Woahh...Tiffin School / Boys Open Day today

[Peridot]

With each of my children (at the two different Tiffin schools), however busy the evening was, the experience did make them definitely decide that this was the school they wanted to go to the most, and to be determined to do their best in the entrance exam. So despite not being able to see every department - no way could we get in to see any Science classrooms for example - they brought away with them a positive attitude. We were only looking at the one grammar for our son, and, three years later, two for our daughter, so it did make each of them focus.

[tiffinboys]

+1

[panicattack]

And generally what were people's impressions of the school? It comes across as very traditional (6th formers wearing gowns) yet the boys get to do dance and food technology which is to the school's credit. The choir was amazing. Head's speech just ok - hear very good things about her though. It's a shame that no school football team. Great library and grounds. Boys a credit to school.

[Peridot]

No inter-school football but inter-house football is taken very seriously!

[tiffinboys]

How does this school compares to Wilson's?

[Peridot]

We didn't visit Wilson's when my son was applying as it's too far away from where we live, but I do know they have excellent badminton teams if that's anyone's son's sport/interest.

[MSC]

A parent, who is a science teacher, said..." that science lab has to be the saddest science lab I have ever seen in a school... " I presume that parent had seen quite a few!

What do you think? One thing for sure, the school could do with an investment plan over a period of time. It's such a "congested" school. But TGS had to get burnt down before they got that new building!

[J50]

A parent, who is a science teacher, said..." that science lab has to be the saddest science lab I have ever seen in a school... " I presume that parent had seen quite a few!

What do you think? One thing for sure, the school could do with an investment plan over a period of time. It's such a "congested" school. But TGS had to get burnt down before they got that new building!

I guess it depends what you are comparing it with. But yes, the classrooms, the facilities you point out etc. are very dated and look very shabby but probably serve their purpose; compare those with a Hampton or Reeds and they are well past their sell by date, but clearly operate on a different level of funding.

Biggest concerns for me are:
- being the ethnic minority in a predominantly Asian school
- boys travelling from all over the place and therefore a lack of opportunity to make friends coupled with the fact they won't be able to stay behind for after school activities
- weak level of the sports teams apart from possibly cricket

[MSC]

Hi J50,

"Biggest concerns for me are:
- being the ethnic minority in a predominantly Asian school"

I didn't even "see" the dominance of one ethnicity, maybe it just didn't bother me at all. They all got in there because they put in hard work (not because ethnically, they are more intelligent, I believe), not through quota or some positive discrimination process. But I understand your feeling. This year I definitely saw a lot more Caucasian parents at the open day, but I think a lot of "New Europeans" ( got that term from Michael Palin's travel program by the way!). To me, that's great too.

"- boys travelling from all over the place and therefore a lack of opportunity to make friends coupled with the fact they won't be able to stay behind for after school activities"

I think its the same in all open selective schools, a lot of students travel quite a distance to school.

"- weak level of the sports teams apart from possibly cricket"

Hmm..yes, with a small backyard like that, I suppose they can't help it. But they do have good new facilities.

[tiffinboys]

DC not too much interested in sports, yet has been quite well involved in different activities. For us, there is more than fantastic sports facilities in and outside of School. For new and prospective parents, some quotes from the school's website.

Batting Above Our Average

Despite our modest funding by comparison, the quality and breadth of sporting provision at Tiffin rivals that of some of the country's top independent schools. Indeed, we compete on equal footing with some of the giants of schoolboy sport in several arenas including Rugby, Cricket, Rowing and Athletics. With excellent facilities both on- and off-site Grists Playing fields (please see the Sports Centre page for more details) and highly experienced coaches, we are able to offer a supportive and motivational environment in which boys can achieve their potential, whatever their specialism.

School has impressive indoor and outdoor (Grists, Hampton Court) sports facility. You would rarely find rowing in state schools. Rugby and Cricket are well established. School proudly mentions Alex Stewart, who captained school's team in 1980 and Arun Harinath, now with Surrey CC.

Also the School's Orchestra is one of the best among the schools. As far as ethnic mix is concerned, boys are British, if not English. Hard work pays and that is to be admired. Even if the school accepts the demand of local parents for distance policy, this mix will not change, looking at the local intake for the last several years.