Did anyone's DD/DS get into Tiffin?

[Strix]

I know I know. I am terribly nosey. I can't help myself.

We are in Kew and I know of one super girl at our school who got a place at Tiffin Girls - also got in at St. Pauls Girls, so don't know which way the family will choose - talk about sublime to the ridiculous!

I know a girl from Richmond who has got into Tiffin.

I also know a boy who is 60th on the waiting list for Tiffin boys

What is Tiffin [ignorant ] - I keep hearing the name on MN - can someone enlighten me?

It is a selective state school which achieves very good results.

Is therefore very oversubscribed.

It is also a type of biscuit/cake.

I was thinking Carry On style Tiffin

Tiffin Girls and Boys. Separate. Both grammar schools in Kingston. Both hugely oversubscribed. Being 60th on the waiting list is actually extremely impressive but meaningless place-wise.

and there is only about 9 marks between the boys who got in and the boys at 60th 61st etc on the waiting list. Insane.

9 marks out of how many?

Cut off mark for initial offers is 228, DS achieved 219 and is 63rd on waiting list so not a chance then!

Oh gosh. How distressing. He must have worked really hard to do that well. What is your alternative... hopefully not too grim.

The school he has been offered is just not suitable for him, its the school DD goes to and is a large comp, she is thriving he won't. our back up was a small faith school which his school and CAMHS wrote letters of support for but he hasn't got that either. We'll be appealing for that.

Oh, I'm sorry. And, of course, good luck. It's crazy that the competition is so harsh for good schools.

My niece didn't make it either into Tiffin's Girls - scored 219. Nor was she offered her 2nd & 3rd choice schools. According to her mum, she's been offered "the local sink comprehensive". My sister-in-law is beside herself and has been crying ever since.

She does have a backup "plan B" which is to go private, but she's not even sure she can afford the fees...I've asked her to contact the school for (late) bursary application - not sure if she'll get it though but that was the only thing I could think of to calm her down

DO you guys mind if I ask what these kids did to prepare for the Tiffin exam. I know you are going to tell me they did all the tutoring and didn't get in anyway.

I know loads of people who didn't get in. Only rarely ever hear of someone who actually goes there.

There is planning permission being sought for a new comp right next to Tiffin girls. It's not very popular with Tiffin girls.

My friends DD goes to tiffin and she did the most monumental preparation/ tutoring. They took her to a specialised tutor who taught her how to jump through the required hoops very quickly. She was doing work everyday for a good few years and spending a long time at weekends. Total dedication but utter madness. She was trained.

Sorry to hear that MsDav.
He did a lot better than my ds did.

Was this specialised tutor one whose last name begins with W and is generally regarded as the Tiffin tutor?

RatherBeOnThePiste, just curious - how early did your friend's DD start her preparation / tutoring with the tutor for Tiffin?

Was this from yr 4 or earlier?

Strix- I don't think so. But I will ask her tomorrow and loveroses - I will also ask her that tomorrow and post tomorrow afternoon!

I just remember her spending time taking her over to Windsor and the chilsren did the Bucks or something grammar school tests as practce tests.

Will get back to you !

Strix, Son was tutored since March last year once a week for an hour. He was getting really high marks on practice papers often close to 100% so I suppose you can just never tell.

So do you feel like the tutoring was a waste of time, or will it help him in his studies where he is going?

Bad luck MsDav - who was your son tutored by? Do initials DK mean owt?

I have asked my friend about her DD - she did a very specific year long course with a tutor over in Windsor who did grammar school and Indi entrance exam preparation. So she started in the Autumn of Year 5, doing the Tiffin test a year later. Her DD did 3 hours on a Sunday, plus had substantial homework everyday. I am happy to let you know more of what she said if you want to contact me directly. It was full on and required a lot of dedication from the parents and a lot of hard work from the child. There was a test before hand to see if the child was up to the work I believe.

It WAS NOT the specialised tutor one whose last name begins with W and is generally regarded as the Tiffin tutor.

And I found out today that a girl DS went to nursery with got into Tiffin this year with a very good score.

No, I don't know the initials DK. I certainly don't think tutoring was a waste of time and I do believe it has helped his normal school work particualrly vocab and spelling.

dd's best mate's brother got in last year with no tutoring
They are putting his brother forward for it next year, also with no tutoring

DD and her mate have made a pact that they will go there together...let's see