Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

KCS, RGS or Hampton

84 replies

Esher2021 · 13/02/2021 17:06

I saw a few of us need to make choice between 2 or 3 of these schools. I thought a thread would be useful to see what people are thinking.

Looking at travel for us we prefer RGS and KCS - eventually I think public transport will be practical for both schools as DS get older. The trip from Hampton I think is more complicated.

We have a lovely s/s but it isn’t helping us separate the lovely schools. I think KCS looks like it has an edge for on school facilities but I’m not convinced DS is going to be too bothered.

Both are clearly academic but I have a nagging doubt that the pressure will be even higher (too high?) at KCS. Curriculum look very similar as do subjects offered.

KCS sports ground is closer for us. Think DS prefers RGS but only because that is the one in his head from when we started as DD is at school in Guildford. I think the academic scholarship at RGS will be great for his self confidence but I’m not sure there are any other benefits.

And that’s as about as far we got. Great to have a choice, and he has really done brilliantly. Wasn’t expecting it tbh.

And then I come full circle and wonder if I was rash to discount Hampton so quickly.

Where is everyone else’s heads?

OP posts:
Original poster
Esher2021 · 14/02/2021 12:30

Thanks - yes we just watched all the videos and read the website again. As DS said it doesn’t really help. We always liked the tours by a current student, I know that impression you get is defined by who you get for your tour but it makes the a difference when you try and imagine fit.

We might not be closer to making a choice, but we keep reminding ourselves we are lucky to be able to choose and it not be made for us.

OP posts:
Yossahughes · 14/02/2021 12:29

PS we are based in Esher/claygate so have a similar journey to the one you will have.

Yossahughes · 14/02/2021 12:26

We had this choice six years ago (for 13+ entry) and went with KCS and haven’t looked back. DS is now in 6th form and couldn’t be happier. He has a really great group of friends and while the academics results are truly excellent, not everyone is a genius - they are just really good at squeezing every bit of potential out of the boys. The culture is very “work hard/play hard” and I am constantly amazed at how many things DS has been involved with while still keeping on top of his work. They are a pretty competitive bunch and doing well academically is “cool” so we don’t really have to do much pushing (and he’s pretty lazy by nature so this has been fantastic). Another bonus is the addition of girls in the 6th form which I think is the perfect time to go co-Ed. Be prepared that your DS’ social life will revolve around Wimbledon though which is a bit of a hub whereas if you go to RGS if tends to be guildford. A few of DS’ friends have sisters at GHS and this doesn’t seem to be a problem from a logistical point of view as they all take the same train line. We rarely have to drive to the main school but we do have to pick up from the sports ground fairly frequently but they are actually easier to access than the RGS ground which involve driving through guildford town centre. It’s a lovely choice to have to make though as all three schools are excellent.

11Plus2022 · 14/02/2021 09:54

@Esher2021, I agree. If your DS has been awarded an RGS scholarship (well done!) then he is clearly very able. He is likely to do very well at all three, so it becomes about the school experience. And it’s so hard when you can’t visit the schools to see what they are like.

Original poster
Esher2021 · 13/02/2021 22:01

@11Plus2022 state, so can’t really help on the prep question. Also this year was very different so I’m not sure how much it helps?

I get the notch above statement based on league tables for KCS, but I wonder if it is really necessary when I look at what RGS/Hampton achieve.

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 13/02/2021 21:56

Mine are 26 and 22.
2 things are paramount: firstly the journey and secondly the child's wishes.
Can't speak highly enough of KCS. It was the local school and we chucked him in and he loved it but very alpha and very sporty.

Original poster
Esher2021 · 13/02/2021 21:54

@FlyingPandas that makes sense. Being able to walk to the stop is perfect, I think we are in a position of could walk to the station/bus but we will probably drop. In a way it is a bit difficult that for us that it is all about the same on a transport footing in terms of timing. It means I don’t think one is obvious, and for the same reason I think it means there is no obvious answer for having local friends.

I am loath to pick based on marketing material!

The league table clearly places KCS ahead but the schools do such a phenomenal job/have a great intake that I think it won’t actually make a difference for DS outcomes.

Lack of football - maybe swings away from RGS - but it isn’t a big thing as he will keep playing for his club side probably.

OP posts:
11Plus2022 · 13/02/2021 21:51

Hi, I’ve been lurking on the SW London boys thread, as DS will be going through this next year. RGS, Hampton and KCS are easily our top three at this stage, so hope you don’t mind me joining you.

@FlyingPandas, I had an interesting discussion with the Hamptons admission team recently at a virtual open evening organised by our prep. Basically, they said they see themselves and RGS as very much on a par. They suggested that if we are much closer to RGS then it wasn’t worth even applying to Hamptons!

I do think KCS is academically a notch above the other two - certainly from a league table perspective. The other big difference is the ability to do IB for sixth form. But it’s hard to know whether that is something that would matter in the future. I have two older DC, and with the benefit of hindsight IB would have really suited one of them. @Esher2021

Older DC went straight through from junior to senior school, so we haven’t actually been through the 11plus process. A quick question if that is okay - were your DSs at a prep school, and how much did you do with them in addition to what the prep school did? I’m trying to work out how much I need to do with DS now.

@Esher2021, we may well have DDs at the same school!

FlyingPandas · 13/02/2021 20:26

Thank you @Esher2021, a great idea.

We are deliberating between Hampton and RGS. To be absolutely honest, I think any of these schools will be amazing, academically and in terms of extra curricular opportunities. But to quote someone on one of the 11+ threads - if all seems more or less equal between schools, go with the one that has the easiest journey! I don't think you can underestimate the difference that will make to the DC. They are the ones who have to do that daily journey, after all.

So for us, on that basis, it has to be Hampton. To get to RGS, DS would have to do a 45 minute walk to the station (or more realistically, let's face it, get a lift from mum or dad!), then get the train to Guildford, then walk the further 20 minutes or so to RGS. And then the same in reverse.

Alternatively, one of the Hampton/LEH school buses literally goes from a stop 5 minutes away from our house Grin.

I've read all the advice on the different threads and I know that there is an argument for public transport being ultimately more flexible and giving DC a broader 'life experience' than a school bus - but our family reality is that DH and I both work, and have to juggle the school/college/extra curricular needs of three DC. The attraction of DS being able to walk to and from the school bus stop independently is worth it on balance compared to the RGS train faff consideration. Not just because I feel he'll be more reliant on parental lifts to and from the station if he goes to RGS, but because the Hampton journey will be far less tiring for him.