RGS Guildford entrance 2013

[BleakSpouse]

Anybody know if any rejection / second interview letters have yet been received?

[Amber2]

JoanByers

Thanks for the links to RGS website ...yes i saw those but was surprised at the very low number to US and then even no details about which US univs. I woould have thought some aiming for Oxbridge would also be aiming for Ivy League

On the extra curruculars again I wondered, if they do really focus on those or teh acadmeics is really the thing and everything is geared to exam results

[JoanByers]

Wellington is very expensive and from what I can see full of hot air.

For instance they claim that 97% of IB and 80% of A Level students went to their 1st choice university. www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/2279/school-life/leavers-destinations

They also claim 'strong links with a number of Oxbridge Colleges'.

This is bullshit.

Their 'Oxbridge and Ivy League' page says:

www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/2278/school-life/oxbridge-and-ivy-league

" A number of students have gone on to American Universities over the last five years and 15 members of the current U6th have chosen this particular route. "

Again this is bullshit.

An 'American University' could be anything from West Topeka Bible College to Harvard and Yale.

Reading between the lines "Wellington?s Oxbridge entrance performance is rising along with the College?s wider academic improvement ? there has never been a better time to aim for Oxbridge from Wellington College."

means 'We don't send as many students to Oxbridge as many local competitors, so we won't publish that data until such time (if ever) as we do'.

[Pagwatch]

Amber
My son has left RGS and is now at uni.

Yes, the school has a strong range of after school activities. Music is strong along with sport plus there are many societies. The boys join cadets or DofE for school on monday. Drama and art is strong too.

Ds never came home at 4.00 to my knowledge and had clubs at lunchtimes too.

The boys receive support re ivy league applications if they are interested. Not many in ds1s year were.

[Amber2]

yes, JoanByers I am trying to separate the PR from the reality...but W are making a big push of the US links seems and promoting special advisers and SATS help ...while there is nothing at all on RGS site it seems aprt from that one table which shows only one going there ...I am looking at both as day possibly ...on the one hand RGS does all the maths and chemistry Olympiads It also notably does IGSE Maths a year early for a select bunch (which would suit DS), On the other hand he likes English and other artsy type things just concerned that RGS may be too single track on the academic front. W seems to be pushing the Arts much more and the whole holistic view of education ...I like the sound of the vaunted ethos ...but just wonder if the reality reflects that ...the results are not up there yet and look decidely second tier, but again they are more poplulat now so may work its way through based on increased selctivity , stiff competition for both so I am not making any assumptions. Must admit, the W campus is impressive but seemed a bit soulless somehow...a bit too much shine...and may be a bit too "Bedales" for DS who is not that self promoting type, but I can't put my finger on it and I may be wrong. Also, yes, for a value for money front seems RGS is better based on exam results alone. I guess W will say, we will educate the whole person and that will make them much better equipped for the future. RGS seems more decidedly middle class and W more for rich kids, but that's that's just an impression.

[Amber2]

Thanks Pagwatch

That feedback is reassuring ..

[mummytime]

I know lots of great Arts teachers at RGS, and their History department seem inspiring (from the view point of Primary school pupils who go there to study the Tudors).
Wellington does "host" a lot of Uni overseas events, but these don't seem to be exclusively for its own pupils (I have received an invite). If you are going to look at Ivy League then I would look at the Fulbright commission for support, and definitely attend their college fairs.

Btw the two Wellington boys I knew went to Hull and Durham.

[Pagwatch]

Ds1 did English art maths and Latin.

He loved every minute in the art dept. he was in the rugby and cricket teams too. The jock/geek culture was better there than most school. He happily flitted between them all

[Amber2]

Pagwatch, those are all my DS favourite subjects too along with DT. I did hear RGS was strong on Art and I can see him loving that ..He is neither a jock or a geek ...but is quirky for sure..just cautious about forcing him down a geek path by ignoring the rest and focussing single track on the maths as too early to say where his interest will lie a few years down the line ...I used to be excellent at maths at primary then lost interest a bit at secondary and ended up doing an Arts degree but if he did decide to pursue the maths or science to uni...looks like RGS has an excellent maths and science dept.

[JoanByers]

Oh it's clear that Wellington is geared up to deal with US universities and the RGS is not. That much at least is not bullshit.

The RGS is very much a school for maths/science geeks, out of 497 A Levels sat last year:

www.rgs-guildford.co.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=A2+Results+2012&pid=472

121 Science
135 Maths
44 Economics
4 Electronics

So over half of all A Levels were Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and I believe only 1 boy didn't take Maths A Level out of the whole year.

There are definitely less-science-obsessed day boys schools out there, if that's what you want, compare Hampton for size:

www.hamptonschool.org.uk/The-School/Academic/Exam-Results/Results-Table/A-Level-Results-2011-(1).aspx

[Amber2]

JoanByers

Yep that's pretty skewed to say the least. I guess you can go to RGS (difficult to know if DS will end up a geek and being great at maths now is a whole different ball game at A level or uni), and if you want to have a shot at getting an offer for Maths at Cambridge, then RGS is as good a place as any, and if you don't want to be a geek at all, you can always go elsewhere for sixth form.

Hampton not really feasible commute wise, so not looking at it and don't think I'd move for it ...

[JoanByers]

If you want to do Maths at Cambridge, RGS is clearly a great deal better than most.

www.rgs-guildford.co.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=Oxbridge+Offers&pid=510

www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Education/article1156765.ece

Real achievement in maths requires that you leave the GCSE & A Level syllabuses far behind.

[pecky4eyes]

My DS has just received his letter today asking to return for a maths interview. Does anybody know what he will have to do?

[Labro]

Does anybody know if the 'no' letters have been sent out yet.
Also, odd question, do they send the letters to the boys address?! Ex husband has different address to myself and ds, they will notice this and not send anything to him won't they????

[IvySquirrel]

Amber2
It is true that RGS is very strong at maths, (and in fact I think everyone sits Maths IGCSE a year early), but there is definitely strength in other areas as well.
When my DS1 started I would have said that he would be a maths/science geek, but actually he has enjoyed Art, DT, Spanish & Drama most. He recently announced that he would not be a 'sixth form double maths boy'!
Having said that I actually think that Maths is a useful A level for most people (my niece has Maths A level and has gone on to study Dance at Uni), and I believe the government are planning to make some sort of maths compulsory to 18. What pagwatch's DS did for A level seems fairly typical AFAIK.
There is plenty of extra-curricular stuff at lunch and after school - my DS is not particularly sporty but has had a go at shooting and cricket. He also got involved with drama, and a couple of other clubs. I'm expecting lots more extra-curricular stuff from year 9 onwards, with Monday 8/D of E - he loves outdoor pursuits type stuff as he has done lots with scouts.
As he is only year 8 not sure about universities etc..I know a couple have gone to US universities recently but the focus is definitely on Oxbridge/RG unis. Having said that I'm sure that anyone wanting to go to US would be well advised & supported.

No post as yet for DS2.....waiting.......

[racingheart]

This is very interesting. When we looked around RGS it was the art and music depts that blew us away. Especially the art. Better taught there than any other school I've visited. Someone there really teaches them how to put paint on canvas and compose a picture. Lots of the other schools have very lively art but far weaker technique.
That made me think RGS would be a strong school for arts' candidates.
But perhaps Hampton would be better. Not sure DS would thrive in an environment which pushes boys towards the sciences.

[Jiddle]

Pecky4eyes the maths interview is as follows:

They have assessed from your DS' exam script which areas he found difficult. They will give him some more questions of the same type (e.g. if he struggled with fractions then there will be more, different, fractions questions) and will talk through them with him. If he can't do them then they will teach him how and then give him a further set to do alone, from which they will assess how easily he is able to learn.

Hope that helps. My DS has a maths interview too. Good luck!

[Amber2]

Thanks for all the insight ...and don't mean to hijack the thread which is about results.

And best of luck all of you ...and remember an interview is an opportunity, so well done to your DSs. You are all pretty brave posting on here.

Hope good news is on it's way soon Ivy Squirrel for DS2.

[Fayerfield]

Still nothing in the post! Good luck to those with interviews :)

[WorthTrying]

Nothing for us either as of yesterday's post. Must be straight in or straight out.... Role on the end of the week! Amber2 - I do feel brave (that must be the sick feeling in my stomach!) posting on here - hope it's good news for all us brave mums!

[racingheart]

Nothing here either. Don't know what to think... No instinct as to which way it went.

RGS mums, I'd be so grateful to hear a bit more about the humanities. Are they strong? Is it a myth that boys at RGS are coaxed towards the sciences? If they are far stronger in Humanities, is that seen as a softer option? Or less desirable?
how about music? If they are keen but not that advanced, what happens? Will they be cast aside in favour of the boy wonders who achieve Grade 8 in Yr 6, or can they contribute?

[pecky4eyes]

Thanks Jiddle for the advice! Back to the maths papers till Friday.........

A friend has received a NO letter today, so they are out!!

Good luck to all! x

[Labro]

Its a 'no' here - gutted :-(

[racingheart]

Labro, so sorry to hear that. Have you told DS yet or will you wait until all the results are in, so you can soften the bad news with the good?

Where else did you apply? Did you read that lovely post by a Reeds teacher saying they were delighted to be 2nd choice school after the very academic ones such as RGS, because they got some wonderful boys who'd just missed out?

[Labro]

There are no other results to wait for ;-(
It was for 13+ entry. He's registered to do some kind of test at Reeds in September, just feels upsetting at the moment. He doesn't know yet as the letter arrived during the day.

[IvySquirrel]

Good news here - DS2 has been invited to sit for scholarship papers next week!
So proud and pleased for him, I took the letter when I went to collect him from school & he was ecstatic.

So sorry to hear it was a no for you labro, I really hope you find the right place for your DS.

Best of luck to those still waiting.