Tiffin School 11 plus: 2024 entry guide

Are you considering Tiffin School in Kingston upon Thames for your son? We've collated all the information you need to know about 2024 entry to Year 7. Keep reading to learn about key dates, the admissions process, and how to prepare for the 11 plus exam.

About Tiffin School

Tiffin School is a grammar school for boys aged 11–18 and girls aged 16–18 in Kingston upon Thames, with a history dating back to 1638. The school inspires students to engage, aspire and excel and prepares students for their future lives in the modern world.

Exam results at Tiffin School are consistently outstanding, and the school is currently ranked within the top 10 state secondary schools in London. The overwhelming majority of students leave for higher education in the UK (including around 20 places at Oxbridge each year), with occasional applications to universities overseas, including the USA and Italy.

Co-curricular activities are an essential part of life at Tiffin School. All pupils take an active role in the House Championship, working together with children in other year groups, while the school's 'Arts College' status is an indicator of the exceptional opportunities available to students in the performing arts. Sport is also flourishing and the provision rivals some of the country's top independent schools, with successes in rugby, cricket, badminton, basketball, netball, athletics, rowing, tennis, squash and cross-country.

• Address: Tiffin School, Queen Elizabeth Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 6RL

• Local authority: Kingston London Borough Council

• School type: boys' grammar with mixed sixth form

• Headteacher: Mike Gascoigne

• Number of pupils: 1,400+

• National rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 21

• A level results: 91.5% A*–B

• GCSE results: 84.4% 9/8/7

Key info for Year 7 admissions

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 020 8546 6365

• Number of places in Year 7: 180

• Open evening: 4th July 2023

• 11 plus registration opens: 5th June 2023

• 11 plus registration closes: 4th September 2023

• Exam date: 5th October 2023 (Stage One), 9th November 2023 (Stage Two)

• Exam type: Kingston upon Thames 11 plus

• Common application form (CAF) deadline: 31st October 2023

• National school offer day: 1st March 2024

How to apply to Tiffin School

1. Register for the 11 plus

If you would like your son to be considered for a place at Tiffin School, you will need to begin the application process by registering for the 11 plus Stage One tests. All children applying for Year 7 entry take these tests, after which shortlisted candidates are invited back for Stage Two.

The 11 plus is designed to select children who are working within the top 25% of the academic ability range for their year group. Before registering for the exam, speak to your child's teacher to see if the 11 plus and a grammar school education is right for them.

Registration for the Stage One Test opens at midday on Monday 5th June 2023 and closes at midday on Monday 4th September 2023. You will be able to apply via the school website.

2. Apply for a school place

Tiffin School will email your son's Stage One results on or around 17th October 2023. If your child is invited back to take the Stage Two test on 9th November, you will be able to name the school as one of your options on your common application form.

Before listing Tiffin School as a preference on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible. Passing the second stage of the assessment will still not be a guarantee of a place as more boys reach the qualifying standard each year than there are places available.

The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 31st October 2023. The form must be completed for your home local authority – i.e. if you live in Kingston upon Thames you will need to complete the form on the Kingston upon Thames Council website. If you live in a different local authority, make sure to apply through the relevant website for that council.

What is the pass mark for Tiffin School?

After the Stage One tests, your child's test paper will be marked to provide raw scores. These two scores will then be combined into one total score, which is then age-standardised to ensure that children born later in the school year aren't disadvantaged.

The children with the highest scores will be invited back to the Stage Two test in November. This too will be age-standardised, and a total weighted score will then be calculated for each child, consisting of:

• 50% maths (20% from Stage One and 30% from Stage Two)

• 50% English (purely from Stage Two)

Children will then be ranked in order of their total weighted scores (with a 10% leeway applied to the test marks of disadvantaged children). There is no specific pass mark; Tiffin School will select children from the highest-ranked scores. In 2022, the lowest weighted score to be offered a place at the school was 103.

Tiffin School admissions criteria

Tiffin School has a planned admission number (PAN) of 180. Places will be allocated to children who have demonstrated high ability in the selection tests in the following order:

1. Boys who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) which names the school

2. Looked after and previously looked after children whose combined score is higher than or equal to the 400th-ranked mark

3. Boys who are eligible for the pupil premium and live in the priority area, with combined scores higher than or equal to the 400th-ranked mark

4. Boys who live within the priority area

5. Boys who live outside the priority area

If there is a tie for the 180th place, the place will be offered to the boy who lives closest to Tiffin School.

Tiffin School catchment area

The Tiffin School catchment area (referred to as the 'priority area') covers a radius of 10km from the school site. All children who live within 10km from the school, measured in a straight line, will be considered as living within the catchment arae.

It's important to note that places have historically only been offered to children who live within the catchment area.

Personalised 11 plus prep for your child

Wondering how to make sure your child covers the depth and breadth of the entire 11 plus curriculum, stays on track with their progress, and gets help when they're stuck? Online learning is a particularly efficient, cost-effective (and fun) way to do this!

Atom Nucleus is the award-winning online 11 plus practice platform that gives your child everything they need to prepare for grammar school exams.

Children work independently through over 90,000 interactive practice questions in English, maths and reasoning. Teacher-created helpsheets and videos help them discover new concepts and consolidate their learning.

Atom's algorithm keeps children on their ideal learning path, tailored to their unique learning style and pace to keep them challenged and motivated.