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Original poster

RGS and Guildford High School

67 replies

Peppin · 21/04/2012 14:36

What are these schools like and how hard are they to get into?

DS and DD are in village primary at present. DS is year 5, DD year 3. DS was assessed on last school report as being 2 or 3 "bands" above where they expect the average child to be by the end of year 5; DD is on gifted and talented register and does her literacy and numeracy with the year group above her. But neither has had any 11+ type coaching (yet).

Am seriously considering moving both into private sector from 2013 onwards. Like the sound of RGS and G'frd High School but wondering if DS in particular would be prejudiced by not having been coached for 11+ enough in advance. Would also like to know what the social side is like - are the kids at both schools mainly nice, is there much bullying, etc? What are the head teachers like?

All comments gratefully received!

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IvySquirrel · 11/06/2012 22:26

No didn't consider any other private schools, in fact hadn't considered private at all until ds went to RGS summer school and loved it!
Would have been state otherwise and sure he would have been fine, but the extra opportunities you get at a school like this, well it's perfect for him.
Sounds like your son is doing well peppin, lots of luck to him!

Original poster
Peppin · 11/06/2012 16:59

Thanks Ivysquirrel. He is doing the actual 11+ at the moment.

As an aside, did you consider other private schools as a "plan B" for if your DS didn't get in to RGS, and if so, which ones?

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IvySquirrel · 10/06/2012 19:58

As far as I know no actual pass mark - just take the top 100 or so iyswim.
Is he doing the actual 11+ level rather than the prep ones for younger kids? My DS1 was averaging 90 on these around when he took the actual test (depending on what mood he was in and how hard he tried!) and he was fine. DS2 currently getting 85 - 90 on the 10-11 age ones and about to move on to the 11+.
Both mine are top of class at state primary and I thought they had minimal chance as RGS so hugely academic. I was pleasantly surprised by DS1, so fingers crossed for DS2!

Original poster
Peppin · 07/06/2012 15:54

So... I got some Bond 11+ stuff and got DS to have a stab at some questions. Now I am wondering how to tell whether he will be the required standard for RGS. He is at the top of his class in his state primary but I am well aware that RGS is very academic and the standard may be far higher.

DS has not done any 11+ work before this week and seems to be around the 85% mark, which he thinks is amazing of course, but I'm aware that at grammar schools most kids get 100% to get in and so am worrying that 85% will not be enough. Obviously we can do a bit of practice but I don't want to coach him up really, as I think either he needs to be able to do it, or we look at other schools rather than get him in there and then find him lagging.

Does anyone know what sort of pass mark is a "pass" for RGS?

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capsulemum · 24/05/2012 10:49

Hi AliceInSandwichLand,

Your information helps me a lot. Thank you so much for your kind advice.

Many thanks!

AliceInSandwichLand · 23/05/2012 22:51

Hi capsulemum,

My daughters did go to prep school, which did do some preparation work with them for entrance exams. The entrance exam consists (or did in my day, and I've not heard it's changed) of English and Maths papers, both of one hour, plus the interview. The English paper is a formal comprehension, from a text of the sort of level of "Tom's Midnight Garden" (the only example I can remember) plus a piece of free writing from a choice of several titles. The maths is an 11 plus sort of thing, starting with very simple questions on multiplication etc, and working up to quite complicated "thinking" problems. Lots of stuff like calculating the area of a garden and how much of it is made of flower beds, or how many matches you would need to repeat a certain pattern five more times, that sort of thing. The various commercial 11+ test papers would be a useful resource for you to look at, although perhaps not quite the same.

The interview is nothing to worry about, really just a chat to get to know the girls. I am sure they are well aware of the differences in preparation from different schools, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. I don't know how many people go for tutors - we certainly didn't - but I do however know a really good maths tutor (she's a close friend), north of Guildford - let me know if you want more info. I think the main thing would be to get her to practice working to time, so that the exam doesn't faze her too much, and to practice that sort of maths question a bit so she knows what to expect. Hope this helps a bit.

capsulemum · 23/05/2012 14:03

Hello AliceInSandwichLand,

May I ask you about GHS 11+ entrance exam please? I have one DD and thinking about sending her to GHS. I have heard that the exam is tough. Could you please advise me what preparation I should do with her? My DD is currently at the state primary school (Y4). Although she is very good at school, I'm worried that the standard of her school might not be enough for her to pass GHS tests. Were both of you DDs in prep school before GHS? Do you recommend any tuition? Thanks for your help.

Original poster
Peppin · 21/05/2012 17:18

Thanks sharonss. I have got some Bond stuff and literally just started getting him to look at it. It is mainly the verbal reasoning. I must say, without doing a bit of practice first, I wouldn't fancy my own chances of completing a paper in time.

I think the main thing though is just getting him used to the concept of doing a timed paper, which is something he's never had to do.

I feel more anxious for my child than I remember feeling when I did the 11+ myself!

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sharonsss · 21/05/2012 15:37

Peppin my son's at RGS. He was at a state primary school and did not have any tutoring for the 11+. I did buy a pack of the Bond 11+ papers, and I did manage to get him to have a go at one verbal reasoning test - he's a typical boy as far as only wanting to put in the minimum effort! So, if your son is happy to do some practise, then fantastic, but don't panic if he doesn't do much - he should be at the right level for English & Maths from what they teach at state primary, so it is only the verbal reasoning that he won't have practised at school.

IvySquirrel · 12/05/2012 17:06

Agree with pagwatch, not everyone tutors. We just made sure DS knew what to expect by doing the Bond practice papers at home, particularly in VR as he had not come across that before. As he was at state school no preparation at school at all. It's true that RGS is not at all keen on intensive tutoring and will spot it.
The interview on the exam day was with another boy and a couple of teachers and took the form of a chat about hobbies etc.- they had to fill in a card beforehand with the hobbies & interests on it.

They do their best to make the exam as non-daunting as possible. My DS had never done anything like it before and was fine. I was more worried than he was, especially when I overheard some mums at the beginning of the day discussing their surprise that the maths paper was only an hour as their boys had been doing 2 hour papers at their prep!

gettingalifenow · 10/05/2012 08:33

When my DS was there, they would get a boy from your school to show you around, which was a friendly touch...

As I recall, the interview Pagwatch is talking about is on the exam day. And I think I remember that my DS just had a chat with a teacher, with one other boy too, so not even one to one. But that may be different now....

Original poster
Peppin · 09/05/2012 23:01

Thanks again pagwatch. I will ask when we visit.

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Pagwatch · 09/05/2012 14:10

I would ask.
I would expect the visit tour will be conducted by a boy from the school. You will then probably meet the head or one of the deputies. Ask them. You/he will be one of many in the same position. Ask them what they recommend.

Pagwatch · 09/05/2012 14:07

Grin talking about his fav ps3 game is fine.

Pagwatch · 09/05/2012 14:05

No. Actually that's not right.
All the boys get interviewed once. Ds1 was accepted immediately.
A third get accepted immediately. A third get rejected immediately. The middle third come back for further testing and another interview.

Original poster
Peppin · 09/05/2012 14:01

Thanks pagwatch, that's good to hear. I had understood that RGS don't interview all boys but only the ones who they're unsure about on the basis of the exam results alone. Is that right?

I think DS would be OK in an interview as he can talk for England and has a range of kooky interests (though I'd hope he wouldn't get started on his favourite conversational topic: his favourite PS3 games...).

We're visiting the school next month. Will they talk to DS about the exam at all then? He is quite apprehensive about doing an exam as so far in his education, he has never had to do any exams.

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Pagwatch · 09/05/2012 13:10

Auto correct aplenty in there... [sigh]

Pagwatch · 09/05/2012 13:09

No. Not everyone does!

Ds1 went to a prep school but had changed school a couple of times so was not scrupulously prepared.
The school hate boys being tutored. They try to ensure that they spot - talking around subjects, throwing random subjects in interview all factor in to spot over coached boys. Be very careful not to make up fancy shit for his interests. They will ask and will view a child who talks with great gusto about his collection of Marvel characters than a child who claims to love reading and museums. If they do, great. But the teachers kniw boys inside out. Don't try and pretend to be anything you and he are not

For ds1s interview he was asked about himself, his home, his brothers autism and the MMR.

Make sure your choked understands what will happen. But too much prep could back fire massively. Especially as the new Head is keen to get the number of state school entries up.

Original poster
Peppin · 09/05/2012 12:58

Coming back to this... how much preparation for 11+ goes on at RGS? Bearing in mind DS is at a state primary he has had no preparation for an 11+-type exam yet. I know RGS says they prefer parents not to prepare boys for the exam but I bet everyone does, right?

Although DS works 2 or 3 "bands" above his year group for literacy and numeracy, he's not familiar with the format of an 11+ test and in particular has no experience (so far) of verbal reasoning.

Should I start tutoring him now?

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mummytime · 26/04/2012 08:02

There are plenty of boys at RGS from State schools, he does need to be good at Maths (or at least that is the reason given for Lanesborough boys not going there but to St John's instead).
I know fewer state school girls going to GHS, but that is because the girls tend to disperse more widely: GHS, Tormead, St Catz, St Theresa's, Manor House, Priorsfield, Farnborough Hill and the one in Chertsey.

AliceInSandwichLand · 25/04/2012 22:38

Agree that they are not "posh" - in the sixth form GHS and RGS socialise with each other, while St Cats socialise with Eton, in comparison (supposedly).
You don't need verbal reasoning for GHS, unless they change it - just English and Maths papers - the English is a comprehension and a piece of creative writing, the Maths is a paper with progressively harder questions but starting with some v easy ones - and they also interview them all - not looking for the "right" answers but just trying to get a feel for their personalities - my DD1 was asked to talk about a scene on a Christmas card and asked what she did at home (to which she apparently made up a complete lie about wholesome bike rides with her sister, which she would actually have regarded as a fate worse than death, because she thought it would sound better - not sure if that was the right path to take, but she got in, anyway!)

Original poster
Peppin · 25/04/2012 18:16

Thanks all. Have arranged visit and will take DS along. We will definitely be in the significantly-less-well-off category so it is reassuring to hear that we won't be alone!

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IvySquirrel · 25/04/2012 16:54

Agree with mummytime - they are so not posh! Yes there are boys with considerably more disposable income and bigger houses than us, but this is not at all a problem.

They don't have that 'public school sheen' but they do become more confident and articulate, which we wanted for DS.

mummytime · 25/04/2012 06:56

They aren't posh schools! Full of quite normal if bright kids. Actually girls at Tormead which I would considered slightly posher thought my DD was posh because she goes to the local Comp (I think its because you tend to live in the richer areas to go to the Comp, or poorer areas and scrimp for the Independents).
Get them to look around. There are also lots of alternatives for your DD if GHS isn't right for her, it is trickier for boys.

racingheart · 24/04/2012 23:08

Peppin - get him to go and visit the school. We've looked at lots of schools, and of them all, RGS is the least 'posho' school we saw. As one mum I know said, who has two boys there: 'They're just normal, lovely boys. They don't have that public school sheen rubbed onto on them.' That's true.