Choosing between Tiffin and LAE Tottenham for sixth form

[Mandaga]

My son has applied to 16 plus in Tiffins and LAE totemham. Two different schools in different locations. We live in Kingston but happy to move. Heard LAE Tottenham has support from Highgate plus dedicated to sixth form. Also its a new school with a smaller cohort. Tiffins is traditional and very reputed. My son wants to take physics and double maths

Any views?

My son we to LAE stratford and the teaching and support he got was far, far better than what my niece and nephew got at their expensive (and academically selective) sixth forms. I can’t imagine that any private sixth form would offer more so I would say paying would be a waste of money.

My son also did those subjects too.

Surely if you live in Kingston it would be best to head to Tiffin? It has a great reputation for the sixth form with excellent results. Though appreciate they only confirm offers once results are out on Thursday. Will he know anyone else going to Tiffin? Does he have a confirmed place at LAE Tottenham?

Tiffin is a state school so no fees there either.

You'd be mad to uproot your whole life when you have a place in a good school where you already are. Especially when it's only for 20 months of 6th Form.
And Tottenham - would you really want to move there (or nearby) when you're from leafy Surrey?
It's not all about the school - it's also about being happy, having friends and fitting in.

Oh in that case go to the nearest one!

Thanks Idril. Actually lae totenham is also free. Mh husband has to move near Tottenham. Hence the dilemma. Although its 20 months only - so we are trying to decide what's best for our son. I am sure both schools are great but we need to make a choice

Thank you for replying but my husband anyways need to move near Tottenham for work and Kingston is convenient for me. Hence we will have to split for 20 or so months. So wanted to make sure we decide based on merit and which works better for my son. He is quite sporty and likes to make friends. One advantage in lae totenham is that all kids will be new to the school - so easier to make friends

Thank you. He has a conditional offer from Lae totenham. Tiffins will only disclose after gcse results. He doesn't know anyone in either school but as I mentioned my husband has to move to totenham - hence both schools are options for us

I take it from your posts that your son is not already at Tiffin, as even with excellent GCSE results he is unlikely to get a place on those A levels. As they give priority to pupils who did their GCSEs at the school - and they mostly do STEM subjects etc.

I would not move anywhere near Tottenham.

Thanks Ladybowes. Yes he is not in Tiffins but they take about 120 new kids in sixth form over and above children moving from internally

Tottenham is nowhere near as nice an area as Kingston Upon Thames. Think about him having to walk back in the dark, where they’ll hang out after school etc.

This is true but most of the new students are girls or not doing STEM subjects. You might be lucky however, it really depends very strongly on how many internal students stay and what they want to study. Hence, they’re making you wait. I know quite well I have a child in the school. Best of luck whatever happens

I know several kida at LAE Tottenham who are generally happy with it and doing well.

In terms of @idril's comment, it's not quite as stellar as LAE Stratford which has an 8.5 average to get in. Tottenham has a community mandate so takes some local kids that don't have as high grades, but still the majority of kids going there will have 7-9s in A level subjects at least.

It's not a great area but if he's into football, you're right by Spurs and has a relationship with the club. Also would say that it doesn't seem dangerous particularly, just not very leafy.