Did anyone's DD/DS get into Tiffin?

[Strix]

I know I know. I am terribly nosey. I can't help myself.

[Mrshighandmighty]

We are in Kew and I know of one super girl at our school who got a place at Tiffin Girls - also got in at St. Pauls Girls, so don't know which way the family will choose - talk about sublime to the ridiculous!

[castlesintheair]

I know a girl from Richmond who has got into Tiffin.

I also know a boy who is 60th on the waiting list for Tiffin boys

[yellowcircle]

What is Tiffin [ignorant ] - I keep hearing the name on MN - can someone enlighten me?

[NoahAndTheWhale]

It is a selective state school which achieves very good results.

Is therefore very oversubscribed.

It is also a type of biscuit/cake.

[squilly]

I was thinking Carry On style Tiffin

[castlesintheair]

Tiffin Girls and Boys. Separate. Both grammar schools in Kingston. Both hugely oversubscribed. Being 60th on the waiting list is actually extremely impressive but meaningless place-wise.

[MsDav]

and there is only about 9 marks between the boys who got in and the boys at 60th 61st etc on the waiting list. Insane.

[Strix]

9 marks out of how many?

[MsDav]

Cut off mark for initial offers is 228, DS achieved 219 and is 63rd on waiting list so not a chance then!

[Strix]

Oh gosh. How distressing. He must have worked really hard to do that well. What is your alternative... hopefully not too grim.

[MsDav]

The school he has been offered is just not suitable for him, its the school DD goes to and is a large comp, she is thriving he won't. our back up was a small faith school which his school and CAMHS wrote letters of support for but he hasn't got that either. We'll be appealing for that.

[Strix]

Oh, I'm sorry. And, of course, good luck. It's crazy that the competition is so harsh for good schools.

[LoveRoses]

My niece didn't make it either into Tiffin's Girls - scored 219. Nor was she offered her 2nd & 3rd choice schools. According to her mum, she's been offered "the local sink comprehensive". My sister-in-law is beside herself and has been crying ever since.

She does have a backup "plan B" which is to go private, but she's not even sure she can afford the fees...I've asked her to contact the school for (late) bursary application - not sure if she'll get it though but that was the only thing I could think of to calm her down

[Strix]

DO you guys mind if I ask what these kids did to prepare for the Tiffin exam. I know you are going to tell me they did all the tutoring and didn't get in anyway.

I know loads of people who didn't get in. Only rarely ever hear of someone who actually goes there.

There is planning permission being sought for a new comp right next to Tiffin girls. It's not very popular with Tiffin girls.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

My friends DD goes to tiffin and she did the most monumental preparation/ tutoring. They took her to a specialised tutor who taught her how to jump through the required hoops very quickly. She was doing work everyday for a good few years and spending a long time at weekends. Total dedication but utter madness. She was trained.

[deaddei]

Sorry to hear that MsDav.
He did a lot better than my ds did.

[Strix]

Was this specialised tutor one whose last name begins with W and is generally regarded as the Tiffin tutor?

[LoveRoses]

RatherBeOnThePiste, just curious - how early did your friend's DD start her preparation / tutoring with the tutor for Tiffin?

Was this from yr 4 or earlier?

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Strix- I don't think so. But I will ask her tomorrow and loveroses - I will also ask her that tomorrow and post tomorrow afternoon!

I just remember her spending time taking her over to Windsor and the chilsren did the Bucks or something grammar school tests as practce tests.

Will get back to you !

[MsDav]

Strix, Son was tutored since March last year once a week for an hour. He was getting really high marks on practice papers often close to 100% so I suppose you can just never tell.

[Strix]

So do you feel like the tutoring was a waste of time, or will it help him in his studies where he is going?

[willow]

Bad luck MsDav - who was your son tutored by? Do initials DK mean owt?

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

I have asked my friend about her DD - she did a very specific year long course with a tutor over in Windsor who did grammar school and Indi entrance exam preparation. So she started in the Autumn of Year 5, doing the Tiffin test a year later. Her DD did 3 hours on a Sunday, plus had substantial homework everyday. I am happy to let you know more of what she said if you want to contact me directly. It was full on and required a lot of dedication from the parents and a lot of hard work from the child. There was a test before hand to see if the child was up to the work I believe.

It WAS NOT the specialised tutor one whose last name begins with W and is generally regarded as the Tiffin tutor.

And I found out today that a girl DS went to nursery with got into Tiffin this year with a very good score.

[MsDav]

No, I don't know the initials DK. I certainly don't think tutoring was a waste of time and I do believe it has helped his normal school work particualrly vocab and spelling.

[CountessDracula]

dd's best mate's brother got in last year with no tutoring
They are putting his brother forward for it next year, also with no tutoring

DD and her mate have made a pact that they will go there together...let's see