

Lunch was included for Y7 - not sure if that's still the case
Y8 and up - the boys can take a packed lunch if they prefer - otherwise it depends on how hungry your child is - max £5 a day?

Travel to school - the school bus is expensive but can be the best option depending on your location.  
Train/TFL bus costs us around £3 a day

My parental input is limited to attending parents evening but some people attend drama productions/concerts/matches etc

Public exam entrance fees are not included in the school fees but they don't come up until Y11


 
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charlietheangel
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Re: Current Whitgift parents, I need your help

Postby charlietheangel » Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:04 pm

We're current Yr 8 parents so do feel free to DM if you have specific questions.\

We haven't found too many additional costs other than travel which can be significant depending on whether you're using school bus or local trains. There are also optional foreign trips - tours/ exchanges/ ski/ surf.

You get charged for lunches in Yr 7 as part of your bill but from Yr 8 you put money onto a card which the boys use to buy their lunch - you discuss with your child what you're happy with them spending but it's usually between £3/4 a day.  

We attend parents evenings, drama workshops and most weekend matches but it's all optional and not especially demanding.  We have formed a local parents group too so arrange local catch ups.

It's a long day for the boys and the first term of Yr 7 is hard getting used to the new demands of a busy secondary school but they settle quickly.  My son gets the bus at 0710 in the morning, gets into school for 0800 and the day starts at 0830.  Many local boys get the train to school around 0730 which gives them more of a lie in.  He gets the train home at 1554 and gets into Wandsworth Common around 1620.  Homework in Yr 7 was vast but in Yr 8 there doesn't seem to be much.

It's a great school and we're very happy so well done to your son.
 
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Familycompleted
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Re: Current Whitgift parents, I need your help

Postby Familycompleted » Mon Feb 17, 2020 7:53 pm

Thank you for the above, our son got into Y6 and the travel has been a concern - do they take a train from south Croydon to Wandsworth common/Balham? Or from East Croydon? Thought South was closest but it also seemed less practical vs East Croydon?

The information you have both shared above have been really useful, thanks again!
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Goldhawk
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Re: Current Whitgift parents, I need your help

Postby Goldhawk » Mon Feb 17, 2020 9:59 pm

It varies but in the morning mine takes the train from Balham to South Croydon 
Coming home he gets a bus on East Croydon and then gets the train 

South Croydon is a longer walk but there are fewer trains vs East Croydon
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bbstgb
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Re: Current Whitgift parents, I need your help

Postby bbstgb » Fri Mar 27, 2020 1:59 pm

Thank you all for your replies and feedback, it’s much appreciated.
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