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Original poster

This is the pushy parent Tiffin tutor thread.

469 replies

uwila · 22/01/2007 13:28

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.

OP posts:
batters · 26/01/2007 08:58

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Pamina · 26/01/2007 09:07

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bettys · 26/01/2007 09:27

I too am reading this thread with interest.
Celia 2 and foxabout2pop, does the tutor you know of just do Tiffin tutoring, or for other schools as well? I'd be very interested to know as we will probably be going down that route (in yr 2 at the moment but need to plan ahead as tutors already getting booked up!)

Original poster
uwila · 26/01/2007 10:05

Arfishy,
I got it. Its fab. Sorry I haven't had a chance to respond. We are in a state COE shool for primary I think (FINGERS CROSSED!!!!) But, thinking ahead to the time of secondary, the more I look at at it the more I think my average kids will not get in a place like Tiffin. I suppose there is noo harm in applyin. And if I do send them off to a tutor and they don't get in, then I suppose that tutoring might also help them excel in another school wherever that may be.

I'm not really keen in the state secondary system so chances are we'll be paying for private.

I'd prefer to send them private now as well, but it is sooooo not in the budget. My hope is that by the time they are older we'll be able to pay for private.

Anyway, there's lots of good infor in your e-mail. So, thanks for taking the time to send it.

OP posts:
Original poster
uwila · 26/01/2007 10:07

Oh, good question Bettys. What is the test they take for Tiffin? Is it a standardised test that kids take that applies to all Grammar School applications. Or do they take a different test for each application?

OP posts:
jura · 26/01/2007 10:20

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jura · 26/01/2007 10:20

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bettys · 26/01/2007 10:21

As far as I know the test for Tiffin is Verbal Reasoning and NVR alone, not the usual one (which consists of numeracy, literacy and verbal reasoning). Also it is age-weighted, so those born early in the school year will be at a disadvantage.
Admissions Policy (for the boys' school)

bettys · 26/01/2007 10:27

At Kingston Grammar School the entrance test is more like the other private schools' (scroll down), so that's why I'm wondering if the tutoring needs to be specific for the different entrance exams.

frogs · 26/01/2007 10:37

bettys, age-weighting means that those born early in the school year will not be at a disadvantage. The whole point is to eliminate the disadvantage of those born late in the school year and level the playing field for all.

bettys · 26/01/2007 10:41

It feels like a disadvantage when 2 children can get exactly the same marks yet the one born in September will then be marked down just because of the month they were born in. It's not as if they've had an extra year of school.

NotAnOtter · 26/01/2007 10:43

I have a child at either end of academic year ie - 20th august and 1st october its a HUGE difference. I have not read the whole thread but in NVR and VR tests a lot is developmental and the couple of marks for age weighting - really is not much...

NotAnOtter · 26/01/2007 10:43

I have a child at either end of academic year ie - 20th august and 1st october its a HUGE difference. I have not read the whole thread but in NVR and VR tests a lot is developmental and the couple of marks for age weighting - really is not much...

foxinsocks · 26/01/2007 10:44

they aren't marked down

and believe me, there is a big difference between those born in September and those born in August - it's not that they've had less time at school, it's just that when they start school, they aren't necessarily as mature and able to learn as those who are practically a year older than them so tend to start off slower

(I have one born in November and one in August so can tell!)

NotAnOtter · 26/01/2007 10:47

great minds fox

foxinsocks · 26/01/2007 10:50

I believe you get an age weighted mark for SATS too

Original poster
uwila · 26/01/2007 10:54

So where can I find complete list of grammar schools in say West London? Or even Greater London?

OP posts:
Hallgerda · 26/01/2007 10:57

Here , uwila.

foxinsocks · 26/01/2007 11:00

uwila, just to have a look at, here's Waldegrave

bettys · 26/01/2007 11:02

Sure, it also depends on the on the child (I was born in August so was always a year younger than everyone at school so I know what that feels like). There are 3 August children I know in the same class at school and they vary in ability & maturity. One is quite babyish & one is very mature, and the other is inbetween.

I don't really know how many marks are used to adjust the figures. I mention it because with 10 applicants for every place at Tiffins, it may come down to one or two points difference between candidates. It's a factor in deciding whether to go in for the test.

Yes, I think Sats are age-weighted. All the marks at school seem to be.

Uwila, league tables are quite useful, too.

foxtrot · 26/01/2007 11:07

useful link hallgerda. Does anyone know about the grammar schools in Slough?

MadamePlatypus · 26/01/2007 11:34

I think a bright child can do well at Waldegrave or Grey Courts (I know three people who went to these schools - one architect, and two doctors. The boy next door also went to Grey Courts and is currently studying music an uni).

There are some very good state primaries in Richmond and Kingston - I think the advantage of prep schools is that they focus on getting children into particular private secondaries, not that the standard of education is any better - in fact, (for the same reasons that being completely exam and test focused is bad in all schools), they can be worse.

I am dreading the whole Tiffins panic in Kingston, not because I want DS to go there, but because I don't want him to feel that he has failed if he doesn't go to a particular school.

Meanwhile, talking of sitting on buses to get to school, think of all the poor ordinary kids living in North Kingston who will have to be sitting on a bus to get to school because there aren't any comprehensives in the area!

singersgirl · 26/01/2007 11:42

SATS levels aren't age weighted - they are based on raw scores. I've seen data that shows the distribution of, for example, Level 3s at KS1; a small percentage of August born boys get them, compared to a much larger percentage of September born boys. Have no idea where I saw it, but as the mother of 2 August boys it interested me.

People keep telling me my boys will have an advantage should we go for Tiffin because of their age, but of course they start off with a disadvantage because they are so young.

foxinsocks · 26/01/2007 11:49

at SATS you can see their raw score (I think) but generally, you're you're supposed to look at their standard score from what I'm led to believe (though I'm not a teacher so you'd need one to confirm that!).

There's Grey Court in North Kingston/Ham isn't there?

foxinsocks · 26/01/2007 11:51

sorry, the grey court reference was to Madame Plat.