Tolworth Girls vs Tiffin Girls: How Do Their Results Really Compare?

When comparing schools in Kingston, two names often come up: Tolworth Girls’ School & Sixth Form and The Tiffin Girls’ School. On paper, their results look very different, but to understand why, it is important to look beyond the numbers.

At GCSE, The Tiffin Girls’ School consistently delivers some of the strongest results in the country. The vast majority of students achieve top grades, with around 95% of entries at grades 9–7 in strong years. This places the school among the very highest-performing state schools nationally.

By contrast, Tolworth Girls’ School shows solid and respectable outcomes. Around 69% of students achieve grade 5 or above in English and Maths, and around 77% achieve grade 4 or above. A smaller proportion achieve the very top grades, although this is steadily improving. At first glance, this appears to be a large gap, but the difference is largely explained by the type of intake each school has.

The same pattern continues at A-level. At Tiffin Girls, results are exceptional, with around 70% or more of grades at A* to A and over 90% at A* to B. These are the kind of outcomes typically associated with progression to Oxbridge, Russell Group universities, and highly competitive courses.

At Tolworth Girls, outcomes are strong but more typical of a high-performing comprehensive. Around 43% of grades are A* to B and around 74% are A* to C. These results still support students progressing to university, apprenticeships, and a wide range of pathways.

The most important factor in this comparison is admissions. The Tiffin Girls’ School is a selective grammar school. Students must pass the 11+ entrance exam, meaning the school admits only those already performing at a very high academic level. Tolworth Girls’ School, on the other hand, is a non-selective comprehensive. It serves students across the full ability range, including those who may need additional support as well as high achievers.

This means that Tiffin’s results reflect a high-attaining intake from the start, whereas Tolworth’s results reflect progress across a mixed cohort. Looking purely at raw results can therefore be misleading.

Tiffin Girls shows what happens when a school works with students who are already among the highest performers nationally, while Tolworth Girls shows how a school supports and develops students of all abilities to achieve solid outcomes. In many ways, Tolworth’s results demonstrate strong teaching and support, particularly when you consider the wider range of starting points.

A more meaningful comparison would be to compare Tiffin Girls with other grammar schools, and Tolworth Girls with other local comprehensives. When judged in this way, Tolworth holds its own well and is considered a strong local option.

Both schools are successful, but in very different ways. The Tiffin Girls’ School is one of the top-performing state schools in the UK, with exceptional results driven by a highly selective intake. Tolworth Girls’ School is a strong comprehensive that achieves good outcomes across a broad range of students. Ultimately, the better school depends on the individual child.