Tiffin vs Sutton vs Wilson

[hniu]

I am trying to choose between the 3 schools and would be very grateful if you could share your thoughts and observations!

There is no doubt that academically all three are very strong. One might be slightly better then the other, but there is no huge difference - all are excellent.

However, what seems more important to me is the atmosphere within the school:

• Is the school attitude exclusively target driven?
• Are students with higher marks enjoying better social status then students with slightly lower grades?
• Are teachers approachable or very strict and keeping distance from students?
• Is school trying to make sure that children are enjoying their time in school?

I recently went to the Tiffin open day and had impression that the school was highly competitive, stressful and even authoritarian! Am I right? Would Sutton and Wilson schools be any different?

My son is in year 8 at Wilson's. It's a lovely school. It has a bit of a reputation for being a hot house, but homework is perfectly manageable. There is a nice atmosphere about the school and communication with parents is very good.

My younger son has passed all the exams for the Sutton grammar schools and will be doing the Tiffin second test. We put Wilson's first, because he really likes it best, but we'd be happy with any of the Sutton schools.

In answer to your question, I don't get the impression that there is a pecking order because of grades. Like other boys, my son is better at some subjects than others, but the teaching is good and expectations are high. They seem to have a lot of assessments, but I hear the same about other schools.

Have you not been to Open Days at all 3 schools?

Thank you very much for the replies - very very useful!

BrendaFlange: Unfortunately not. Only went to Tiffin, which was a mistake. But I was hoping people who went to all three could share their impressions.

Where do you live relative to them? That should be a major consideration.

Tiffin vs lengly