Tiffin talk

I just looked on the 11+ website on the Surrey/Kingston section and found out there what practice tests are closest in style and difficulty to the Tiffin exam. We got hold of a range and DD did them under time pressure. After each session, we looked together at her errors to understand why and how she'd gone wrong.

To get some understanding of how to approach some of the question types, we used Chuckra and Bond's How To Do NVR guide.

I'm really glad to hear of other untutored successes!

I think it's a really unhelpful and damaging myth about tutoring being essential. But with tutors actively touting for business outside the school on open evening, it's not surprising that the myth has a wide currency. As I said earlier, you do need some confidence to go it alone, but it's perfectly possible.

Also know three children who were offerd places at Tiffin wthout tutoring - would agree that the tutors have a vested interested in the mystique.

Surbsmum - Wilferbell has already said her DD has already got into Tiffin. and others on similar threads have done it by study at home.

So it can be done.

The fact is that a lot of DCs will not get into this school whether they have tutoring or not.

I think the tutors have a vested interest in persuading parents that they have some kind of sacred secrets to pass on that are not available to the general public.

Personally, I would take it all with a pinch of salt.

The parents of a friend of DD were persuaded that she needed a year of intensive coaching to have any chance of getting into her selective prep. The girl is extremely bright and there is no way that she actually needed any tutoring at all.

DD got in comfortably with no tutoring, and no coaching at home.

Don't believe all the tutoring hype. Remember it is a very lucrative industry which preys on the insecurities of parents.

Wilferbell, well done to your DD, but she is truly exceptional, but most children are tutored, that is a fact. Tutoring gives most children the edge. I do not know any of my son's immediate friends who were NOT tutored. I think that if you are serious in getting your child into the school you do need to seriously consider tutoring; this is just my opinion. There are some reputable good tutors out there and they do give some children the edge. I don't wish to start an argument about this, I am just passing on our experiences to parents who may wish to get their children into Tiffin. Good luck parents whichever route you choose!

Umm, no Surbsmum.
Tutoring is NOT the only way for Tiffin. DD was not tutored and she got a place. Her friend and her sister likewise.

What might these 'special tips' and 'inside info' be? Having been through the question types with DD, I can honestly say that we were not handicapped by missing out on this.

Just joined Mumsnet and very late in adding to this discussion. Re tutoring for Tiffin, every child who gets a place will be tutored. I do agree that there are a lot of resources online and books for home tutoring, but it is important if you do want to get your child in to learn a few more techniques which a tutor can pass onto your child. Both of my sons got in, but I do think without the specific tutoring they would not have succeeded. Most of the children are extremely bright who sit the exam, but the ones who get in are the fastest and learn some inside tips from the tutors on how to be the fastest. I appreciate it may not be right for some DC's but if you do want to get your child in, tutoring is the only way.

My DD started at Tiffin Girls this term. I found the crowds at open evening really off-putting, but we did get a chance to speak to some of the teachers who all made a very positive impression. DD and DH also did the school tour during the open day.

There's an awful lot of hype and mystique surrounding the exam which is really unhelpful. Any parent who has a bit of time and confidence can help their child practise and prepare for the test. All the material you need is easily available in the public domain and it's simply not true that you have to fork out £££ for several years with a specialist tutor to have any chance of success. I find this myth really depressing. It seems to have led a huge and expensive tutoring industry, and this must put off lots of parents who quite rightly fear the cost and pressure of intensive tutoring.

I have certain reservations about some aspects of the school, but DD is really happy and is thriving academically.

Vega - thanks for your well balanced views.

Exactly what I have always said. it suits some DDs but not others.

It's a shame that the total lack of catchment area makes it such a stressful bunfight for those who would be suited there.

I am sure the admissions process has put off a lot who would have thrived there.

I know I'm a bit late to this thread but as an ex-Tiffin Girl I'd be happy to answer any questions about the school - I was there for seven years, left two years ago and have a sister in Year 13 so I should probably be able to help with most things.

FWIW I was determined to hate it for the first year or so (and did a damn good job ), loved most of my time there so much that you couldn't have paid me to leave and by my last year was sick of some of the ridiculous rules and the way some of the senior staff - by no means all - seemed to treat the place like an exam factory once we got to our A-level years. I think there are possibly some misconceptions about attitude of the place etc - personally I made some great friends, had several brilliant teachers (some of whom I'm still in contact with) and for most of my time there didn't feel it was particularly pressurised or exam-obsessed at all, though obviously I can't compare it with other schools. I genuinely think I wouldn't have got as much out of my education anywhere else, but I realise it will suit some people more than others and it's not going to be the place for everyone.

Anyway, as I said I'm happy to answer any questions. I hope some of the stuff I've said is useful and I'm not just rambling on to myself

Cristina - yes my comments have been solely re Tiffin Girls - not sure DD would go for the uniform at Tiffin Boys!

Have no direct experience of Tiffin Boys but friends who are considering it for their DS say it is quite different to the Girls school. Not sure in what way though!

Deaddei - she is at the moment at LEH juniors but paying for the senior school is looking like it will be a stretch and am seriously questioning the need to scrimp and save for it when there is a very good school so close and free.

She would be very happy at both schools I am sure, but going to CGS would relieve such a lot of financial pressure.

Hi can anyone give me some comparison between Tiffin Girls and Nonsuch.
Nonsuch seemed friendlier and happier school to me but then an open evening is not sufficient to judge. If anyone has a daughter at Tiffin can they share their experience.
I can't decide which one to put as the first preference (DD passed Nonsuch with a good result)

MrsGhoul - am I supposed to feel embarrassed or something? I would like my kids to get a good education, free if possible. For the time being it still is. I don't really care what type of leftie you think that makes me. If I had £18,000 pa x 3 (3 kids) my options would be wider.

DHOA - I thought it was strange that you were commenting on a school that your DD could not even contemplate as she's the wrong sex! Must have been a misunderstanding then.

Mrs G - ouch!

DHOA- you may have seen me on the prospective parents evening while you were queuing for Mrs C's epic talk.

Your dd will be very happy there, as mine is.
Is she at CHS or cc?

Cristina - don't think I have commented in particular about Tiffin Boys - certainly didn't mean to as I don't know anything about it. I think I may have made some general comments about people keeping an open mind, but couldn't comment further as far as TB is concerned.

Sutton Grammar too far away for comfortable commute every day. Why go through all that when we have a great school that DD can walk to?

MrsGhoul - you do have a point, but I have no problem in sending DD to a non selective school as long as they have streaming so she is working with DCs at a similar level to herself. Not prepared to sacrifice her education on the altar of mixed ability classes. Been there, done that. That does not mean that she needs to go to a school that has completely excluded all but those of top ability, though.

Aaah, yes, a leftie in the vein of Tony Bliar - ie 'free education, but only in a school where the riff-raff are selected out, not any old non-selective free school, that'll do for everyone else, but not my kids who are special...'

DHOA - I just thought you were extrapolating from a girls' school to a boys' one not having visited the latter. I said it was doing lots of the non-science stuff that you might have liked for your DD. FWIW I liked Sutton Grammar more and liked two others as well but Tiffins in close to home and I am one of those lefties who hopes to get a good education for free. (While it lasts.)

Cristina - what last sentence? I am confused. Are you saying that Tiffin IS the Holy Grail of education and I have committed blasphemy by saying it would not suit my own particular DD? The reality check was thanking MrsGhoul for helping me get a perspective on the whole issue.

I have not "taken against" Tiffin particularly, I have just decided it is not the right school for my DD and have encountered a lot of horror that I do not agree that it is the best school for everyone, even if they are bright enough to get a place. It is a very good school, but it is not for everyone.

No doubt I will just be dismissed as having a case of sour grapes as you think my DD is not bright enough to get in. I know differently but I do not feel the need to prove it to you.

I noticed also they've updated the lockers! Shiny new green ones and not only on the ground floor where they are most likely to have a visual impact.

DHOA - Tiffin Boys has a lot of performance, drama, arts, rugby etc, as well as science. Maybe not the same as Tiffin Girls which you took so much against. I don't know, I didn't visit the girls' school. I wouldn't generalise, though, just based on similar names. DS is applying for it, for Sutton Grammar too. He does VR and NVR with DH and has just started with a tutor friend of ours for a bit of Maths and English. I don't think it's too much pressure on him, at least he wasn't pre-prepped and prepped to the eyeballs since he was 3. But that last sentence is unkind and unnecessary.

Thanks MrsG - you confirmed my gut feeling - have been wavering a bit in the face of pressure from a number of people who think Tiffin is the holy grail of good education. You have given a reality check.

If you are lucky enough to have a good catchment school - ie Coombe Girls - no contest - why go throught he sausage machine for Tiffin - lucky you [henvy]