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.

I have a girl at Tiffin Girls', it is a good school in many ways but not perfect by any means. I don't think it is worth more effort than a 45 min journey.

I think the hysteria generated by specialist websites and tutoring has encouraged applications from far afield. I don't blame individual parents or girls though. It is sold as a golden ticket to a great university and career later on. Every parent wants the best for their daughter or son. In retrospect I think any school with good teaching and streaming is adequate for the able child.

I would urge prospective parents to look at good comps as well as Tiffin Girls. I think the constant pressure applied to the girls is unbearable for many and the school generally places results higher than pastoral care. The school is also extremely strict and seems to lack trust in the girls. This gets worse as the girls progress through the school.

There is a fair amount of unpleasantness and one-upmanship among the girls but that is probably the case at many schools. I think a lot of competitive behaviour comes from parents.

Most girls are friendly and behaviour good on the whole. I suppose everything is a trade off - fantastic opportunities, trips and all the rest if, it but work work work for the bloody A*s.

Ask locals for their opinion on Tiffin School Admissions by joining the conversation over on our Mumsnet Local Kingston Upon Thames site

Find other Local sites here: local.mumsnet.com/find-a-local-site

Dear prh. I note on ground three you state 'they may not refuse entry..just because they missed the test'. Could you provide an authority for this please. I.e. tell me where this comes from e.g. What statute, ruling, guideline etc? Many thanks.

Dear prh. I note on ground three you state 'they may not refuse entry..just because they missed the test'. Could you provide an authority for this please. I.e. tell me where this comes from e.g. What statute, ruling, guideline etc? Many thanks. Dear prh, where do I find the Admissions Code you refer to.

Paragraph 2.21 of the Admissions Code says, "Any parent can apply for a place for their child at any time to any school outside the normal admissions round." Paragraph 2.14 says, "Any parent can apply for a place for their child at any time to any school outside the normal admissions round."

Since Tiffin uses test scores to rank pupils, failing to test applicants who apply outside the normal admissions round would have the effect of placing them at the back of the waiting list and would therefore, in my view, be in breach of paragraph 2.14.

Also 31st October is the closing date for applications to secondary schools. Admission authorities cannot impose a different closing date. If they refuse to test anyone who applies after the deadline for registering for entrance tests Tiffin is, in my view, effectively setting an earlier closing date. Anyone who applies after this date has no chance of getting a place.

If Tiffin is refusing to test any child applying after their deadline for registering for entrance tests I would refer the matter to the Schools Adjudicator.

The Admissions Code can be found here.

Thank you very much prh47bridge. Very helpful. Sorry about the late reply. Still grateful though!

Do you know when the second test date was? And did they do one this year? Thank you.

Thanks Tiggy. Word in the playground says that next year the PAN will be 180 and they are introducing either a 14 k or 15 k exclusion zone. This interesting as the Admissions code says they can ask parents for 'voluntary contributions'.

Dear readers. Someone earlier reported that Tiffin had not followed a high court ruling and that it took them, ie the person posting, ages to get the LA or someone to reveal the case. I think it was either Tiffinboys or prh47bridge, apologies if it was neither and I have wrongly attributed the author, however I was wondering whether the case was the Greenwich/Rotheram case or another case altogether. If another case could I have the name and if possible the citation please? Many thanks if you can assist!