Seeking Advice: Moving to Kingston/Richmond Area - School Choices and Neighborhood Recommendations
Dear all,
We're considering to move to the Kingston/Richmond area and could really use some advice from you about schools and neighborhoods. As I developed asthma recently, greener and cleaner areas with good local schools and communities are priority. However, not too high-end as we are looking to rent.
My daughter is in year four, so I look for primary and secondary schools. Catchment areas for both are making it even more tricky. So, your insight and recommendations would make big difference. For me great extracurricular activities and focus on sports, creative subjects, emotional wellbeing is more important than constantly achieving A+.
In this light, I also want to ask about Tiffin's Girls to understand if this could be an option fo us.
My daughter while quite strong academically and very competitive in sports, especially tennis and athletics, she's a bit shy, too polite sometimes, in large settings she might need reassurance for confidence boost. Currently, she's in a very small school and feels happy there. If anyone could comment what is overall atmosphere at Tiffin's, friendly or too competitive? Are girls supportive? Being allways under high pressure for A+, can be unhealthy. I wonder how school is balancing this? Also, it's such a large school, do they take good care of individual needs?
Thanks so much for your help! Your advice will really make a difference as we figure out our next move.
Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.
Secondary education
Schools in Richmond and Kingston area
GentleMintCat · 16/03/2024 09:39
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 16/03/2024 10:40
If I were you I'd dry to move next door to waldegrave
StrongandNorthern · 16/03/2024 18:21
'Greener/cleaner'.
Leave London.
flutterbied · 16/03/2024 18:35
But like everywhere in the area it’s under the flightpath
There are flight paths and flight paths. Being under the incoming flight path for 12 hours a day (e.g. East Sheen, Kew, Isleworth) is a lot worse than being under one of the many departing flight paths that fan out in all directions over the borough on days when the wind is in a certain direction. We don't often notice it where we are (Hampton Hill).
We do, however, notice our beautiful parks, riverside walks etc, so it's definitely greener than many other London boroughs.
flutterbied · 16/03/2024 18:35
But like everywhere in the area it’s under the flightpath
There are flight paths and flight paths. Being under the incoming flight path for 12 hours a day (e.g. East Sheen, Kew, Isleworth) is a lot worse than being under one of the many departing flight paths that fan out in all directions over the borough on days when the wind is in a certain direction. We don't often notice it where we are (Hampton Hill).
We do, however, notice our beautiful parks, riverside walks etc, so it's definitely greener than many other London boroughs.
GentleMintCat · 16/03/2024 19:08
Thank you for the comment. I know how selective they are, but I'm more interested how they balance this high academic pressure with pastoral care? What is atmosphere, etc...
She is strong academically and we can put effort to prepare her, but I want to understand if this is a right choice for her? I'm not after constant A+, on the contrary, I believe it's not natural, can be unhealthy.
flutterbied · 16/03/2024 18:35
But like everywhere in the area it’s under the flightpath
There are flight paths and flight paths. Being under the incoming flight path for 12 hours a day (e.g. East Sheen, Kew, Isleworth) is a lot worse than being under one of the many departing flight paths that fan out in all directions over the borough on days when the wind is in a certain direction. We don't often notice it where we are (Hampton Hill).
We do, however, notice our beautiful parks, riverside walks etc, so it's definitely greener than many other London boroughs.
YouDeserveSomeCake · 22/03/2024 09:38
The main complaint I heard about Tiffin Girls is mental health and poor pastoral care. Otherwise, all praises.
Honestly, this is not a school for a sensitive girl. I am not a fortuneteller but if she is quite academic she may not get in. I know very very academic girls, top of the primary Richmond school who attended all year tutoring who didn't get in.
Most of the girls who get in are under a huge pressure. In any comprehensive they would be top stars ⭐ of the school. But at Tiffin they are mediocre pupils who are not in a position to compete with prodigy kids who also got in. Most of the kids are heavely tutored all along the school to keep up the pace because they got in thanks to hothousing and extensive tutoring.
I would not do that to my child. Their self esteem, confidence matter far more than a school. I would not like my kid to do self harm or becoming anorectic because she feel worse .
I'm not after constant A+, on the contrary, I believe it's not natural, can be unhealthy.
So why you even consider Tiffin school? Have you seen their GCSE results? If you don't have A* or A they will not praise you there and put a lot of pressure to perform better. This is super superselective grammar school and not a grammar school as you have in Kent or Bucks where 25 perc of kids get in. To Tiffin Girls get much less than 0.1 perc.
If you look for great sports then Grey Court is a a good choice. Teddington has also amazing sport grounds
GentleMintCat · 16/03/2024 19:08
Thank you for the comment. I know how selective they are, but I'm more interested how they balance this high academic pressure with pastoral care? What is atmosphere, etc...
She is strong academically and we can put effort to prepare her, but I want to understand if this is a right choice for her? I'm not after constant A+, on the contrary, I believe it's not natural, can be unhealthy.
flutterbied · 16/03/2024 18:35
But like everywhere in the area it’s under the flightpath
There are flight paths and flight paths. Being under the incoming flight path for 12 hours a day (e.g. East Sheen, Kew, Isleworth) is a lot worse than being under one of the many departing flight paths that fan out in all directions over the borough on days when the wind is in a certain direction. We don't often notice it where we are (Hampton Hill).
We do, however, notice our beautiful parks, riverside walks etc, so it's definitely greener than many other London boroughs.
YouDeserveSomeCake · 11/04/2024 11:40
the fact that your daughter thrives there means she is resilient. You cannot assume that every child is the same.
It is also categorically not true that "most girls are heavily tutored all along the school" because they got in thanks to "hothousing and extensive tutoring."
you are joking, right? My son was tutored and there were plenty of girls in his group who had once a week tutoring + additional tutoring with a different teacher. All were trying for Tiffin Girls. Some got in, some didn't.
Even two days ago I was passing over some 11+ books for an Indian girl who has tutoring for 11+ from year 4.
Your child is a close to a genius probably that didn't need tutoring and you have no idea what kids are going through to get into Tiffin Girls. This year was way more than 2000 candidates per place.
Many kids are tutored all the time there but they simply do not boast about it.
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.