If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

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Stroller
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Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 9:39 am

If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by Stroller »

At the beginning of March, 180 girls are offered places by their borough for entry to The Tiffin Girls’ School year 7 in September. If you applied online and live in a London borough, the results are usually available online from 5pm that evening. The next day, the school will email Stage Two test results to parents of girls who have not been offered a higher preference school and are on the waiting list.
Only if you have applied to The Tiffin Girls’ School and have not achieved a place at The Tiffin Girls’ School or a school that you listed as a higher preference on your application will you be sent your Stage Two test results on 2 March 2022, after National Offer Day.
We do not mark the Stage Two Test papers of those who have not applied to the school.
Source: https://www.tiffingirls.org/getattachme ... 2.pdf.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

See also:

The Tiffin Girls’ School Admissions Process

Admission to Kingston Borough Secondary Schools Coordinated Admissions

If you applied from within the school’s designated area, but outside Kingston, read the secondary school application guidance on the website of the area you live in to see what your local borough or council expects you to do to stay on a waiting list. Some areas automatically keep you on the waiting list for schools you ranked as a higher preference than the one you have been offered. Others can require you to notify them.

How long will it take my daughter to get to TGS by public transport?

On TFL's journey planner http://www.tfl.gov.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; put your postcode as the starting point and the school's postcode KT2 5PL as the destination. Set the arrival time to 08:15 on a school day to allow a small buffer and see how long the journey is likely to take in normal circumstances.

Is it a journey you would be happy to do? Remember that there are plenty of meetings, concerts, drama productions and school events you should attend to support your child and her school.

My daughter has been offered a TGS place. What next?

If your daughter is offered a place you want, complete the acceptance procedure.

If your daughter is offered a place you definitely don't want, please decline it swiftly.

My daughter has been offered a TGS place, but we're undecided. What next?

(a) Some families decline because they realise the journey to TGS would be ridiculous and/or they have an alternative they prefer.

(b) Some go on the waiting list for a state school that makes more sense; they're lucky enough to get an offer they prefer in round two of another school's offers and then decline TGS.

(c) Some who didn't get a first round offer from their preferred independent school are offered a space in the next round from its waiting list (perhaps triggered by a decline from someone who chose TGS instead). They accept it and release the TGS space.

(d) Those who hold offers from one or more fee-paying schools, as well as TGS, are liable for a booking deposit, followed closely by a demand for a hefty chunk of fees. Transferring hard cash encourages clarity of thinking. Time to decide!

In all of the above scenarios, considerate families decline their unwanted state school places ASAP and ensure that both the borough and the school are notified formally that the place can be offered to the next person on the list.

My daughter has been allocated a school we ranked as a higher preference on our common application form. We've changed our mind and would love her to join TGS if possible. What next?

Some are disappointed when offered whatever school they originally listed as a higher preference on the common application form. They suspect their daughter’s TGS score would have been high enough (or very near it) to receive an offer. They ask their borough / the school to add them to the waiting list for TGS. A girl whose score is higher than the score of those who are currently on the waiting list, will jump to the top of the queue and may be offered the very next available space.

My daughter really wanted a TGS place, but has not been offered one. What next?

If the email from the school gives you a score, but not your ranked position on the waiting list, put a reminder in your calendar to contact the school at the appropriate time - typically after Easter - for further information.

As families decline offers they no longer want, places become available. Once the school has a formal record that a space has been declined, they can contact the next person on the waiting list. Reading through this forum, you'll see that the first phone calls to the waiting list typically happen towards the end of March.

Things go quiet over Easter, but in the cold light of day interesting things happen in the background. Don't abandon hope yet.

1. If your daughter scored just (e.g. one or two marks) below the cut off score published in your letter, take a deep breath, cross your fingers and hold on. Ask to remain on the waiting list for TGS. Accept the next best offer so you remain in the system and have a guaranteed place - somewhere - for September. If things change and you are offered a place at TGS, please swiftly decline the unwanted place at the school you accepted originally.

SVE posted in a previous year that the following formula is a useful way to guesstimate approximate rank:

=1400*(1-NORMDIST(SCORE,200,25,TRUE)) in Excel is your friend (if you guesstimate the std deviation to be 25)... give approx rank.

It's worth trying as a way to get your head around where you stand.

Don't worry about whether your child will be able for the school. Anyone who is offered a place should be capable of keeping up, unless it took vast amounts of effort to the exclusion of everything else for years. If the pace proves too fast, it's always easier to find a space at a less selective school.

If you'd like to read more about this, try http://headguruteacher.com/2013/07/17/a ... ell-curve/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Read all the way to the bottom of it - the regression analysis is interesting.

2. If your daughter really wanted a place, but has a score that clearly is not borderline, make peace with the fact that you have no realistic chance of being offered a TGS place and move on. You may ask to remain on the waiting list, but you MUST also accept an alternative school offer, otherwise you risk not having any school place in September.

Appealing is an option to consider, but successful TGS appeals seem to be exceedingly rare, so it's unwise to pin your hopes and dreams on it.

Appeals data from previous years - your mileage may vary!
This post is already long. You’ll find data from previous years further down this thread. Keep reading.



Comment
I compiled this post to help those who may be going through the process for the first time. There's plenty to read and consider. Using the latest information is advisable; it’s essential to follow the links and do your own reading. Good luck. Fear not.

The school runs many productions, concerts, events and trips. You can spot them on the school calendar and find out more on the school’s twitter page or here. If you live too far away from the school to take full advantage of the many opportunities, you’re definitely short-changing your daughter’s experience.

Finally, knowing the scores of people who got a waiting list place quite late in the day offers hope to the next group. If you can share the final cut off score of the last girl admitted to year 7 (by the end of year 7), please post it stating which year, or PM it to me or a moderator so this can be updated. Having these numbers would be particularly useful for those who sat the test in year 6 and wish to apply for in-year vacancies later. Having done the test once, you are only eligible to apply to TGS for in-year admission before Sixth Form if your daughter's score - when she sat the test in year 6 - was equal to or higher than that of the last girl admitted to year 7 in the cohort you wish to join. http://www.tiffingirls.kingston.sch.uk/ ... -Year.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Buying online? Please support music at TGS. No cost to you. Fundraising makes a difference.

Tiffin Girls' School has a designated area; see the determined admission arrangements. Use the journey planner. Note the Admissions timetable and FAQs.
mjuly
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:18 pm

Re: If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by mjuly »

I am not blessed with daughters but this is a great post.
salsa
Posts: 2686
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:59 am

Re: If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by salsa »

Wow! Stroller, great work. Maybe it should be a sticky?
Stroller
Posts: 1546
Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 9:39 am

Re: If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by Stroller »

Cut-off scores and waiting list data
Below, I've gathered TGS waiting list data. If you can provide more details, please post (or send me or the moderators a PM; we'd be happy to add specifics without identifying you).


Cut-off scores have been presented in triple digits since 2017

2020 entry
The initial cut-off score was 106.8.

Friday 03/04 an offer was made to the girl who scored 105.8. Families of other applicants were notified of their position on the waiting list: 104.2 was #11, 103.8 was #14 and it was reported that a different girl with the same score of 103.8 was #17, 103.4 was #16, 103.3 was #21, 103.2 was #22, 103 was #23 - likewise a a different girl on the same score - and 101 was #44.

The next offer we heard was 09/04, when 105.2 was offered a place. Then we waited almost two months until 04/06 when an offer was made to the girl who was “under #9 WL”, followed 05/06 by #11 on the original list, with a score of 104.2, then 16/06 by an offer to #14 on a score of 103.8. In early August, an offer was made to #16 who scored 103.4, and 06/08 to #17 (possibly on a score of 103.8, although that was reported about a friend, on #17, so it may or may not be the same applicant...). Then #21 on the original list with a score of 103.3 was offered a place 21/08 via the council, however did not hear anything from the school due to COVID and holidays (causing minor panic that perhaps it had been an error) until 01/09 late afternoon confirming the place. The list moved again 02/09 when #22 was offered a place with a score of 103.2. One of the girls on #23 with a score of 103 was offered a place 03/09, the other (also #23, same score) the next day 04/09.

In a July update, we heard the family of the girl who was #34 talking about a different school, so the offers appear not to have reached that far.


2019 entry
The initial cut-off score was 106.7.

29/03 - the last Friday in March - girls with scores of 106.5, 105.9,105.6 and 104.9 were offered places. Also one more (although no score was mentioned). 104.7 was offered a place 02/04. By 09/05 the girl who was #10 on the waiting list still had not been offered a place, but the next day - Friday 10/05 - brought an offer of a place to the girl who was #13 on the waiting list at the beginning of April.

The girl who was #18 on the waiting list at the beginning of April, with a score of 101.8 was offered a place by letter from the Local Authority 16/05. #25 had a score of 101.3. #30 on the original waiting list was offered a place 02/09.


2018 entry

The initial cut-off score was 106.5. "The highest possible Stage Two Test mark was 140. The qualifying mark currently filling the 180th place is 106.5." We know there was a tie at the cut-off score, so the 180th place was offered to the girl who lived nearer to the school. The girl with the tied 106.5 score (but no TGS offer on 01/03) was offered a place 29/03, as were the girls who scored 105.8, 105.6 and 105.5.

By 01/04, 104.3 was #1 on the waiting list - she got a place 20/04. The girl who scored 104.2 and was #3 on the waiting list on 16/04, was offered a place 19/04. 102.8 was offered a place “around 24/05”. 102.6, ranked #30 on 04/04, was offered a place 06/07, as was the girl who was ranked #33 on the waiting list originally. Another girl joined Y7 (presumably unexpectedly, as she was without uniform) on Tuesday 11/09 and it seems that two or three others started the following Monday 17/09.


2017 entry

The initial cut-off score was 103.73.

27/03 offers were made to the girls who scored 103.18 and 103.03 (the latter disclosed to me by PM). By the 29th, 102.01 was #2 on the waiting list and 101.73 was ranked #7.

By 28/04 the girl who scored 101.73 had moved to #1 on the waiting list. 10/05 she was offered a place. That post was particularly interesting, because the family found out their daughter’s waiting list rank inadvertently at the beginning of March. (Usually it’s weeks before girls on the TGS waiting list are told where they rank on the waiting list). As a result, we know that the girl who was in position #26 on the original 2017 waiting list was offered a place.

However, I suspect the list didn’t move much after that. A poster whose daughter scored 101.03 heard the following from the school at the beginning of July 2017:
"There has been minimal movement to the waiting list, with your daughter's position moving marginally. We don’t, as a matter of course, provide regular updates at this point in the process as our attention must be to those girls to whom we have made offers. We do not expect to be in a future position to be able to offer your daughter a place given her ranking on the waiting list and given we have now made all our offers to the school.

We wish your daughter every success in her future schooling and thank you for your interest in The Tiffin Girls’ School."


Before that, scores were in double digits

2016 entry

The initial cut-off score was 50.45 (the first year that stage 1 results were only a gateway to the next round, remembering that there were also 30 extra places this year, bringing PAN to 180)

A girl whose score was 49.54 was offered a place on Friday 01/04, as was a girl who scored 49.04. The girl who was #4 in mid-April with a score of 47.84, when information about the waiting list rank first became available to parents who requested it, was offered a place on 21/04, as was a girl whose score was 47.0. In May, 46.90 was offered a place.

The girl who was #25 on the waiting list on 21/05 has a score of 46.5. The girl who was #39 on the waiting list at first has a score of 45.15 and had moved up to #34 by the end of April.


2015 entry

The initial cut-off score was 54.27.

54.21, 53.9 and 53.53 were offered places on Friday 27/03.

"my daughter was at 15th in April [2015] but she was on 9th position in August. She never got an offer from tgs."


2014 entry

The initial cut-off score was 53.93. [I have seen different scores cited for that year btw - the other one was 53.66 but I suspect the higher one was correct.]

A girl who scored 53.04 was offered a place on Friday 28/03. 52.87 was offered during the Easter holidays.

"my friend's daughter was 7th in the queue [for 2014 entry] and still is [posted in March 2015], so don't think it moved much"


2013 entry

The initial cut-off score was 49.78.

The 2013 waiting list thread shows movement on the last Friday in March to someone who scored above the original cut-off but missed the first round offer because they had ranked another school as #1 on the CAF originally. The girl who scored 49.2 and two others (probably these, who had scores "between 49.2 and 49.7"?) got offers around Easter. The one who scored 48.78 was offered a place on 17/04. Still in the 48.something range, the list moved a few places in May. Another girl was offered a place in May half-term. Three girls joined Y7 from the waiting list between September and March when others relocated. Another got a place after Easter break (possibly - can anyone confirm?).

I also found an interesting post suggesting that for 2013 entry, reading and writing combined came to 50%, whereas for 2016 entry, they combine to 60%.
For 2013 entry, the stage 1 test had 20% weight in the final score; by 2016, it had none.


What I found online (elsewhere) about the numbers who were offered places via the waiting list in earlier years

For 2012 entry - Number of offers after initial offers: 19

Note: On this forum, this thread shows someone who was #15 on the waiting list at the end of March, 12th by the end of April, 8th by mid-May, moved to #4 on the list by early July but doesn't seem to have been offered a place.

For 2011 entry - Number of offers after initial offers: 5

For 2010 entry - Number of offers after initial offers: 13
Buying online? Please support music at TGS. No cost to you. Fundraising makes a difference.

Tiffin Girls' School has a designated area; see the determined admission arrangements. Use the journey planner. Note the Admissions timetable and FAQs.
Stroller
Posts: 1546
Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 9:39 am

Re: If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by Stroller »

Below, I've gathered some data about TGS appeals. If you are considering an appeal, read the appeals information and timetable on the school website http://www.tiffingirls.kingston.sch.uk/ ... ear-7.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Tiffin Girls' School appeals are handled by the Surrey School Appeals Service: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools-and ... ns/appeals" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From the school website about the 2018-2021 numbers I’ve included below:
This information has been published in order to promote transparency and should not be used to make comparisons as the school’s admissions policy has changed during the last three years and each cohort is unique. Please refer to the current admissions policy for definitions of ‘pupil premium’, ‘Designated Area’ and ‘Inner Area’.

All places were offered to those who live in the Designated Area or Inner Area in 2018-2021.
For 2021 entry - 1,453 tested at stage one, 461 tested at stage two, 4 appeals heard, zero succeeded.
  • Pupil premium candidates stage one 40
    Inner Area candidates stage one 200
    Candidates tested at stage two 461
    Pupil premium candidates stage two 10
    Inner Area candidates stage two 72
    Number of places offered (published admission number a.k.a. “PAN”) 180
For 2020 entry - 1,429 tested at stage one, 454 tested at stage two, 2 appeals heard, zero succeeded.
  • Pupil premium candidates stage one 43
    Inner Area candidates stage one 215
    Candidates tested at stage two 454
    Pupil premium candidates stage two 17
    Inner Area candidates stage two 61
    Number of places offered (published admission number a.k.a. “PAN”) 180
Note: For 2020 entry, the school introduced 10% leeway for all girls who are currently or who were previously looked after children and 10% leeway for girls who qualify for receipt of pupil premium and live in the Designated Area (incorporating the Inner Area).

For 2019 entry - 1,420 tested at stage one, 453 tested at stage two, 9 appeals heard, zero succeeded.
  • Pupil premium candidates stage one 94
    Inner Area candidates stage one 184
    Candidates tested at stage two 453
    Pupil premium candidates stage two 11
    Inner Area candidates stage two 65
    Number of places offered (published admission number a.k.a. “PAN”) 180
For 2018 entry - 1,427 tested at stage one, 510 tested at stage two, 15 appeals heard, 1 succeeded.
  • Pupil premium candidates stage one 92
    Inner Area candidates stage one 189
    Candidates tested at stage two 510
    Pupil premium candidates stage two 16
    Inner Area candidates stage two 72
    Number of places offered (published admission number a.k.a. “PAN”) 180
For 2017 entry - 1,242 tested at stage one, 448 tested at stage two, 3 appeals heard, zero succeeded.

For 2016 entry - 1,358 tested, 585 applied for 180 places, 13 appeals heard, 1 succeeded.

For 2015 entry - 1,273 applicants, 11 appeals heard, zero succeeded

For 2014 entry - 1,316 tested for 150 places, 14 appeals heard, zero succeeded.
(the first year of the "designated area")

For 2013 entry - 1,626 applicants tested for 150 places, 21 appeals heard, zero succeeded
(the first year of the two stage entrance test process)

For 2012 entry - 1,471 applicants tested for 120 places, 32 appeals heard, 1 succeeded
* Number of offers after initial offers: 19

For 2011 entry - 1, 199 applicants tested for 120 places, 32 appeals heard, 1 succeeded
* Number of offers after initial offers: 5

For 2010 entry - 1,171 applicants tested for 120 places, 43 appeals heard, 3 succeeded
* Number of offers after initial offers: 13

* = Numbers found online, in an (ancient) official document. Although old data, it's unusual to see specifics about how many places were offered after National Allocation Day (mainly / all waiting list?), so I've included the numbers anyway.


Comment
Winning a TGS appeal appears to be a super-selective process in its own right. Of the 199 appeals in the 12 years from 2010-2021 inclusive, it seems that just 7 were successful. I don't know how those numbers compare to other schools, but I suspect they don't inspire a lot of hope. Still, if you reckon you have reasonable grounds, it’s an option to consider.
Buying online? Please support music at TGS. No cost to you. Fundraising makes a difference.

Tiffin Girls' School has a designated area; see the determined admission arrangements. Use the journey planner. Note the Admissions timetable and FAQs.
mad?
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Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 6:27 pm
Location: london

Re: If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by mad? »

Stroller this is such useful information for hopeful future parents, thank you on their behalf :)
mad?
PurpleDuck
Posts: 1586
Joined: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:45 pm

Re: If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by PurpleDuck »

Stroller, it's such a great idea to put useful info in your signature space - I hope people will take notice! :)
It felt like I hit rock bottom; suddenly, there was knocking from beneath... (anon.)
Stroller
Posts: 1546
Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 9:39 am

Re: If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by Stroller »

PurpleDuck wrote:Stroller, it's such a great idea to put useful info in your signature space - I hope people will take notice! :)
Me too, for everyone's sake... :D
Buying online? Please support music at TGS. No cost to you. Fundraising makes a difference.

Tiffin Girls' School has a designated area; see the determined admission arrangements. Use the journey planner. Note the Admissions timetable and FAQs.
tiffinboys
Posts: 8022
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Surrey

Re: If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by tiffinboys »

Thanks, Stroller. Very useful post for those interested in TGS.
squareofthewicket
Posts: 172
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:42 am

Re: If your DD sat stage 2 of the Tiffin Girls' School exam

Post by squareofthewicket »

For 2018 entry, the cutoff score on 01-Mar was 106.5.
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