Tiffins Boys 11 Plus
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It might be difficult to find your way around the 11 Plus the first time as a parent. How do you aid your kid in getting ready for the Tiffin School 11 Plus Exam? What kind of exam structure is it? What stores sell test papers? We’ve provided parents with a “Tiffin School 11 Plus Tips” in this article that seeks to address all of your concerns.
Tiffin School, Kingston
Tiffin School, founded in 1880, is an Outstanding all boys’ grammar school that has a sister school, Tiffin Girls School. This page has everything you need to know about Tiffin School and can help you get started with the admissions process. You can also find helpful information about the 11 plus exam, such as exam practice resources, information about exam boards and key dates in the calendar.
School details:
Address: Tiffin School, Queen Elizabeth Road, Kingston Upon Thames, KT2 6RL
County: Surrey
Type of school: Co-educational grammar school
Age range: 11-18
Ofsted rating: Outstanding
Number of pupils: 1262
Admissions to Year 7: 180
Open evening (2024 entry): July 2023
11+ exam date (2024 entry): September 2023
Exam board: Set their own exam – Stage 1 (English and Maths multiple choice) and Stage 2 (English and Maths written)
Admissions phone number: 020 8546 4638
Admissions email address: office@tiffin.kingston.sch.uk
A Brief Overview of Tiffin School and its Performance
Although an all boys school, since September 2019 Tiffin School now accepts girls at Sixth Form. The school has specialist status in performing arts and languages, and has a strong reputation for both. Academically the school’s Progress 8 results are way above national average, and in 2019 75% of GCSE results were levels 7-9 (old style A or A*), and 84% of A-level results were A*-B (29% were A*s, a record high for the school). 95% of students achieve a level 5 or above for GCSE Maths and English, and according to the government website Tiffin School places 19th out of 55 similar schools. Relatively few pupils require SEN support (1.2% compared to the national average of 10.8%) or have free school meals (6.2% compared to the national average of 27.7%), but it has a higher than average proportion of students who speak English as a second language (32.4%).
Tiffin School’s Admissions Process: 2024 Entry
If you plan on sending your child to Tiffin School in September 2024 then it is important to take note of these key dates below:
Preparing for Tiffin Boys 11 Plus Exam
Tiffin School is a very popular school, and entry is competitive: there are roughly 1800 applicants, meaning roughly only 1 in 10 boys will be offered a place. It is therefore important to start preparing early.
As the school only sets English and Maths questions, there is no need to revise Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning skills; however, students’ knowledge of core English and Maths will need to be extremely secure. Students will also need to be familiar with the format of the Stage 1 tests, which is multiple choice and marked by a computer, and therefore it is imperative that students answer in the correct way. You can see a guide to how to answer multiple-choice questions here.
For the Stage 2 tests, it is unlikely that the school will reveal details ahead of the exam, but previous tests have included comprehension, a creative writing task and standard format Maths questions. Parents may want to check out this guide to preparing for the 11 Plus Maths exam and these top ten tips for passing.
Given the likelihood of some sort of writing task for the Stage 2 tests, it is vital that parents work on their child’s spelling, punctuation and grammar, as they will be tested for accuracy and clarity. Students should also be aiming to read for at least twenty minutes each day, as this will help them to build up theri vocabulary and take ideas for their own stories. You may also want to use composition or writing prompts.
Tiffin Boys 11 Plus Sample Test Papers and Resources
As Tiffin School does not publish any past papers, it can be difficult for parents to know exactly how to prepare. Rest assured that many of the questions, particularly in the Stage 1 tests, will test similar skills to those used in the CEM and GL papers. Many of the English and Maths questions are based on the National Curriculum, and as there are no Verbal or Non-Verbal Reasoning questions, there shouldn’t be anything that your child is completely unfamiliar with. Exam Papers Plus do offer practice papers which you have to pay for, or for free resources you can try the following:
English
11+ English Multiple Choice Book 1 | Answer 1
11+ English GL Familiarisation Paper | Answers
Maths
11+ Maths Multiple Choice Book 1 | Answer Sheet 1
11+ Maths Multiple Choice Book 2 | Answer Sheet 2
11+ Maths GL Familiarisation Paper | Answers
Additional Information about Tiffin School
The school is known for its excellent extra-curricular programme and in particular its House system, which runs throughout the school. The Inter-House competition consists of 75 competitions in 20 different disciplines, meaning that every pupil in the school competes in 4 or 5 activities on average. Tiffin School also offers over 100 school trips a year, ranging from a Geography trip to Iceland to a Classics trip to Greece to a Basketball tour to Chicago. Its proximity to London also allows for lots of day trips.
Tiffin School FAQs
Where is the catchment area for Tiffin School?
All pupils who live within a 10km radius of Tiffin School are in the designated Inner Priority Area. All pupils who live between 10km and 14km of Tiffin School are in the designated Outer Priority Area. Almost all places are offered to those who live in the designated Inner Priority Area.
Does Tiffin School give allowances for age?
For all tests, the raw results are standardised and age weighted. What this means is that they take into account the age of the child on the day they sit the 11+ and adjust the scores to make it fairer. For example, a child sitting the 11+ who was born on the 1st of September is basically a year older than a child sitting the 11+ who was born on the 31st of August, and therefore will be at an advantage. You can find out more about the process here.
Is Tiffin School a fee-paying school?
No, Tiffin School is free to attend.
Is Tiffin School good for sport?
The school has good sports facilities and has a good reputation for sports provision. The main sport for boys is rugby, which is played in the autumn and spring terms, and then cricket in the summer term. Other sports on offer include basketball, rowing, tennis, squash, badminton and athletics.
Can I appeal?
If you are not offered a place and wish to appeal then you are allowed to do so. Exact details are yet to be announced but you normally email the Admissions Office and ask for an appeal form. The deadline for submitting this is usually the end of March, and you should hear an answer by the middle of June.
Where can I find Tiffin School’s Admission Policy?
You can find all the necessary information about Tiffin School’s Admission policies and arrangements here.
How many grammar schools are there in the area?
The only other grammar school in the Kingston area is Tiffin’s sister school, The Tiffin Girls’ School.
Does Tiffin School have a uniform?
Yes, it does have a uniform; you can find the details here. The school has recently changed suppliers and parents now have to buy the uniform from Stevensons.
You can also access further 11 plus exam resources below:
Best Private Schools in the UK: Top 100 List
Best Grammar Schools in the UK: Top 100 List
A Guide to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Tests
11+ Maths Exam: Helping Your Child to Prepare and Pass in 2022
Meet the 11+ Online Tutors Delivering Results
When Should you Start to Prepare Your Child for the 11 Plus Exam
