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Original poster

Non such/Chemsford County/Tonrbidge/Latymer/Colchester - any feedback of school to choose

32 replies

JustTealWriter · 17/10/2026 18:55

Hi, forunatately our daughters seems secured very good marks and seems will clear all cut off for all mentioned schools. We are not too confused to put order in CAF form. Our thinking is to put Non such and hope clear on 1st march then move in common catchment to tiffin. Tiffin round 1 she already cleared and preparing for 2nd. Anyways there is nothing to loose. As downwards we thinking to put Chelmsford followed by tonbridge. We don't have much knowledge about tonbridge and latymer and can't find parents who have direct feedback. Latymer we thinking to skip as we need to move unnecessary given other options are same and clear to get.

But if biggest confusion is non such above or chemsford.
Any parents with feedback on tonbridge and latymer

OP posts:
MrMurphysComeuppance · 20/10/2026 08:00

MarchingFrogs · 18/10/2026 11:42

I assume you visited them

Apologies if I'm wrong, but I assume that you don't have a lot of experience of the wacky world of 11+ tourism postingGrin.

A goodly proportion have no experience of the schools in question other than having taken their DC there on the day of the test...

As a pp has noted, @JustTealWriter , if you're in East London, your DD could just get the train for CCHS, presumably, if you don't fancy moving to the city? Unless you seriously can pack up and move, lock, lock and barrel into the CCHS priority admissions area and provide the required proof, by Saturday 31st, you've missed the boat for being considered IC anyway, and if your confidence that your DD's score would get her one of the 'all other applicants, regardless of place of residence' places - which is what that category is, not 'OOC specific' - isn't misplaced, this would give you much more time to find somewhere nice, if you did decide to move.

Long-distance commuter pupils dozing off in lessons and taking zero interest in participating in extracurricular activities were some of the issues prompting the Chelmsford grammar schools to introduce a priority area back in ?2013, but if you are within easy distance of Liverpool St / Stratford or any of the intermediate stations on the line to , your DD might not have a much longer journey, time-wise, than some reliant on buses from the outer edges of the priority area.

CCHSG would be another kettle of fish, although there are people who swear (or at least used to - haven't seen the claim much in more recent years) that travelling to the Colchester grammar schools from well within the M25 never takes their DC any longer than an hour, never any hold-ups on the A12 or local roads for them, unlike for any of us lesser mortals who have ever had to drive into Colchester at school drop-off time.

I've taken an hour or more to get to Colchester Grammar from a village ten miles away on a bad day. Even on a good day it was at least 35-40 mins in rush hour.

I feel sorry for these kids who are expected to do a commute that is similar to an adult going into central London from somewhere like Colchester. It's where crazy parental ambition and the kudos of having their child at one of the country's super selective grammars absolutely trumps common sense and concern for their wellbeing. Either move house or send them somewhere else. They have enough pressure at these schools without a monumental commute as well.

Enko · 20/10/2026 08:02

I have close friends with experience of Nonsuch and TOGS (really important to make the difference between Tonbridge school and the Tonbridge grammar school)

Both school was spoken of highly and the girls thrives in school.

I would second visiting the schools and seeing how you feel about them as you walk around. You have missed TOGs open days for this year. Unsure about NonSuch. As you mention year 5 I suspect you have time for visits.
I would look closer at the admission criteria though

Also worth nothing there is little in it between the 2

National Rankings (2026 League Tables)

• 13th: Nonsuch High School for Girls (Cheam) — GCSE (% 9/8/7): 82.8% | A-Level A*–B: 89.2%
• 14th: Tonbridge Grammar School (Tonbridge) — GCSE (% 9/8/7): 77.6% | A-Level A*–B: 91.5

LIZS · 20/10/2026 08:49

Enko · 20/10/2026 08:02

I have close friends with experience of Nonsuch and TOGS (really important to make the difference between Tonbridge school and the Tonbridge grammar school)

Both school was spoken of highly and the girls thrives in school.

I would second visiting the schools and seeing how you feel about them as you walk around. You have missed TOGs open days for this year. Unsure about NonSuch. As you mention year 5 I suspect you have time for visits.
I would look closer at the admission criteria though

Also worth nothing there is little in it between the 2

National Rankings (2026 League Tables)

• 13th: Nonsuch High School for Girls (Cheam) — GCSE (% 9/8/7): 82.8% | A-Level A*–B: 89.2%
• 14th: Tonbridge Grammar School (Tonbridge) — GCSE (% 9/8/7): 77.6% | A-Level A*–B: 91.5

Assume op dd is year 6 having just taken 11+ so with CAF due next week there is limited opportunity to visit beforehand, especially with half term. Did they visit some if not all for the exam sitting?

Original poster
JustTealWriter · 20/10/2026 11:17

Enko · 20/10/2026 08:02

I have close friends with experience of Nonsuch and TOGS (really important to make the difference between Tonbridge school and the Tonbridge grammar school)

Both school was spoken of highly and the girls thrives in school.

I would second visiting the schools and seeing how you feel about them as you walk around. You have missed TOGs open days for this year. Unsure about NonSuch. As you mention year 5 I suspect you have time for visits.
I would look closer at the admission criteria though

Also worth nothing there is little in it between the 2

National Rankings (2026 League Tables)

• 13th: Nonsuch High School for Girls (Cheam) — GCSE (% 9/8/7): 82.8% | A-Level A*–B: 89.2%
• 14th: Tonbridge Grammar School (Tonbridge) — GCSE (% 9/8/7): 77.6% | A-Level A*–B: 91.5

Really helpful. Yes talking about tonbridge girls grammer school only. But as tonbridge is little far and remote so prefer as safe option below non such and chemsford, though she score 423 full marks in kent and I see only 35 girls out of catchment area this year got 423 so coming to 30 places looks possible.

OP posts:
oneofu · Yesterday 12:56

JustTealWriter · 20/10/2026 11:17

Really helpful. Yes talking about tonbridge girls grammer school only. But as tonbridge is little far and remote so prefer as safe option below non such and chemsford, though she score 423 full marks in kent and I see only 35 girls out of catchment area this year got 423 so coming to 30 places looks possible.

Show quote history

Hi OP,

Firstly, many congratulations on your DD’s fantastic results! 😊

I understand you may already have a list of preferred schools in mind, but there’s no harm in asking for suggestions and exploring different options. I’m also considering a few schools that my daughter has qualified for, so I can relate to how you must be feeling while weighing up the choices.

At the moment, Latymer is my first preference, mainly because of its proximity to central London.

I was also curious to know where you got the information that 35 OOC girls scored 423. Is there a forum or a source where this information has been shared? It would be really helpful to understand this better. My DD score 400, so wondering if we have any chances for Tonbridge (TOGS) or Dartford grammar school for girls.

Original poster
JustTealWriter · Yesterday 13:33

oneofu · Yesterday 12:56

Hi OP,

Firstly, many congratulations on your DD’s fantastic results! 😊

I understand you may already have a list of preferred schools in mind, but there’s no harm in asking for suggestions and exploring different options. I’m also considering a few schools that my daughter has qualified for, so I can relate to how you must be feeling while weighing up the choices.

At the moment, Latymer is my first preference, mainly because of its proximity to central London.

I was also curious to know where you got the information that 35 OOC girls scored 423. Is there a forum or a source where this information has been shared? It would be really helpful to understand this better. My DD score 400, so wondering if we have any chances for Tonbridge (TOGS) or Dartford grammar school for girls.

Show quote history

its on kent council, its open information.

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