Tiffin School (11+) 11 Plus Exam - 2026 Key Information

The Tiffin School is a prestigious selective grammar school for boys situated in Kingston upon Thames. Established in 1880, it educates 1,200+ boys aged 11 to 18, covering Key Stage 3 (KS3) and sixth form (6th Form).

Widely recognised as one of the best grammar schools in UK, the institution is commonly called tiffin boys school. Its current ofsted rating is "Outstanding," which highlights the exceptional academic environment provided for pupils.

Beyond exceptional academics, Tiffin boys school boasts the world-renowned Tiffin Boys’ Choir, which records for major films and performs at the Royal Opera House. Students also benefit from elite coaching in rugby and cricket, ensuring a balanced, high-achieving environment.

In this guide, I apply 18+ years of education consultancy to help parents navigate Tiffin School 2026 11 plus (11+) Exam admissions with confidence.

School Details

• Type of School: Grammar / Academy Converter
• Boarding Type: No Boarding
• Gender Type: Boys (Co-educational Sixth Form)
• Religion: None
• Age Range: 11-18
• Number of Pupils (Total): 1420+
• GCSE Results (2025): 79% achieved Grade 9-8
• A-Level Results (2025): 70% achieved A*-A

Year 7 Admissions Details

• Year 7 Admissions Policy: Selective
• Number of Places in Year 7 (PAN): 180
• Exam Board: SET / School Written
• Number of Stages: 2
• School Catchment Area: Yes. (See Below for more details)
• Sibling Policy: No
• Pass Mark: Aim for 90%+ (Standardised scores vary annually)

Getting ahead with the Tiffin School admissions timeline is vital for your son's success. I have compiled the official schedule of Tiffin School 11 plus exam dates to help you organize your preparation. From the Tiffin School open day to the final offer, this calendar covers every essential 11+ Exam date and deadline you need to know.

​Tiffin School operates a competitive admissions procedure for Year 7 entry, common among selective grammar schools in Kingston upon Thames. Parents must adhere to strict deadlines to ensure their child is eligible for the 11+ Exam. The application involves two distinct steps managed by different authorities.

How to Register for 11+ Exam

To register your son for the entrance assessment, you must complete the specific school registration form online. This process allows your child to sit the Stage One Test.

• The Supplementary Information Form (SIF): You must complete this online form via the school website to register for the test. It is typically available from early June and must be submitted by 12:00 noon on 1 September 2025.
• Policy Verification: Before applying, review the Tiffin School Admissions Policy to understand the catchment area definitions.
• The Common Application Form (CAF): This applies for a school place and is submitted to your Local Authority, not the school.
• Submission Deadline: You must list Tiffin boys school as a preference on the CAF by 31 October 2025.
• Portal Access: Residents in London boroughs should use the Pan London eAdmissions System to submit this form.

​The Tiffin School Catchment Area is strictly defined by distance from the school rather than specific boroughs. Tiffin School prioritises boys whose permanent residence falls within designated geographic zones.

Priority Zones Explained

• Inner Area: As stated in the Tiffin School Admissions Policy, this primary zone covers a radius of 10 kilometres from the school.
• Outer Area: This secondary zone extends from 10 km up to 14 km from the school site.

Most offers are historically made to applicants living within the Inner Area School catchment area. Consequently, residence within 10 km is vital for meeting the 11+ Exam catchment criteria.

Distances are measured in a straight line from the child's home to the nearest school gate. High performance in the 11 plus test is required alongside these geographic criteria.

The Tiffin boys school Catchment Area regulations are applied rigorously during the final allocation process.

As stated in the Tiffin School Admissions Policy, the entrance assessment consists of two distinct stages. Only candidates who perform well in the first stage are invited back for the second. The final ranking is determined by a combined score from both tests.

Stage One Test

The Stage One Test is commonly known as the Selective Eligibility Test (SET). This exam is shared with other local grammar schools to filter applicants efficiently. 

It is designed to assess core competencies in literacy and numeracy using a machine-readable format. Students preparing for the selective eligibility test sutton 2026 must master time management, as speed and accuracy are crucial.

The test consists of two papers comprising exclusively multiple-choice questions. The English paper focuses on skills like comprehension and spelling, while the Mathematics paper covers Key Stage 2 topics. 

The marks from this stage are standardised. You should note that 11 plus sutton exams are rigorous, and only boys meeting the required standard proceed to the next round.

Stage Two Test

Boys who pass the Stage One Test are invited to sit the Tiffin School 11 Plus Test Stage Two. This stage is specific to Tiffin School and is much more challenging than the first. The purpose is to differentiate between high-ability candidates effectively.

This exam tests 11+ Mathematics and English in a standard format, meaning there are no multiple-choice options. Students must write out their answers and show working out for calculations. 

The English test usually includes a reading task and a writing task. The final score is a weighted aggregate of Stage One and Stage Two results. This approach ensures a holistic view of the applicant's academic potential for Tiffin boys school.​

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Important Note for Parents - OMR Sheet Guidance

​For the Stage One Test, answers are recorded on an Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheet. Ensure your son uses an HB pencil to shade the lozenges completely and erases any mistakes thoroughly to avoid machine errors.

Parent’s Top 4 Queries

Does Tiffin School have a catchment area? 

Yes, priority is generally given to boys living within 14 km of the school, but you must check the specific Inner/Outer Area definitions for 2026 entry.

Are the exams Multiple Choice? 

Stage One is entirely multiple-choice (MCQ), whereas Stage Two involves standard format questions requiring written answers.

What exam board does Tiffin School follow?

Stage One: Sutton SET, Stage Two: Set by the school.

How long is the 11+ Exam for Tiffin School?

Stage One is 80-100 mins; Stage Two is approx 2 hours.

The school does not publish a fixed pass mark. Instead, admission depends on the rank order of combined 11 plus test results.

Specific ranking details are outlined in the Tiffin School Admissions Policy.

While Tiffin Boys School has no official cutoff, achieving 95%+ in PiAcademy’s practice papers ensures students can ace the eleven plus exam.

​Tiffin School is often the "Gold Standard" for families in Kingston and Richmond. However, with over 1,800 applicants fighting for just 180 Year 7 places, reliance on a single school is risky. Even the brightest students need a robust backup plan.

In my 18 years of consulting, I have seen capable boys miss out due to exam day nerves. I strongly advise a "3 Grammar, 2 Private" strategy. This portfolio approach ensures your son secures an elite education, regardless of the Tiffin outcome.

Top 5 Alternative Grammar and Independent Schools

Parents targeting Tiffin usually look towards the Sutton consortium for state alternatives. For private options, the Hampton and Wimbledon corridors are popular. Here is how the top alternatives compare:

Why these schools are the top alternatives to Tiffin School

• Wilson's and Sutton Grammar: These schools use the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test (SET). Sitting this single exam qualifies your son for multiple schools, maximising opportunities without adding exam stress.
• Hampton School: Located just across the river, Hampton offers similar academic rigour to Tiffin but with broader co-curricular facilities. Their entrance exam focuses heavily on creative writing and problem-solving.
• Kingston Grammar School (KGS): For parents open to co-education, KGS is the nearest independent alternative. It shares Tiffin’s high academic ethos and is located mere minutes away in Kingston town centre.

​According to the National School Census, competition for places remains consistently high. For the last three years, there have been four applications for every single place at Tiffin School. This data confirms that securing a spot at Tiffin boys school requires exceptional preparation.

Source: National School Census.

The school remains consistently oversubscribed, recording a significant 181% oversubscription rate in 2025. As outlined in the Tiffin School Admissions Policy, the demand for places is substantial.

How hard is it to get into Tiffin School?

Parents frequently come to me and ask, "Is Tiffin School hard to get into?" given the high academic standards. Based on my experience, despite the intense competition, I assure you this is a predictable, winnable challenge.

Success in the eleven plus exam is manageable with a solid, targeted strategy. A structured approach turns the admission process for tiffin boys school into an achievable goal for your son.

Keep reading to uncover the next section about the 11+ Exam Format and Preparation strategy.

​The admission process for Tiffin School involves a two-stage examination. Stage One acts as a sifting test, focusing on English and Maths multiple-choice questions.

Analysis of 11+ Exam Maths topics

Our analysis of the Tiffin School 11+ exam past papers reveals the difficulty level for the Stage One Maths test. We have identified a distinct topic weighting that parents must prioritize during preparation.

This breakdown clearly shows that Numbers and Geometry account for over half of the expected questions (58%) in the Stage One 11 plus exam maths.

Try our topic-wise 11+ maths questions bank, featuring more than 15,000+ Questions. It includes a complete planner and worksheets used by over 20,000+ Students.

Analysis of 11+ Exam English topics

Based on the Stage One analysis, the Reading Comprehension (45%) and Vocabulary (35%) topics are critical. Success in these areas is essential for passing the initial 11 plus test papers.

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Which are the Best (11 plus) 11+ Practice Papers for Tiffin School - Stage One Test?

Our targeted 11+ practice papers are based on the actual questions of top schools. These resources help students familiarize themselves with the exam pattern well before time.

We recommend the 11+ Maths and English papers of the GL Assessment Practice Papers bundle for Tiffin School Stage One. This pack consists of 1600+ GL-Style MCQs with detailed Step-wise solutions to help you score top marks.

What are the 11+ Exam Maths topics covered in Stage Two Test?

Below topics are covered in the Tiffin School Stage two test - 

Analysis of 11+ Exam Maths topics

Based on the analysis of the Stage Two Test 11 plus maths papers, Word Problems (50%) and Advanced Algebra (30%) dominate the paper. The questions asked are trickier, non-multiple-choice questions like simultaneous equations.

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Analysis of 11+ Exam English topics

The Stage Two Test English analysis shows a balanced and demanding focus. Reading Comprehension (50%) requires open, analytical answers, and the Writing Test (50%) demands extended creative structure.

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Which are the Best (11 plus) 11+ Practice Papers for Tiffin School - Stage Two Test?

Parents often ask us how to prepare for the rigorous written format. To match the open-ended question style asked in Stage Two, we strongly advise using the following resources.

Our 11+ english past papers can be downloaded, giving you the option to take a print out. Practising on pen and paper helps simulate real exam conditions.

These free 11 plus papers with answers pdf will ensure your son is fully prepared for the challenging standard format questions required for success in Stage Two. 

You can also review 11+ creative writing examples pdf to understand the expected standard of work.

Tiffin School is exceptionally competitive, making rigorous and focused preparation essential for success. Sitting 11 plus mock tests helps students familiarise themselves with the high-pressure exam environment and identify weak areas. As Tiffin boys school sets its own challenging English and Mathematics papers, adaptable and comprehensive practice is highly recommended.

Parents can initially assess their child's progress with our 11 plus mock test papers pdf free. Attending an in-person 11 plus mock test Kingston upon Thames session effectively simulates the actual test day atmosphere. Ultimately, consistent practice with a targeted Tiffin School 11 plus mock exam ensures your son is confident and fully prepared.

• Autumn Half Term 1: Monday 1^st September 2025 to Friday 24^th October 2025
• Autumn Half Term 2: Monday 3^rd November 2025 to Friday 19^th December 2025
• Spring Half Term 1: Monday 5^th January 2026 to Friday 13^th February 2026
• Spring Half Term 2: Monday 23^rd February 2026 to Friday 27^th March 2026
• Summer Half Term 1: Monday 13^th April 2026 to Friday 22^nd May 2026
• Summer Half Term 2: Monday 1^st June 2026 to Friday 17^th July 2026

This information has been sourced from Get Information about Schools and Tiffin School Official Website.