RGS Guildford

Lucky you lolakins. Have spent the last hour loitering around the house aimlessly. Can't concentrate on anything. I think I should just leave the house for a few hours!!

At work now, so blissfully unaware of anything landing on the mat!

I think we are all getting distracted from the main point of this thread which is that tomorrow may be D Day! Good luck to everyone!

"Gosh are all those schools co-ed? I just assumed Wellington and Epsom were both boys' schools."

Well there you are - you see my point now? Nearly all boys schools have gone co-ed but nearly all girls schools have stayed single sex, resulting in a huge imbalance in places.

"There is Charterhouse. That's not co-ed is it?"

No, but it has no 11+ entry and I stopped at Guildford . That reminds me, I meant to put St Cats x 2 for girls (Bramley and Teddington).

"And there are all the Sutton grammars - Wallington, Sutton and Wilson's as well as Tiffin - all super selective boys' only state schools."

I was only talking about independents, the situation in the state sector is in some catchments even worse but these are all local problems, the competition for independent places for boys covers the whole area.

"What about Dulwich College? Too far East?"

Not really possible for most in SW London/NE Surrey.

Gosh are all those schools co-ed? I just assumed Wellington and Epsom were both boys' schools.

There is Charterhouse. That's not co-ed is it? And there are all the Sutton grammars - Wallington, Sutton and Wilson's as well as Tiffin - all super selective boys' only state schools.

What about Dulwich College? Too far East?

They are all co-ed Longsuffering2. My point was that there are thousands more places in independent senior schools in SW London/North Surrey for 11 year old girls than there are for boys, schools that have places for both don't affect that imbalance.

.....there is also Claremont, Box Hill, St George's College, Epsom College, St Johns, Wellington College, Cranleigh, and Tiffin for the boys - to name a few....not saying boys are spoiled 'cos they're not but there is a lack of middle-tier day schools for boys. I am seeing friends considering boarding - not because they really want that, but because they don't have much choice if they want to remain in the independent system. That seems tough, as not everyone has the money - us included.

"Never had such issues with DD who is as cool asa cucumber."

Girls have got GHS, Tormead, St. Teresa's, Manor House, Greenacre, Sir William Perkins, Notre Dame, LEH, St. Catherines, Marymount, Surbiton Sutton Wimbledon and Putney Highs (more?) all to themselves.

Boys have RGS, KCS, Halliford, Hampton, Reeds and Ewell Castle.

Hang in there Lolakins. I'm seeing alot of strained faces down at school - not to mention my own. Reeds have sent out their offer letters today - I am a bit surprised as I thought (according to Hampton website) that local schools agreed offers not posted until Thursday 13th to avoid 'cherry-picking' candidates. Perpective not easy to have when fundamentally there is a desperate shortage of places in the area. It is tough. My poor DS has had serious sleep issues since October and virtually no sleep night before each and every pre-test. Never had such issues with DD who is as cool asa cucumber.

They implied Friday but I would not rely on that at all. Indeed I'm sure they prefer them to land on Saturday as it prevents an instant wave of pleading phone calls (been there!) and gives disappointed parents 48 hours to cool down and accept the verdict!!

Yes, but at the moment they seem uber important! So are the no letters coming on Friday or on Saturday? Janeypal please clarify!

aah...one day you will look back and think these things are not as life changing as we fear...when i think of GCSEs...i can't even recall the last time I bothered to put those on a CV or even A levels...just stick to including the degree now, the post grad qualifications and extensive professional work experience...

Thanks Lolakins. Bottle was intended to drown sorrows or at least celebrate having survived this week.

I wouldn't start celebrating on Friday night, even if you receive no letter Longsuffering2! What if the post was simply delayed???

..you'd think in this economic climate with significant hikes in private fees over the years, applicant numbers would be down vs places but no...seems to be a flight to quality in terms of education and applications to decent senior schools are at record highs in most cases....

No...I'm sure they'll be swamped just manning the phone-line and marking.....I'm impressed by all those cool cucumbers out there, we did this with DD a few years ago and all worked out fine - I was a wreck back then and feel even worse now. Am feeling than an offer - any offer from anywhere for poor DS would be just great! Am going to stick a bottle in the fridge ready for Friday night - good plan either way.

i also wonder if the admissions folk read these posts and are bemused at the nervous speculation...

I think I am correct ...it's a strange process but I suppose there must be a logic to it ....it's just ironic waiting to not see the postman bringing anything this week as is the poor man/woman is a harbinger of doom!...Soon we may be into the posts on whether it is a fat letter or a thin one and if you can tell for the few nerve wracking seconds before you open it ....

Thanks for reassuring logic Nibs.....I hadn't thought of that!

So if you are waiting better that a letter from RGS does NOT arrive this week...because if it does it is unfortunately going to be a No...

Hi Janeypal - thanks so much for that info. Does 'out on Friday' mean hitting the mat then? Or are they posting them on Friday? I know they've done exactly as they said, but waiting is sooo hard.

Hi!

I had a long chat with the admissions tutor this week.

What I gleaned was.....

No's should be out for Friday (though second interviews no' scone later so beware!)
This third, third, third thing is well off the mark. You'd have to be well in the top half to get an interview
So.....no news is still likely to be bad news given the odds unfortunately!
Implied less being interviewed now so better chance of getting in if you did one
And it's true what the head said on the day - many boys go through interview so worry not about coping there!

Jx

or on that topic...why Hampton over RGS or vice versa (apart from reasons like logistics)..just curious as I don't know either school well apart from looking at both of them.

do you think many would reject Hampton for Tiffin or is it not sometimes the other way round? If so why (apart from the obvious for choosing Tiffin - that one is free)...if you did or would, what had Hampton got over Tiffin? (facilities, sport, all roundedness?)