Tiffin Schools Admission Arrangements

[tiffinboys]

Tiffin Schools (Boys & Girls) have issued their Determined Admission Arrangements for 2013-14. Boths Schools have decided to ignore pleas from the local community and opted to continue with Open Selection.

Though most of the grammar schools have catchment/proximity rules, some even going to the extent of denying applications to sit for their entrance test in breach of Grenwich ruling, Tiffins would continue open selection policies. Only handful of children from Kingston & surrounding areas get places in Tiffins. Most of the places go to the children living at very very far away places, eg. Harrow, Southall, Greenford.

Grammar schools from Bromley (St. Olave & Newstead Wood), Redbridge (Woodford County & Ilford County) or Barnet/Herts (DAO & Latymer) or Slough (Langley) would not allow out-of-catchment children to even apply for admission tests. Other schools like Kent grammars would only give places to children living near to the School. Some schools have most of the places for catchment area (Nonsuch, Wallington etc.).

This year, Reading grammars (Kendrik & Reading) and Chelmsford grammars (both boys & girls) have changed their over-subscription criteria from 100% open selection to 100% catchment and 80% catchment respectively.

It is high time that children from Kingston and surrounding areas also get level playing field. Until all grammar schools are 100% open selection, it is fair that some priority is restored for these children.

We have therefore proposed that Tiffins give 80% places on the basis of proximity to the Schools (or such other Centre point in the Borough, as previously proposed by the LA) to those children who pass the entrance tests. Other 20% may be given on open selection.

This proposal complies with Greenwich/Rotherham rulings. We are aware that it would take lot of persuation for the Governors of these school to accept this proposal. We call upon all parents from Kingston & Surrounding areas t write to the Tiffin Schools in support of this proposal and copy these to your local MPs and Councillors.

ha ha ....Well that we can agree on....

Will it happen ....I dont think so until another grammar starts to take away its bright students from Kingston...

The proof is in the pudding. So once the distance policy is implemented, we will see the result.

Meanwhile, Tiffin have admission data. They can see what the admission area would be like and what the cohort would be if the distance policy is brought in.

Overheard in the queue..many people who hadn't even visited the school before as they were too far away to go to the open day and as for the family that had been on the road since 4:30am..

@AmazingDisgrace ...they will be the same ones who do not show, or contribute anything to the life of the school for 7 years if and when their DCs get in. Cos they live too far away - they don't shop in Kingston, they don't socialize in Kingston, or for that fact do anything else within the borough, yet expect the right for their children of a Tiffin School education. Oh well, if that's what Tiffins want, that's precisely what they will continue to get. But i can say the school is not exactly in a healthy position financially any more. Vast majority of parents who send their DCs there simply don't care - they are fundamentally disengaged - in it for what they can get.

...sadly your observations do confirm this; also typical of the attitude of a good many who cohort through the school as well.

lol: well i hope the child who has to rise at 4:30am to go to school every day enjoys his Tiffins education - if indeed he gets in (or can even stay awake through the tests) - i doubt a school so far distant to home, where none of his friends will transfer up to, would have been his first choice.

I have a son at the school, his year has a fair few local boys but sadly many coming from far afield. I remember chatting to some of those parents after the induction day a few years ago and they had been planning to relocate. I can't speak for all of them but there are still boys travelling from Bucks, Berkshire etc...You have to feel sorry for those boys. They must be missing out on most of the extra curricular and social activities

I find your message very offensive zoffany51. Children of Indian origin who are born here are as British as anyone else. I fail to see how "half of India" has turned up at Kingston.

I think it is wrong to bring in race issue. Kingston itself is very multi-racial and we all should be proud of it. It has the largest Korean population outside Korea, if any wants to know, besides a large Indian/Sri Lankan diaspora - most of them British or even more British than some of the British, I would say.

In my opinion, it is the fault of Tiffins to have open selection (TS) or a very large & anomalous catchment (TGS). It is not the fault of people living far away to try to take advantage of such rules. I am sure many of these may have put Tiffins far lower in the preferences, but would have wanted to keep as option. Generally, I would agree that if such children do get in and do not relocate, their participation in schools's life would be mostly restricted to just class rooms.

I sort of agree with what Zoffany51 is saying but I wouldnt have put it quite like that.

It is true that the Indian culture looks at academic achievement as one of the most important things. Often letting sports and playdates fall by the wayside as they are being tutored or are studying.

So, is it any surprise that the look at the Tiffin school as the school to be?

And I speak as someone whose mother was born in India.

ha ha I love that sterotype of Asian children being rubbish at sport.....just to prove you all wrong...I was a fly half for the school and played left back for the footie team....

I loved kayaking and abseiling.... I was especially fond of sailing. O and my nephew played as a defensive midfield for a sunday league team. Whilst at University.

So just because they are Asian doesnt mean they wont join in the sports offered....

Kenlee, as you posted before, you were at your local school. Not 15 miles away in London traffic.

In some areas 10 miles is do able in 20 minutes. In our area, some times 3 miles take 40 minutes.

But I would agree with Kenlee, not to stereo type any one.

By the way, Good Luck to all the children taking the tests today. My special wishes for the local children.

Sat in my office at home watching all the kids going to Tiffin girls to take exams. Can't get off my drive for ignorant people parking all over the place. Taking pupils from so far away means that buses are full from 3 -4:30pm. we have to have a new secondary school in the same road thus increasing traffic when places are taken by out of borough pupils. This is a disgrace. Local schools for local children

Join the campaign, dudbridge.

Pls write to both the Schools to consider ability/distance criteria. Approved even by the High Court in its 1992 Judicial Review judgement for TGS, so compliant with Greenwich judgement as well.

Ha ha Tiffin you got me there on the local school... I hope everyone does well...If you dont get in hope you have better luck elsewhere...

If your local....what can I say two thumbs up....but if you don't get in..Its not the end if the world...

I was there today. Not local. DS didn't seem to do well so place freed up for a local boy!

You never know. Hope that your child has done well. Usually those who find it easy, often miss out. Such is the nature of these tests.

@JustAnotherUserName. ditto what tiffinboys said; our eldest didn't finish the test, missed some questions - got in; sibling finished the lot - checked them over, etc, and didn't - so you never know. Your child has done well simply in taking the test - it is a challenge for boys at such an age, be proud & give lots of praise - whatever the result.

Thanks, zoffany! Here's hoping....

New to this site....but I have one at tbs and I do not agree with catchment areas for grammar schools. Every one has equal chance of passing the entrance exam and if they are unsuccessful then that's just the way it goes. Catchment consideration I feel would lower the calibre of students in the school.

I have a boy at tbs and I do not agree with catchment consideration as I feel it would lower the standard of student calibre. All boys have an equal chance with undertaking the entrance exam and if they don't get in then that's unfortunate.