Tiffin Boys Sixth form

[Mumofboys2006]

Hi, I have a question regarding admissions criteria for sixth form.

I noticed a few Tiffin parents responding on this forum so hope they can help.

My son, who applied for a place and goes to a private school currently, and hasn't been offered a place. We have been asked to apply again once he has his grades.

I initially thought it was because his predicted grades weren't good enough but turns out he has been predicted all 9s, and just one 8.

He is also an academic scholar where he is.

Any insight appreciated. He wants to study Maths, Chemistry, Biology and French at A'level.

I have emailed to school but would appreciate any insight.

Is it because they prioritise girls in sixth form as external applicants? I noticed that someone mentioned 60 out of 70 external applicants were girls in a previous year.

Is it because he is choosing subjects that are oversubscribed?

He is also very musical, so I actually thought that would appeal to the school.

Anyway, hope someone can help!

Do you live within the priority area?

External applications are ranked by GCSE predicted score, with those who live within the priority area above those who do not. There is no allowance for preference for girl vs boy, or any subjective influence from the music - it's done on ranked score.

www.tiffinschool.co.uk/_docs/sixthform/Sixth%20Form%20Determined%20Admissions%20Policy%202022.pdf

Hello @PatriciaHolm appreciate your response. Yes, we are based in the priority area. If you read the application process, initial applications are made in the autumn term, and places are initially offered on predicted grades, and there is an element of subjectivity: "our assessment of their predicted grades", also the email I have since received has a similar element of subjectivity. It says "competition for places was strong....candidates are judged on actual and potential academic performance" using references and school reports etc. "Many of the candidates were of a high standard". So it isn't purely a ranking process, unlike later after GCSE results are published, and unlike 11plus.

So, in that sense it is different to the other grammars, which purely have a ranking process.

Thanks again,

Just as hearsay but I've got a friend who's very bright dd didn't get an offer from Tiffin girls and the mother had suggested to her that it was because her dd chose maths and the course was already full from girls staying on for the 6th form.

Yes, but there is no bias towards girls, or allowable subjectivity because he's musical, is what I was getting at.

I believe they get around 300+ applications for the sixth form, for 100 places, so competition is very fierce, and will depend on his combination of subjects too.

@PatriciaHolm - I can’t find the link now but they do take at least half girls. Regarding music etc I mentioned this because the form asks about hobbies and actually it is a very musical school so would seem to be a good fit.

@hockeygrass - yes that’s what I was wondering.

Blimey - the Good Schools Guide reckons they get "1100 applications for 80 places" for sixth form! here -

www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/schools/100553/tiffin-school/78B6E39#tab_review

and 80% of successful applicants are girls, "‘not through quotas but because they demonstrate astounding academic quality"

This year's applicants will also, because of the already announced leniency on grades just for this year in transition to normal next year, include a larger than normal number of kids with exceptional grade forecasts I think. Your son, whilst clearly bright enough, was competing against a lot of equally bright children - many of whom probably had all 9s projections.

Over 12 applicants for every place according to the email.

Op, I'll PM you about this, as I think you may have grounds for appeal.

Thanks @abdabbadoo I don't think I want to go down that road. I just want a bit of clarification on their process. I have emailed the school.

@Mumofboys2006 just curious to know if you heard from Tiffin sixth form yet for your son. My DS was also on the wait list from earlier and we are waiting to hear from them after sending his GCSE results last Thursday. Thanks.

Hi, @Foms22 - we still haven't heard either, but my son also has an offer from another grammar.

What is becoming clear is that places are not just being offered on grades, as the two people we know (one boy and one girl) who now have offers both have lower grades than my son.

I am just thinking that is really not enough transparency around this.

Hi @Mumofboys2006 , thanks for responding. I came across comments on another platform that oversubscription in some subjects may also be a factor in how they offer. Perhaps the boy and girl with offers are not taking the same courses as your son? If this is not the case, then I find it very strange that they are not using grades to offer. I hope we hear soon, we have another offer as well for my son, but still prefer Tiffin. Fingers crossed. Thanks!

The problem for those on the waitlist is that all the applicants who already had a provisional offer will have higher priority (assuming they meet the minimum grade criteria). They don't re-rank everybody using their confirmed grades, so of course there will be some students with lower grades than yours who get in. A very similar process is being used by Twyford CE School and their admissions policy was recently succesfully challenged, so you would have grounds for appeal if your sons don't get in: www.gov.uk/government/publications/twyford-church-of-england-high-school-15-july-2022

You may find this article interesting www.thetimes.co.uk/article/top-exam-grades-plummet-at-single-sex-private-schools-8bdfskk8b?shareToken=956cc856f3feafe818fd5072c901604c

Interesting. I have to say my son’s single sex independent actually has had it’s better GCSE results this year - unlike many schools they didn’t inflate their grades last year and the year before.

Its a well known fact that many kids got into universities they would not have got into in previous years.

‘Best’ not ‘better’ - sorry!