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 get your point re demographics, PreplexJ and that would be a good explanation to the mystery but ... I think that if that was the cause, it would also be reflected with Tiffin boys acceptance rate and other selective schools. But somehow it is not. Boys get to Tiffin every year, girls and boys get to super selective private schools too like LEH and HB

I explained before Tiffin boys is not rank high enough in the league table to have such frenzied phenomenon.

There is zero girls from TW11/12 to HB in the past few years. LEH is a private even selevtive it attracts a different group of demographic.

> I explained before Tiffin boys is not rank high enough in the league table to have such frenzied phenomenon.

I get that but still the number<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.tiffinschool.co.uk/_docs/admissions/Patterns%2520of%2520Admissions%25202022.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiZqIiD2MKAAxXmQUEAHRfSCJQQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw36e-P2hx0-1IU0b35TpLnA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> of applicants to Tiffin Boys absolutely not vastly different than to TGS..?!

Sorry my attempt to attach the link to words went crazy. But the link to admission patterns is there. TBS is almost as popular as TGS

>There is zero girls from TW11/12 to HB in the past few years.

Obviously as it is the school for boys lol, I mentioned it with reference to the patterns of acceptance and not gender

Popular doesn't mean it attracts the most academic able pupils and parents. Public exam result is a good measure on how selective a school is in the first place. The state league table ranks Tiffin boys around 13-15 position in grater London area, behind QE/Wilson/Latymer/SGS/St Olaves/Reading etc. It is just different league in the ranking obsessed parents eyes.

I've just had a quick look at the document you attached on page 1 and saw quite clearly girls with postcodes TW11 and TW12 have been given places at the school. More TW11 than TW12, but nevertheless, there were a few. So don't really understand your point.

Also, if girls from certain primaries are not getting in, surely that just means they are not getting high enough scores? I can't see how it's related to where they live.

PreplexJ but it is about the number of applicants isn't it in the end? It is similar number of applicants.
And they can apply only if they are i catchment ( designated and inner for TGS)

TBS may not have the same rankings as TGS but it is not like there is another choice in the area for those who want to get to grammar. Still it is the best option for state selective school and attracts the brightest or no, most determined, studious and capable I should say.

And to be completely honest I suspect that they have more applications from this side of the river because there is no other grammar within commutable distance, whereas in New Malden, Worcester park and SW there are other options: Sutton schools, Wilson, Wallington etc. It is not a commutable distance from here nor catchment for Sutton.

I looked at all TW12 schools Leavers Destinations and there is no Tiffin Girls stated as destination in any school. I asked headmaster too.

Unless... There was a girl who was offered Tiffin place and then LEH ( or similar) snapped her offering free place. That could be the only scenario

>Also, if girls from certain primaries are not getting in, surely that just means they are not getting high enough scores? I can't see how it's related to where they live.

Capable to get to selective private, capable boys to get to TBS but not capable girls? That is why I wondered.

No really, it is about the number of students who put the school as their first preference in the CAF form. I can imagine a lot of league table sensitive parents who pass Wilson and Tiffin boys test, put Wilson as first preference.

Yes I agree that it appears harder for girls to get a place at TGS than a private selective place at say, LEH. Also agree that it seems boys can get a place more easily at TBS. Don't really know why that is, apart from maybe the competition is more fierce for girls ie the number of applicants to places is much higher?

Also, I believe each school sets their own Stage 1 and Stage 2 exams which are not the same across both schools. Maybe the girls' exams are just harder?

Because it just reflect the selective level of these schools - TGS>TBS>LEH, also demographic play a part of you take private school in comparison.

I know parents that picked private schools over Tiffin Girls when offered places of both. Not everybody thinks free is better. Also Fern Hill is a 5 form entry, I don't think having approx 10% of the girls getting into TGS, knowing how many of those will have been tutored since year 3/4, is a shocking or unbelievable number.

for the op: have you looked at SHS? Coach routes from SW18 and the older girls get the train. Form groups are created by postcode so you're DD would be placed with local girls. There tends to be big groups of girls from the Study though.

>Because it just reflect the selective level of these schools - TGS>TBS>LEH, also demographic play a part of you take private school in comparison.

LEH and Hampton Boys I just mentioned in reference to capability to pass the exam.

But if we take only TBS as a reference again there is a defined catchment, even geniouses from outside cannot apply just as it is with TGS + no other grammar options for this side of the river for girls or boys. Surely to TGS apply many many girls from here as they do to boys school.
They attend tutoring and past years did too. I know two local mums whose daughters didn't get to Tiffin Girls. They say that many applies and are tutored. Parents can afford tutoring here.

Anyway, to end on a positive side I cross my fingers and toes for the girls from our school who attend tutoring in Kingston with my so . I hope at least one will get in. They have around 80 percent on mock tests and there is still some time.

>I don't think having approx 10% of the girls getting into TGS, knowing how many of those will have been tutored since year 3/4, is a shocking or unbelievable number.

So the kids from other schools are. My son was :)

Agree that Surbiton High (not GDST but easily accessible from SW18) is worth considering.
Also Sutton High (smaller, similar level of ease of admissions as SCHS, extensive coach network).

PS definitely more useful for the original poster to get the thread back on track and away from "conspiracy theories" on TGS admissions policy.

You may have missed my post that it is unlikely from this side of the river and it is likely on the other side of the catchment. Getting here to Wilson is not a feasible daily journey.

You have underestimated the dedication of some parents to attend the "dream" school, feasibility of commute is a tiny little issue compared to being in a top rank school.

>for girls ie the number of applicants to places is much higher?

I was wondering about that too Meredusoleil, and checked how many applicants vs places and it is not a massive difference between TGS and TBS.

The postcodes available are only for girls admitted. It would be interested to see number of applications from the area vs offered vs accepted ( all by postcode) but that is what school refused to provide- one determined man on the What Do they Know requested almost all possible data :))

There may be few, others are willing to move thete but let's be honest, majority will not be willing to commute 1h 40min one way (if they lucky and get to packed bus or train), especially that we have great comprehensive schools around ( as they do in Kingston too)

I think the thread already exhausted the full South/west private /grammar girls school for OP (from rank 50 or above).

Unless OP want to also look at coed or North of the river (not bad idea for some part of SW18) I am not seeing any other school can suggest.

The disability discrimination case against Kingston Grammar School here::