Tiffin Girls' School: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School: Tiffin Girls' School
• Location: Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 5PL
• Type: Selective state grammar school (Academy converter)
• Age Range: 11-18 years
• Pupils: Approximately 1,239
• Head: Mr Ian Keary
• Ofsted: Outstanding (October 2021)
• Assessment: Two-stage process (October & November)

About Tiffin Girls' School

Tiffin Girls' School represents one of Surrey's most academically rigorous grammar schools, consistently achieving exceptional results that place it amongst the top-performing state schools nationally. Located in Kingston upon Thames, this all-girls academy has built an outstanding reputation for academic excellence whilst maintaining a strong commitment to character development and inclusivity.

The school's ethos centres on fostering intellectual curiosity and personal growth, with a comprehensive curriculum that extends far beyond traditional academics. Students benefit from exceptional opportunities in music, drama, art, and sport, with many programmes led by sixth-form students themselves. This peer leadership approach develops confidence and responsibility whilst creating a collaborative learning environment.

Tiffin Girls' maintains consistently impressive university placement records, with substantial numbers of graduates securing places at Oxford, Cambridge, and other Russell Group institutions. The school's commitment to academic rigour is balanced with a genuine focus on developing well-rounded individuals prepared for leadership roles in their chosen fields.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Tiffin Girls' School operates a sophisticated two-stage assessment process designed to identify students with the academic potential to thrive in their demanding environment.

Stage One Assessment

The initial stage utilises GL Assessment materials and takes place over two days in early October. This comprehensive assessment evaluates fundamental skills in English and Mathematics through standardised testing formats. Students demonstrating strong performance at this stage progress to the school's bespoke second assessment.

Stage Two Assessment

Invited candidates sit school-designed papers in November, featuring one-hour examinations in both English and Mathematics. These assessments are specifically crafted to evaluate deeper analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities essential for success at Tiffin Girls'.

Assessment Weighting

The final ranking combines both stages strategically: English scores derive 60% from Stage Two performance, whilst Mathematics results blend both stages with a 3:1 weighting favouring Stage One. This balanced approach ensures comprehensive evaluation of each candidate's academic capabilities.

How to Apply

The application process for Year 7 entry follows a structured timeline requiring careful preparation and attention to detail.

Registration Process

Registration opens in early June and closes at the beginning of September, providing families with a three-month window to complete their applications. The school requires comprehensive documentation and adherence to specific eligibility criteria throughout this period.

Assessment Timeline

• June: Registration opens
• September: Registration deadline
• October: Stage One assessment (two days)
• November: Stage Two assessment (invited candidates only)
• March: Offers communicated to successful families

The school maintains strict adherence to these timelines, and late applications are not typically accepted under any circumstances.

Preparing for the Tiffin Girls' School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

The Tiffin Girls' School 11+ rewards steady preparation over a year or so, with the last term given to timed practice and interview confidence. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors match the programme to the school's assessment format and to where the child is starting from.

Because the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, and more than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status, families get a tutor who understands what the assessors are looking for. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families work with us online from anywhere in the UK or abroad, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.