Local GDST school or Grammar schools accessible from SW18

[needwine1]

Hi,

Anyone have experience (positive/negative) or travelling to Sutton/Kingston grammar schools from SW18? I was surprised to see we are in one of the ‘priority’ postcodes for Tiffin, as I always thought we’d be too far out…

Also potentially interested in Wallington/Nonsuch.

Local GDST options are Streatham and Clapham, Wimbledon and Putney high, all similar distance. DD bright (top 6-8 in Reading /Maths) and top 3 in writing in current school out of 50 DCs but not SPGS/JAGS level, I wouldn’t have thought and don’t know if they’d suit her as she’s quite hard on herself.

Thanks!

I’d be really keen to know the difference between WHS, PHS and SCHS. I know the latter is seen as less academically selective…

As a starter...
Curriculum-wise: Different languages, approach to GCSEs (number and minimum requirements within a specific block or group of subjects) and A-levels, and other differences (e.g. WHS has specific time devoted to study methods). Worth exploring the websites.
Sports-wise (as part of curriculum): WHS as swimming pool, PHS does lacrosse rather than hockey,
And that is before we get into the differences in 'vibe', which can be quite difficult to describe but explain why people apply for some but not others even when the distance is similar.

PS also, depending on where you are in SW18, you might want to add Sutton High into the mix (also GDST and with quite an extensive coach network).

Depends on where in SW18 and do you prefer girls only? There is also FHHS can consider, definitely different vibe vs WHS or PHS.

8 girls from Fern Hill Primary got last year to Tiffin Girls. It is the primary located next to Tiffin Girls. In the past years...even more.
The futher from this school the less chance to get in.

My understanding is that there is an Inner Area and a Designated Area. Inner Area has quite a few places (60?) ring fenced, especially when considering size. Where you are, proximity-wise, in the designated area does not matter - so outer boundary of designated area has as much of chance as inner boundary.

I am afraid that it doesn't work like that i practice. I live in designated area in Richmond borough and no girl from outstanding primary not the other outstanding primary nearby got in in the recent years. A lot depends on postcode even within designated area. Completely different story with Tiffin Boys as every year they accept 1 to even 3 boys from each of the both mentioned primaries
There is this website called Right to Know and somebody requested the postcodes of the accepted girls. Interesting to see it as it determines the likelihood of getting in.

My apologies, my mistake the site is called "what do they know" and is executing the right to know. Here is the link https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/912786/response/2177662/attach/2/The%20Tiffin%20Girls%20school%20Postal%20Districts%20for%20Year%207s%20Sept%2022%20Sept%2021%20Sept%2020.xlsx?cookie_passthrough=1

A lot can be also concluded from analysis of Leavers Destination pages in Kingston/ Richmond primaries. Especially the historical destinations since 2018

I was just going by the published admissions policy and their summary guidance, which specifically states that girls in the designated area have priority over those outside the designated area in order of score and the information on 11+ fora, where ordering in waiting list seems driven by exam scores rather than proximity, with proximity coming into almost place if the score is the same.
The information you include is interesting indeed in so far as it refers to those admitted but does not put in context of applications - I would expect that the number of applications would be much lower in those parts of the Designated Area that are further away ... as others have said, it can be quite a journey from (some areas of) SW18.

TW11 TW12 are not that far, just on the other side of river... And many applies especially as there is direct train link

I believe within the designated area of TGS, the number of applicants is not driven by the distance from the school, but rather the demographic of the individual postcode areas (TW3 TW4 for example) . A lot of current students travel quite some distance from the school via bus or private coach. Anyone interested can just raise a FOI request to school to give out the information.

Agree. Also worth considering other options available in the area. So quite a few factors driving (different) demand from (different) areas, rendering quite challenging to refer to percentage (which I prefer to likelihood) of entry depending on area alone on a meaningful basis.
Key issue, imho, is the admissions policy and treatment of candidates in designated area, with scores, rather than proximity, as the key factor. https://www.tiffingirls.org/admissions/year-7/

I simply refuse to believe that in the two outstanding schools there was not a single girl in recent years that would not be capable get in. We are talking about postcodes from Richmond Borough where the demographics is not worse then in Kingston.

>Also worth considering other options available in the area.

TGS is not an option that is in my consideration as I don't have a daughter. And I am against placing my child in a single sex school.

Outstanding state primary has nothing to do with 11+. It is mainly the self select parents drive the efforts, and no matter how clever the girls are without tutor/prep the chance is slim to get in grammar like TGS.

The parents drive is not different than in Kingston or maybe even greater given the proximity to scientific institutions here where many of those parents work. Only on our class there are 5-6 kids tutored for 11+ and this includes 3 girls that will try for TGS. I don't think it is greatly different than in previous years. It was quite astonishing to meet in September so many kids from our school at the tutoring centre in Kingston.
TGS simply has not been offering places to any girls from this postcode despite it is in Designated Area. TBS accepts

"The parents drive is not different than in Kingston or maybe even greater given the proximity to scientific institutions here where many of those parents work."

Unfortunately it does, parent education or social status is just one factor of the demographic, there are a number of other demographic factors. For example , a simple factor : Kingston demographic has about 30% Asian (east/south) , whereas Richmond has less than 10%. The motivation to get into grammar between these demographic groups varies vastly.

But if that is the case Preplex, why the boys are accepted? Same demographis rule applies. We have 3-4 kids in each class of Asian ( South/East) origin.

If you want me to take a guess, Tiffin boys are no where as high enough as Tiffin girls in the league table, a lot of designated area league table sensitive parents opt for the alternative grammars in south London such as Wilson.

I think that would be a good answer if it wasn't for catchment areas that both of those schools use ( unlike Wilson and so on).
Also, TBS has a different admission approach.They seem to accept more or less equally across all catchment area from all of the better primaries.

Not sure why my comment mentioning that other options will be one of the things to consider when looking at demand for TGS (in addition to distance and demographics) would elicit this comment by way of response ...
But interesting context to your views and expressed knowledge of TGS, its policies and cohort.

Yes, I do tend to think outside of the box. I think that people in this country tend to believe that the policy is executed with the ruler. Not that I am a "bus spotter" but I found interesting the mystery of no girls accepted by TGS at our schools in the last few years despite of presence in the designated area. I bet it will be the case also this year!

@TheShorestAnswerIsDoing Are you really saying that TGS illegally manipulates admissions to exclude applicants from some primary schools in their admission area and benefit others? It’s a very serious accusation and, given the huge number of primary schools in TGS’s admission area, not supported by the evidence you’ve provided. Also it makes no sense - what incentive is there for TGS to pick anything other than the highest scorers?

@HighRopes - quite!

@HighRopes call the police immediately lol quickly!!

I am not making conclusions. I recommended clearly a link above with postcodes of the accepted girls, "what do they know" website where parents try to execute the right to know with more or most often less luck. Yes, just browse for Tiffin Girls on that site! In addition I recomment looking at Leavers Destinations pages at Primaries within Designated areas. And I repeat myself: I found interesting the mystery of no girls accepted by TGS at our schools in the last few years despite of presence in the designated area. If this reads to you that I am sure of anything or I accuse anybody then you have issues with understanding text.

The demographic of each postcode is the most significant explanation factor, implicitly implying the motivation of the parents of these areas. And this is not unique to TGS. If you look across the river, HBS located in NW11 which ranks higher than TGS. Had little student from the affluent/well educated NW11/N2 family catchment area, in fact zero student admitted from NW11 in the past 2 years. And where most of the final round for HBS girls come from? Outside catchment postcode such as HA, IG, SL* and TW1/3/7, KT1/KT2, not much different from TGS offer allocation postcodes!

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/postcode_just_first_part_of_the_2#incoming-2293509