This is the pushy parent Tiffin tutor thread.

[uwila]

Okay, so wh ohas used a Tiffin tutor? Did it get your kid(s) into Tiffin? How old were they when they strted tutoring?

Okay, so my DD is only 3 1/2 but I like to plan ahead/. I've heard you can sign up for tutors that increase your chances of getting into Tiffin (boys and girls schools).

Any experience/opinions welcome.

Thanks.

How ridiculous.
And did the head see them all?

So, how are we all doing then? This time next week we should all know whether our Dc's have made it in to Tiffin, or not, or on the waiting list waiting for it to move.

Good luck everyone

Ah yes, wondered when this thread would pop up again!!!
Well Ms Dav, I think little deaddei's name won't be on either of those lists!

What is the Greewich ruling?

The Greenwich Ruling was a judgement that LEAs could not discriminate against out of borough children when allocating school places.

But, don't all schools (apart from Tiffin) base criteria on distance from school or catchment area?

...or religion.. catchment areas aren't the same as borough boundaries

Are there other grammar school in Greater London which don't have a distance restriction?

There's no catchment as such for many London schools. Allocation is done on distance from the school, but there isn't an in-catchment/out-of-catchment preference. So if you're in a year when not many 11 year olds apply to a particular school, even though you live 5 miles away, you might get in, whereas the next year you might live 1 mile away and not get a place. So catchments as such don't exist for many schools.

Just got news of DD's place today at Tiffin Girls having used the DIY method rather than a tutor. Now that I have a 100% success rate under my belt, I'm now thinking of setting up my own tutoring academy.

Congrats to you and your DD shinyshoegirl.

Thanks! I wouldn't say it was an especially fun way to spend time with DD, but it was certainly a bonding experience. And if I ever find myself facing a non-verbal reasoning test I'll be well-prepared.

shinyshoegirl - you would make a fortune. Start offering your services now!

Dread to think I'm a pushy parent by posting on this thread, but we're quite local to Tiffin and DS is apparently bright so I've been giving it some thought. Difficult to glean from the teachers just how bright he is and I know it would be difficult for anyone to say at this stage ( he's in Yr2 ) whether he'd have a chance of getting in. I wouldn't want to put him through the stress of taking an entrance exam if his chances of getting a place are negligible. So the question is, just how exceptional do boys need to be to get in? From talking to other mums at the school, it seems to be virtually impossible. Is it something teachers would advise on as children get a bit older?

you prob need to see how he's doing when he's in Year 3 or 4. why is it difficult to find out? ask how they have levelled him and see if it's above average, take it from there?

Hi there,

My child is in year 5, and I am trying to get in touch with parents who's children succefully gained entrance to Tiffin. Really I am looking for a good tutor who particularly specialises in preparing children for the tiffin test. You know one of these tutors that are so good they don't need to advertise, you can only know about them by word of mouth or other parents recommendations. Is there anyone that can help me with this information?
Many, many thanks.

Hate to freak you out, but you've probably left it a bit late. Most get booked up well in advance and year 5 kids will have already started tutoring by now.

Not necessarily - some always drop out - worth a punt and a Ham friend told me recently if you go into the hairdressers on Tudor Drive the gossip there will give you all the names you need.... There is a lot of mythology about 'special tutors'. Two friends of ours whose boys got Tiffin offers did not go to the 'special' T tutors but a 'bog standard' local generalist tutor without any track record and one other who had no tutoring at all, just did the Bond papers and was a voracious reader and presumably with a natural flair for the non-verbal. So don't despair - not a done deal if you haven't put her name down @ birth...

HAM HAIRDRESSERS SEES BUSINESS GO THROUGH ROOF

Arf

Would anyone be willing to share (by private message) the phone number of 'Mrs W' the Tiffin's tutor? I know her address but not her phone number!

For the record, I am an old tutee of Mrs W from way back when and am happy to answer any questions - however it was some time ago so it all could be quite out of date!

Makmama: I would second Mrs Guy, and I'd even say that if you have a bit of time you can definitely do it yourself and you don't need a tutor. All the stuff you need is easily available online or in bookshops. Having been through this with DD last year, I don't think there is anything beyond the grasp of a reasonably bright parent. You have to have a bit of time to research the exam and then some time to practice together with your child.

A kid at our school was tutored by his Mum and got into Tiffin. I understand he is bright. Our school is an inner city school serving a very poor base so I suspect it was all the tutoring and his own ability. School is great but the bright kids are not particularly pushed.

Other advantage of no tutor is that less chance for goup hysteria to take root. Our friend whose mum 'tutored' him wasn't being stressed by being reminded it it was vital he passed, or by seeing crisp fivers (lots of) being handed over each week.

Cat

If you were tutored by 'the Mrs W' you should know that a letter would be by far the most appropriate way of contacting her.

Just found out we won our appeal for Tiffin :D