About Tiffin School
Tiffin School is a boys' grammar school in Kingston upon Thames (co-educational Sixth Form), consistently among the top 20 state schools nationally, with a history dating to 1638. The entrance process has two stages and uses Quest Assessments (not GL Assessment). Stage 1 takes place in October 2026. Stage 2 follows for top-performing boys. Up to 5% of places are awarded for sport aptitude and 5% for music aptitude (separate assessments in July). Priority area: within 10km of school.
Tiffin School provides an excellent education with high academic standards and a broad curriculum. GCSE 9–7: 79.8%. A-Level A*–B: 91.8%.
About the GL Assessment 11+ Test for Tiffin School
Tiffin School is a boys state grammar school in England that uses the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test to select pupils for Year 7 admission. The school admits approximately 180 Year 7 pupils each September, and applications must be made through your home Local Authority via the Common Application Form (CAF) — never directly to the school.
The GL Assessment 11+ is one of two main 11+ test providers in England (the other being CEM, now retired in many regions). The London test typically consists of multiple papers covering English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Scores are standardised against the cohort age distribution, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Each school sets its own qualifying mark (pass mark).
For 2026 entry, the GL Assessment test is sat in Mid-September 2025 and results are released to parents on Mid-October 2025 — crucially, before the Common Application Form deadline of Friday 31 October 2025, giving parents time to consider results before listing school preferences. National Offers Day is Monday 2 March 2026, when Local Authorities issue Year 7 secondary school offers.
Tiffin School is academically selective — pupils must achieve the qualifying mark in the 11+ test to be eligible for a place. If applications exceed the published admission number (180 places), the school applies its oversubscription criteria (looked-after children, FSME, siblings, distance) to allocate places. This page is updated each year with the latest verified admissions criteria, key dates and oversubscription rules.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Tiffin School
Tiffin School Admissions Criteria
Tiffin School is a boys' grammar school in Kingston upon Thames (co-educational Sixth Form), consistently among the top 20 state schools nationally, with a history dating to 1638. The entrance process has two stages and uses Quest Assessments (not GL Assessment). Stage 1 takes place in October 2026. Stage 2 follows for top-performing boys. Up to 5% of places are awarded for sport aptitude and 5% for music aptitude (separate assessments in July). Priority area: within 10km of school.
- ✓Register for Stage 1 and sports/music assessments via the Tiffin School website (registration opens 5th June 2026).
- ✓Sports and music aptitude assessment registration deadline: 6th July 2026.
- ✓Music aptitude assessments: 8th and 10th July 2026.
- ✓Sports aptitude assessments: 15th–16th July 2026.
- ✓Stage 1 (October 2026): School-set Maths and Reasoning papers (Quest Assessments). All registered boys invited. Top boys shortlisted for Stage 2.
- ✓Stage 2 (later in term): Further English and Maths papers. Combined mark: 50% English (Stage 2) + 50% Maths (Stage 1 + Stage 2 in ratio 2:3).
- ✓Up to 5% sport places (9 boys) and 5% music places (9 boys) available to boys performing to the required level in assessments AND in the standard exam.
- ✓Priority area: all boys within 10km of school are prioritised. Boys outside are still eligible.
- ✓Looked-after children (highest priority). Boys within 10km ranked by score. Boys outside 10km ranked by score.
- ✓Apply via Kingston LA CAF by 31st October 2026.
Tiffin School Oversubscription Criteria
If applications exceed the 180 Year 7 admission number, the Board of Governors / Trust applies the following criteria in priority order. Final ranking uses the standardised score achieved in the GL Assessment 11+ entrance test.
- Looked-after / previously looked-after children (highest priority by law)
- Children who achieve the qualifying mark in the entrance test (above the qualifying standard set by Tiffin School)
- Children eligible for Pupil Premium / Free School Meals Entitlement (FSME)
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school
- Children with sibling(s) currently attending the school
- Children of staff (where staff member has worked at the school for 2+ years)
- Children ranked by total standardised score (highest first) up to the published admission number
- Tiebreak: distance from home to school (straight-line measurement) for children with equal scores
Key Dates & Deadlines — Tiffin School 2026 Entry
| 📌 Registration opens | May 2025 via individual school portals |
| 📌 Registration closes | Mid-July 2025 (varies by consortium) |
| 📌 GL Assessment 11+ Entrance Test | Mid-September 2025 (varies — Sutton, Kingston, Wallington consortiums have different dates) |
| 📌 Test results released | Mid-October 2025 |
| 📌 CAF deadline (apply via Local Authority) | Friday 31 October 2025 |
| 📌 National Offers Day | Monday 2 March 2026 |
How to Apply to Tiffin School via the Common Application Form
Step 1 — Register your child for the GL Assessment 11+ Test
Register through your regional 11+ portal (e.g. London) when registration opens. Closes Mid-July 2025 (varies by consortium). There is no fee to sit the GL Assessment test.
Step 2 — Attend an Open Day at Tiffin School
Visit during Year 5 or early Year 6 to meet staff and pupils and decide whether to list this school on your CAF.
Step 3 — Sit the GL Assessment Entrance Test
Your child sits the GL Assessment in Mid-September 2025. The test typically covers English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with standardised scores age-adjusted.
Step 4 — Receive your standardised test results
Test results are released to parents on Mid-October 2025, BEFORE the Common Application Form deadline. You will receive a standardised score and an indication of whether your child has passed the qualifying mark.
Step 5 — Complete your Common Application Form (CAF)
List Tiffin School as one of your preferences on the CAF submitted via your home Local Authority (not the school's LA, unless they are the same). You can usually list 3-6 preferences depending on your LA.
Step 6 — Submit the CAF by the deadline
Submit your CAF by Friday 31 October 2025. Late applications are processed only after all on-time applications have been allocated, dramatically reducing your chance of a place.
Step 7 — Receive your school offer on National Offers Day
Offers are issued via your Local Authority on Monday 2 March 2026. If unsuccessful, you can appeal or join Tiffin School's waiting list — managed by the school itself.
GL Assessment Subjects Tested at Tiffin School
GL Assessment Practice Papers for Tiffin School
Tiffin School uses the GL Assessment 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 high-quality practice tests
- 1 × English, Maths, VR, NVR
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Tiffin School 11+ Exam
ExamTutor practice papers with tutor explanations for every question offers an affordable substitute for private tuition for a fraction of the cost.
📋 Take a Diagnostic Test
Start with a timed practice test to identify strengths and areas needing improvement.
📅 Build a Study Plan
Start at least 6–12 months before the exam. Focus extra time on weaker subjects.
🎥 Review with Video Explanations
Watch video solutions for incorrect answers. Rewatch difficult topics until confident.
⏱️ Develop Exam Technique
Practice under timed conditions to build stamina and learn to manage difficult questions.
📈 Track Progress
Monitor scores over time to see genuine improvement and identify remaining weak spots.
🚀 Build Confidence
Simulating real exam conditions means no surprises on the day — your child knows what to expect.