Anyone heard from Tiffin Boys Sixth Form - interviews?

[Vive42]

DD is keen to go to Tiffin Boys for sixth form.

We found on another forum website that by now, last year, a lot of people were having interviews and had heard from the school.

So far we've received no further communications from Tiffin Boys about DD's application.

Posting here to see if anyone is having interviews and if we should expect a rejection. 😞

The new Head is from the private sector so is bound to do a few things differently.

Most state schools would cal that COO role "School Business Manager" instead, but it's the same thing.

I have a friend who's daughter has an interview tomorrow . Chemistry Biology & English Lit. She is doing 12 subjects probably all 9s in her mocks. We have not heard anything. Can I check where you got the magic 8.5 from please ?
Thank you.

We were very impressed with the school when we attended the open day (hence the application) however, I must say, I am rather disappointed about the confusion around process and comms.

Surely if they decided to change the process they should have discussed this at the open day and also updated their website. From an external point of view it all seems rather uncoordinated and inconsistent. It would be helpful if they clearly outlined exact dates such as:

1. Date x we start considering
2. From x to x date are those who are eligible invited for interviews on such and such criteria
3. Candidates will be emailed conditional offers prior to attending interviews - which didnt seem to happen previous years (?)
4. If you havent heard from us by x blah blah blah

At least that would put those who are waiting out of their misery as we would know if we haven't heard by x it is a no.

Thank you Richmond001 , I completely agree with you.I am sure this would make less work from them too! It was an incredibly impressive place for sure.
Do you have any idea regarding the 8.5 average?

@INJU79 unfortunately I don't have any idea regarding the 8.5 average.

The only factual info I have is that my DD's friend got two 9's and one 7 for the 3 main subjects she applied for and was given a conditional offer saying she has to achieve an 8 in the subject she got a 7 in.

This is also contra what I have read in various threads relating to how things have worked in the past. My understanding was that once people were offered places (following their "interviews") they only had to achieve the minimums as written down in the admissions criteria. So once again, super confusing.

@Richmond001 Thanks , so basically the entire ‘ average of 7’s ‘ thing is irrelevant . My daughter has 3 8s and a 7 in what she wants to do for A level realised she has to work now ! Perhaps this isn’t enough for them at this stage .
it’s frustrating as mums to wait for it especially as her friend has her interview tomorrow . I hadn’t realised the subjects intended are key in early allocation . As he say it is all a bit chaotic and unclear .

Yes, it seems much of what we have heard or was done in the past is either incorrect or has changed. I don't know why they don't go down the Tiffin Girls route which is super fair and straight forward = e.g. wait for final GCSEs, submit all on one day, they get ranked and Bob's your uncle!! Much fairer and transparent as we all know mocks aren't the same as finals.

No, your friend's child's experience sounds perfectly in line with the admissions policy, and in line with everything in this thread.

The admissions policy lists specific subject requirements in clause 18. Some subjects do require an 8.

https://tiffinschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Admissions-Policy-2024.pdf

No, it's not irrelevant, it's just not the whole picture. Clause 15.2 says they need an average of a 7 in their best 8 subjects, but clause 18 lists minimums for specific subjects.

@INJU79 As far as I can see, nobody up-thread mentioned an 8.5 average. You didn't tag anyone or include a quote, so who were you asking the question to?

There isn't an average cut off score. It's based on the sum of the best 8 GCSEs - evaluated based on Tiffin's subjective assessment of the information received from the candidate and their school. I don't know how they can assess anyone based on that given that each school has different mock system and prediction systems. Different mock timings...

Minimum cut off score of 56 and subject-based minimums should get candidates at least on wait list, right? Well, if only it would be so clear...

I'll give a random example for my DD, for 3 of her subjects.

Nov mocks were paper 1. Feb mocks paper 2.

Subject 1 mocks: 8 in Nov, 8 in Feb. Predicted 9 for GCSE.
Subject 2 mocks: 8 in Nov, 9 in Feb. Predicted 9 for GCSE.
Subject 3 mocks 9 in Nov, 8 in Feb. Predicted 8 for GCSE.

What will Tiffin use to score DD given they don't know her at all? Predicted scores? Mock score? If Mock scores, which ones? February ones?

Communication very poor. I emailed a week ago and yet to hear anything. Would it be worth calling and asking to have an answer either way? The school will be breaking for Easter this week?

"There isn't an average cut off score. It's based on the sum of the best 8 GCSEs ... Minimum cut off score of 56"

This is equivalent to an average of 7, so people sometimes legitimately refer to it in those terms.

Nobody mentioned an average of 8.5 as far as I can tell, so there was just some confusion there.

"What will Tiffin use to score DD given they don't know her at all? Predicted scores? "

@anoukis I expect they will use the predicted scores as their starting point, but will legitimise them using the mock scores. That's what they mean by "our assesment of" the estimated grades. It is completely subjective, and therefore completely in breach of the admissions code, but that's what they do.

It would be good to just know whether they have now finished making conditional offers and then we can move on and wait for final GCSE results and submit those as a hail Mary

As a pp said up-thread, when they reach that point they usually send out an email to all remaining applicants. So, in the meantime, no news still has the potential to be good news.

thanks @dredded

@dredded Vive42 · 19/02/2024 08:58-This is where I saw it. Sorry to have alarmed . It is so frustrating that more is not explained from the school.

You have put it so well!

I'm guessing we will hear back either way this week. I doubt they will do interviews after Easter, but then what do I know? The admission lady isn't exactly responsive. I guess waitlist is the most likely answer now, for anyone with a score of 56+ and no conditional offer? I don't know anyone with an offer, apart from the one mentioned up thread.

Not even this boy has an offer... a score of 69 (!) Perhaps he is outside the priority area?
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7457814

(he isn't outside of the priority area, he's just confirmed. no offer yet)

We’re waiting for a different grammar school and they have said they’ll let everybody know by 31 May!! So you may have a wait yet.

OP I’ve PM’d you my DDs predicted grades as no doubt someone will recognise the details.

Good luck to your DD!

I think they do get a lot of applicants with straight-9 predictions, or close to it.

@dredded I know... I guess it also depends on the subject combination.

My neighbour's daughter got an offer last year with a score less than 65 ( I believe it was 63 or 64) and is doing Maths-Bio-German now. Her twin sister didn't get an offer with a score of 67 to study Maths-Chem-Physics-FM and that triggered some heated family talks... Tiffin didn't exactly explain to them why, just referred them to their policy.

Both got really good grades at GCSE, but the one who didn't get an offer never sent in her actual grades in Aug to try and secure a place. She decided to stay at our current school - where science and maths teaching at A-level is not too shabby even though it's a comprehensive.