KCS, RGS or Hampton

@Esher2021 thanks for starting this thread. Though it was in 2021 but really useful to go through all the parents opinions here in this thread.. I am pretty much in the same situation but in 2023 :-)

My DS got offers from both Hampton and RGS. Honestly DS likes Hampton as a whole school plus his cricket friends ( Part of Esher Cricket Club) goes will be going to Hamptons. Life is like such that , whatever we like comes with challenges.
Since we are in Fleet, Hampton means a travel challenge. No direct train and car drop n pick up ( off peak 40 mins on M3 ) but cannot rely on M3 traffic honestly..so our only option is to leave behind 13 years of living experience, friends etc and move to close by to Hampton.. This move is gonna expensive.

RGS also involves travel ( 20 mins train .. roughly 40 mins door to door ) and many of his current school friends and his seniors catch train however we don't need to move from the area we all loved.

So by going through this thread, I am sensing that both schools are almost similar in academics, sports ( though fecilities and setup are bit different) unless things have changed in these two years otherwise so choosing RGS would be a right choice.

Thanks everyone.🙏

@Iamsososoexcited he has a chance with those CAT scores.. however it all depends on the day and if you want your son to sit 3 or 4 different papers - or have the schools kept with last years ISEB exam format?

I don't think you should worry about CAT scores - it's really about how the boy does on the day.
My son got CAT scores in mid-130 for all four subjects and had a 10plus offer at Hampton - we turned it down btw. He also had Tiffin. Also turned down.

Thanks @Nearlythattime that is great to know! Fingers crossed.

@Iamsososoexcited ds did 10+ at Hampton and was successful. He had end of Y5 CATs of 137/132/128/128 QR/VR/NVR/SR. Your son’s results sound strong.

We are applying for KCS and LU.

Do you think a lot of emphasis is placed on CATs then?

Sorry, no help at all. My son came from a state school so no idea about CAT scores. Good luck this year! 🤞

Hi everyone, I know this is an old thread, but we are just starting the 11+ this year as DS is in year 6.

As you all had many offers to KCS, Hampton, RGS, I don’t suppose you could share your boys’ CAT scores? Our DS just got a 134 in verbal and a 130 overall. I am wondering if these result put him in the mix for these schools. Did you get scores above these?

Thanks so much for your help.

I think there is a real ‘train camaraderie’ on the Guildford line (and on any other lines where dc travel to school). And the older ones look out for the newbies too. A friend with older DC at RGS told me that one day when her DS was in y7 the London road station was shut for some reason (can’t remember why) so all the RGS boys had to get off at Guildford and walk. Quite daunting for the younger ones who didn’t normally use that route. But the older ones went up and down Guildford station platform shouting ‘anyone for RGS, follow us!’ and basically shepherded all the y7s and y8s in the right direction and made sure they were all ok. Love that story, makes you feel like there’s something in your eye

Thanks @Pyrfwondering - very reassuring :)

Solo public transport is something that can be trialled over the summer holidays. My DS bumped into one of his (now) friends on one of the trial journeys [friend travels from Walton on Thames]. By week 2 everyone knows which carriage to find their friends in 😁

@Esher2021 will your son be going by train - i'm guessing from Esher?! Bit nervous about solo public transport at 11, but sure it will be fine :)

Oh that’s great news - I’m sure DS will have a fab time.

I know what you mean about feeling reluctant to let the state option go though. We didn’t do Tiffin, but our state comp allocation is highly regarded and gets great results and I felt a pang letting that go too.

Good to have decisions made though! I’m sure once they all settle and get started we won’t look back (other than with relief that we survived the madness of 11+ during a global pandemic).

Thank you @Jumpalicious! Have you decided to go with KCS or Tiffin?

Exciting times for our DC now...hopefully they can start to look forward to starting their new schools

@Motherdare what did you choose in the end?

@Esher2021 that’s great news. So pleased you have a decision you are all happy with and I’m sure your DS will have a fabulous time there.

As I’ve said on other threads, we have decided in favour of Hampton - we are nearer, it’s an easier journey but is also DS’s clear favourite out of the two by a mile so just made sense for us.

As you say, you can’t really go wrong with any of the schools, our boys have all done incredibly well and I am sure will have a great time wherever they go. What a year hey?

Good luck to everyone who is still to make a decision

Squiggles as a current patent, could I ask what the general view is on the merging of the top end of prep with the senior lower school? So effectively ending the junior school at Y6 and starting in the main school two years earlier. Has it gone down well?

We have an offer and I have to admit I didn’t know anything of this change. We went to an open day a year ago and they didn’t mention it.