Wallington County grammar school v/s Royal Grammar School(RGS) Guildford

There are indeed lots of independent schools
for children who are not academic but RGS is not one of them.

It is also accessible only to those who are smart enough to get in and it is very over-subscribed.

Again it is not a general argument on private vs grammar.

I have not knowledge on the difficulty to get into these two schools. But just in the past 10 years WGCS A level result A*-B percentage is worse than RGS every year. So if your claim on grammar kids are naturally way way above RGS than the money seems to work to some extend.

The 11 plus is much more challenging than private school entrance exams. The scholarships offered to the very bright kids do no harm in bringing up the league table stats. That's the main reason they're given because it is a business. WGCS it's compulsory to do 4 A levels at 6th form. Some are doing 5. Grammar school kids are naturally academic- way way above average. With other schools you have a more varied set of abilities. Look at stats over periods longer than a year.

I don't know anyone who has directly compared RGS to WCGS, simply because of distance/travel time between them. My son is at WCGS, I'm really happy with the school, the pastoral and SEN support he's received has been fantastic, the school is great at communicating, he's settled and happy.

The school don't really offer football at all - they can choose it in games, but the main sport is rugby, which everyone plays to some degree.

So the national exam results is just marketing?

You state RGS required less "smart" kids to get in compared to WCGS, with worse prior attainment but achieve better GCSE/A level results it is clear it had a better progress 8 for RGS according to your statement.

Don't get me wrong about good or bad on private and state schools, it is not a general topic but specific to these two schools it is difficult to convince your point with the hard facts or evidence.

Marketing. Marketing. Marketing. What are the Progress 8 scores? That's what measures the impact of the teaching on the pupils performance irrespective of ability. There are good private schools don't get me wrong. I went to one. But they're not all el decades just because you're spending a lot of money. My school was full of damaged unhappy kids. I would never do my child the disservice of sending him or her to a school that makes them end up speaking like Jacob Rees Mogg. What a terrible disadvantage in this day and age!

Well if ur statement is true then apprently the money can buy better grades at least.

WGCS is only free if smart enough to get in😆. There are many fee paying schools for less academic children. RGS is one of them. Money doesn't buy everything.

"Only free if you're smart enough to get in- 😆Loads of private schools out there for wealthy parents with children who are not so academically inclined."

In the context of OP's 2 school in comparison, is RGS much earsier to get into than WCGS?

If it is and use the difficulty of get into as a measure of "smart" prior entry to school. Then RGS over 50% A* level result definitely shows the power of money compared to WCGS 14% in the latest year?

Only free if you're smart enough to get in- 😆Loads of private schools out there for wealthy parents with children who are not so academically inclined. From my experience- I was sent to a 40k @ year boarding school- of all my friends (which I have till date) not one has sent any of their kids to private school. Not for lack of funds. I was different and sent my DD to a private school - day school- up until GCSEs. But at the first opportunity-after very successful GCSEs - she did her 6th form at a solid Grammar. The teaching was just so much better. Best move in her case. Private had its good points definitely- but too much effort in pretentious packaging that just seems irrelevant outside of very limited circles. It is a great business model though! But each to their own.😊

Actually, I see you say money isn’t an issue. We’ll go private. Keep the grammar for a child who can’t afford private fees, that was the intention of grammars. But in answer to your question, absolutely everything about the facilities will be way superior at private since there is just way more cash. So the football opportunities will be better. Ditto academic facilities, like lab space. Academically, pupils gets way more support in a private too, versus a state grammar, or at least that was my personal experience (of state grammar and academic private). It’s not fair, and there are undoubtedly exceptions to this “rule”, but it’s how things go. Ultimately, as a paying customer, you can demand and expect more from the private, for your child. There is no comparison between these two schools as a pp indicates,

One costs a lot of money to attend, and consequently has loads of excellent facilities. the other is free, and does not have loads of excellent facilities. Visit them both, but ONLY if you can afford the fees. Your child will almost certainly be seduced by the fee paying school, and the freebee will feel like a disappointment in comparison.

Too much sugar @ Whitgift @ RGS-- not real and something tells me they know but hey its good business. Not enough grit- there has to be the right amount of grit - IMOH (unless of course life path programmed already.

Wallington Boys is an excellent school. Brilliant academics and if your son is sporty it is a rugby school. Pastoral care is fantastic. Their 6th form is also highly sought after.

Come on now, you know I was comparing it to RGS not Raynes Park High or some other comp with a mixed rep. If you were considering RGS you are very unlikely to be happy with Wally Boys.

@omnishambles Can WCGS compete with a private school education. No. If you believe that WCGS is gritty then respectfully you have no idea what a gritty school is.

Well some don't @OnlyTheBravest I think that's the issue. I know first hand.

@PB1210 each of the Sutton Boys grammar schools have their own vibe. WCGS uses the same selection test as Sutton/Wilson.

I would not describe WCGS as 'gritty' or lacking 'inspiration'. Do the facilities compare to a private school? No, but can your DS receive a good education? Yes.

@PB1210 it was just the feeling around the school. Didn’t get the inspirational vibe and some teachers were new so I worried about staff turnover. But as I say, better to ask and get facts. Sorry don’t have much more than this. Good luck!

We looked at both as WGS is closer to us but I have to say, I was not convinced about their approach or the selection of students. I would take RGS hands down. Just my opinion though and I acknowledge my own biases here!

Well done to your son. To have passed WCGS and RGSG, he must be bright and have strong parental support - so can achieve highly whichever school he goes to. If you haven't yet, check out the virtual tour on WCGS's website.

@PB1210 , why don't you try the commute this weekend or consider where you would move to for RGS. DS travel quite a distance to the school so from towards Godalming and over to Esher etc.