School profile Record updated 27 October 2026

Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames 11+

The Tiffin Girls' School

Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 5PL

A selective girls grammar school in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,256 pupils on roll.

Grammar school Girls Academy converter Ages 11-18 Sixth form The Tiffin Girls’ School Entrance Tests
2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #4
Year 7 places
180
Competition ?
Very High (estimated)
Ofsted ?
Outstanding
11+ route
The Tiffin Girls’ School Entrance Tests
Compare Official website Map

At a glance

Key facts

2025–2026 GCSE rank ?
UK Rank #4
Sector
Grammar school
Admissions
Girls only
Assessment
The Tiffin Girls’ School Entrance Tests
Places in Year 7
180
Competition ?
Very High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Ofsted ?
Outstanding

Overview

The Tiffin Girls' School is a selective girls' grammar in Kingston upon Thames with about 1,256 pupils and a large sixth form. Its history is unusually well documented: the school opened on 20 January 1880, shared early roots with Tiffin School, moved to St James' Road in 1899, and later adopted Sapere Aude, "Dare to be wise", as its enduring motto.

The modern school combines high academic expectations with a broad co-curricular culture. Its published vision emphasises service to the community, love of learning and character, with resilience, confidence, independence, integrity and respect named in the school's own values language. Co-curricular life includes sport, music, drama, clubs and societies, trips, Duke of Edinburgh, Young Enterprise and student leadership.

Year 7 admission is highly competitive and uses a two-stage process for 180 places. Stage One is a computer-marked English and maths sift; Stage Two uses written English and mathematics, with allocation by combined mark and area-priority rules, including routes for looked-after children and Pupil Premium applicants.

The academic profile is among the strongest in the country: Ofsted Outstanding, very high Progress 8, 99.4% grade 5+ in English and maths and a notably high A level AAB figure. The admissions geography and Stage Two ranking are therefore central to understanding realistic access.

Key points

Assessment route
The Tiffin Girls’ School Entrance Tests covering English and Maths.
Places and demand
180 places in Year 7 and Very High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Results
100% grade 5+ in English and maths and 86 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 67% AAB or better and 83% in higher education.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Kingston upon Thames and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M
Attainment 8
86
Grade 5+ English and maths
100%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Kingston upon Thames and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames, and England. 100 80 60 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26

Destinations

Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Kingston upon Thames and England.

Education Apprenticeships Employment Other / unknown
Destinations stacked bar comparison Year 11 destinations for Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames, and England across education, apprenticeships, employment, and other or unknown destinations. 0 50 100 School Local auth. England

School details

Sector
Grammar school
School type
Academy converter
Application
Local authority CAF
Gender
Girls only
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mr Ian Keary
Pupil roll
1,267 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Trust
The Tiffin Girls' School
FSM ?
6.8%
EAL ?
39%
EHCP ?
0.2%

Extracurriculars

Choir Drama Duke of Edinburgh Sport

School statistics

Ethnicity

Pupil ethnicity

Whole-school roll of 1,267 pupils; 1,244 had a recorded ethnic group.

White 18.3% Asian 54.2% Mixed 19% Black 1% Other 5.5% Unclassified 1.8%

Location and contact

Address

Address
Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames, Greater London
Postcode
KT2 5PL

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Ian Keary

School contact

School phone
02085460773

Admissions contact

Admissions team
admissions office
Admissions phone
02085460773

Admissions

Appeals and waiting lists

A school admission appeal follows a refusal of a place. Use the school's current timetable and your refusal letter for the deadline. A test review, if available, has separate rules.

Residence and moving rules

2027 entry

For local priority

Applies to: Normal Year 7 applicants comparing Inner Area, Designated Area and outside-area routes.

An outside-area admission route exists, but Designated Area applicants are considered before outside-area applicants. Since the Designated Area was introduced in 2014, every Year 7 place has gone to a girl living within it. Local residence controls priority; there is no universal requirement to move after an offer.

Live in the area
By the SIF deadline, 12 noon

Applies to: Pupil Premium applicants seeking the 10% test leeway through designated-area residence.

Policy wording, evidence and exceptions

Address for local priority

An outside-area admission route exists, but Designated Area applicants are considered before outside-area applicants. Since the Designated Area was introduced in 2014, every Year 7 place has gone to a girl living within it. Local residence controls priority; there is no universal requirement to move after an offer.

Area
The published Inner Area and Designated Area.

Address for local priority

For Pupil Premium test leeway, the permanent home must be in the Designated Area, including the Inner Area, by the SIF deadline. This is separate from the ordinary address checks at application.

Area
The published Designated Area, including the Inner Area.
Year 7 places
180 places
Applications listed
606 applications (2026 entry)
First preferences
445 first preferences (2026 entry)
Competition ?
Very High (estimated)
Catchment
You can apply from any area, but living in the published local area gives priority for some or all places.
Pass mark note
Stage Two priority uses the 350th ranked mark. The future cut-off is the combined mark of the lowest 5.1.3 offer at the end of the 2027-28 academic year.

A two-stage test route applies. Stage One is a computer-marked English and maths sift; Stage Two uses written English and maths tests, and allocation is by combined mark with area-priority rules.

Inner Area and Designated Area residence control priority routes. Remaining places are ranked by combined mark, with Designated Area candidates considered before outside-area candidates.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Education, Health and Care Plan

    Girls with an EHCP naming The Tiffin Girls' School must also demonstrate academic ability through the test procedure.

  2. 2

    Looked-after and previously looked-after girls

    Stage Two candidates whose combined mark is at least the 350th ranked mark are ranked by combined mark.

  3. 3

    Up to 60 Inner Area and Pupil Premium places

    Girls at or above the 350th ranked mark are prioritised first for Pupil Premium in the Inner or Designated Area, then for Inner Area residence.

  4. 4

    Remaining Designated Area places

    Remaining Stage Two candidates are ranked by combined mark, first for girls in the Designated Area.

  5. 5

    Remaining outside-area places

    If places remain, outside-Designated-Area Stage Two candidates are ranked by combined mark.

Exam and test format

September 2027 entry

Two stages of testing in English and maths.

Scores
Age-standardised

What the test includes

  • English
  • Maths

Official exam resources

Past papers and practice materials

Tiffin Girls’ does not publish past papers. Its admissions FAQ includes examples of how to fill in the answer sheets. Official guidance

Application

Find open days and plan a visit
  1. Online registration opens

    2 June 2026

    Past
  2. Open evening

    7 July 2026

    Past

    4.30pm to 7.30pm; no booking required.

  3. Medical and pupil-premium paperwork return

    16 July 2026

    Past

    The page asks families to return paperwork before Friday 17 July where possible.

  4. Stage One registration deadline

    1 September 2026

    Past

    Deadline is 12 noon.

  5. Stage One test

    Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October 2026

  6. Stage Two invitations

    on or around Wednesday 14 October 2026

  7. Secondary CAF deadline

    31 October 2026

    Past
  8. Stage Two test

    7 November 2026

  9. National offer day

    1 March 2027

    Offers are made by the local authority via eAdmissions in the evening.

  10. Stage Two results for waiting-list candidates

    2 March 2027

  11. Residence start date

    1 September 2026, By the SIF deadline, 12 noon

    Past

How to apply

  1. 1

    Register for the Stage One test

    Online registration opens on 2 June 2026 and closes at 12 noon on 1 September 2026.

    Open admissions page
  2. 2

    Sit Stage One

    Stage One testing is held across 1 and 2 October 2026.

    Check key dates
  3. 3

    Submit the secondary CAF

    Complete the local authority application form by 31 October 2026.

    Check key dates
  4. 4

    Sit Stage Two if invited

    Stage Two testing for invited candidates is scheduled for November 2026.

    Check key dates

Results

Inspection

Outstanding

Latest inspection: 14 October 2021

Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

Quick summary

  • Overall effectiveness: The Tiffin Girls' School is recorded as Outstanding overall, and the 2026 report places key areas at the highest standard. The evidence highlights superb achievement, excellent attendance, exceptionally rare poor behaviour and safeguarding standards being met.
  • Quality of education: Achievement is described as exceptional, with pupils from Year 7 to Year 13 building advanced knowledge and skills across the curriculum. They use subject vocabulary confidently, produce very high-quality work and learn to reflect on mistakes as evaluative learners.
  • Behaviour and attitudes: Attendance and behaviour are presented as exceptional. Pupils rarely miss school, persistent absence has fallen significantly, there have been no recent suspensions or exclusions, and new reflection and conflict-resolution systems help pupils manage emotions and relationships.
  • Personal development: The available evidence links personal growth closely to learning culture and relationships. Love of Learning representatives share research on becoming lifelong learners, pupils are taught to reflect on mistakes, and staff build trust by knowing pupils' needs and interests closely.
  • Leadership and management: Leaders have established an open safeguarding culture and rigorous attendance systems, with the attendance team working closely with safeguarding leads. Their personalised work with pupils and families has reduced persistent absence and supports disadvantaged pupils, pupils with SEND and vulnerable pupils.

Similar schools and comparisons

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which entrance tests does Tiffin Girls' School use?

For September 2027 entry, Tiffin Girls' School uses The Tiffin Girls’ School Entrance Tests. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.

How do I apply to Tiffin Girls' School?

1. Register for the Stage One test: Online registration opens on 2 June 2026 and closes at 12 noon on 1 September 2026. 2. Sit Stage One: Stage One testing is held across 1 and 2 October 2026. 3. Submit the secondary CAF: Complete the local authority application form by 31 October 2026. 4. Sit Stage Two if invited: Stage Two testing for invited candidates is scheduled for November 2026.

When are the key dates for Tiffin Girls' School?

Online registration opens: 2 June 2026. Open evening: 7 July 2026. Medical and pupil-premium paperwork return: 16 July 2026. Stage One registration deadline: 1 September 2026. Stage One test: Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October 2026. Stage Two invitations: on or around Wednesday 14 October 2026. Secondary CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. Stage Two test: 7 November 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027. Stage Two results for waiting-list candidates: 2 March 2027. Residence start date: 1 September 2026, By the SIF deadline, 12 noon

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Tiffin Girls' School?

Tiffin Girls' School is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 14 October 2021.