New test for Tiffin Girls

I observed several threads regarding Tiffin girls, originally as I hadn't a clue what one was. I don't understand why so many parents are surprised by the level of education expected from such a school. My dc's have all attended average state primary schools all different, with some dcs attending more than one due to moving. In each y4 and y5 class whilst they attended there was the odd child out of a class of 30+ who had gained a level 5,6. Now these were deemed exceptional and now gifted and talented. Surely this is the standard that is required. These children didn't have any extra tuition, they barely received homework. In some instances came from a deprived area and upbringing. It's just my opinion but if your dc's need a lot of extra tuition to pass the tests, they aren't bright enough and perhaps would struggle to keep up anyway.

gazzalw - i agree, very well put. Thanks for your input.

i agree.

Personally, I think all schools and particularly highly-sought after grammar schools will by default become exam factories the further up the school you go. I am sure though that most of the children at the schools wouldn't see it in those terms - they are generally striving to do the best they can do - largely with great success!

...if you read what ia actually posted: i wished you & your family well & every success, only to be met with a barrage of insults.

...many similar comments have been posted on this forum; so not my uninformed opinion - it is a fact. Good that your DD is enjoying TGS; i wish you & her all the best and every success. Kindest z

btw my 'wrong impression' is based on experiences of several girls i know who have been through TGS. In the sixth form years the school is widely seen as an exam factory - dunno what year your DD is in; but it's common knowledge here in KoT how the focus of the school shifts in the upper school years.

BTW I don't think the original foundation of a school has much bearing on the present. My old school now an outstanding Ark Academy was founded as a charity school in Westminster in 1699. Moved further west in the 1930s and went through the transition from great grammar to failing comp before it's resurrection. I am sure that its current status is not what the founders intended which was to teach basic skills to the poor around Carnaby Street. In fact the current Queen visited the school years ago and said they had linen which was sewn by the girls a couple of hundred years ago. Thankfully time has moved on and schools are funded from the public purse.

You have really got the wrong impression Zoffany. I can tell you as a parent that TGS is definitely not an exam factory, though some parents may regard it as such! My younger child goes to a comp and is under a lot more pressure and has a load more homework. Elder DD at TGS has experienced fantastic music, sporting opportunities, trips etc. The girls are clever and are expected to do well but what is wrong with that. Some parents put the girls under pressure but not the school itself.

...lol :: still maybe not. Is generally recognized here in KoT that whereas TS offers a broader range opportunities for the boys; TGS is more an exam factory - which i guess is why the girls are being asked to jump through additional hoops to get in; as it may be perceived the only way to elevate 'standards' yet further. Bit of a shame really. Sausages in :: sausages out!!! Where is the value-add in this process, one has to ask??? How successful would either of these schools be were they to admit children of normal ability ranges, rather than prescreening 93%-ish of the applicants out. Not exactly what Thomas & John Tiffin had in mind i suspect when they founded the school... which was established for the education of local children in need.

i think TGS have played an absolute blinder :: local parents typically claim their oh-so t&g DCs only just missed out (& that's not fair) :: but with 450 through from Stage 1 that excuse is now void :: keeping NVR/VR as a pre-screen mitigates against any claims of the school dumming down :: Stage 2 sorts the wheat from the chaff using traditional 3Rs :: imo it's priceless :: wish TS would hurry up & follow suit. (though since Stage 2 is subjective i expect appeals will go through the roof.)

...changes to TGS admissions are interesting to say the least: my tale is that they have been implemented to assuage local parents; heard of one parent the other day starting tutoring DD at age 4; so i guess with extra hurdles to negotiate now a trend may well develop for pre-partum tutoring? insane - where will it all end???

By the way, re reference on previous page to the untutorable - but expensive - test for entrance exams produced by Durham Uni - wonder if this is the same one that HBS has just introduced in place of its separate VR and English papers?

Would be lovely if HBS went back to the chilled place it was when I was there, full of bright but NOT tutored children. Far, far too presssurised now for me to want to send my dds there - was v sad about the change in the school...

...it's 450 through Stage 1 actually.

My friends dd is 10 goes to local state primary and was level 6 numeracy and literacy at end of y5 is y6 now and has a scholarship to a good school somewhere. Couldn't say where but they call it gifted and talented. I suppose this maybe what the school are talking about.

@yellowtip Croydon LEA funded free music lessons for kids at state schools for a lot longer than most LEAs. I feel very lucky to have grown up there, to be honest.

Maybe you didn't come from Croydon, Kora....

@yellowtip I also crawled out of Croydon and never took any test other than o and A levels and Cambridge entrance. They had done away with the 11+ by the time I was 10. Clearly intellectually I wasn't in any way inferior to anyone else. The same was blatantly not true socially or economically though.