RGS Guildford entrance 2013

[BleakSpouse]

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

[Amber2]

Mummytime I did wonder if the two other schools I had spoken to gave that view because they did not want to upset the prep schools going up to 13 who regularly send a clutch of boys there

[JoanByers]

For me the senior school facilities are much better than prep school facilities. E.g., far more clubs, and I think better-qualified staff, although I am not sure if this is significant.

However, we chose to apply for 13+ because our son is quite immature and would be more comfortable staying in his cosy prep school rather than going to a senior school with 18-year-old adult students.

Our EP also confirmed this - she said she thought it would be better for him to stay where is until 13.

As Amber2 implies, there may be an issue with schools declining borderline 11+ candidates from to-13 prep schools on the basis that they don't want to piss off the prep school by poaching all their kids after Y6. I'm not sure if RGS do this though. I did notice one local prep school's list of suggested senior schools didn't even list RGS as an option, and this is possibly a cause.

In any case I think 13+ tends to be slightly less competitive in terms of numbers to places.

One other factor that we considered was that we felt that the 13+ entry should segue more smoothly from the prep school curriculum, whereas the 11+ entry would be geared towards state school entrants.

Overall if your child is ready, I would definitely start at 11. But ours I think is not.

[Amber2]

Actually JB without naming my DS prep school, I woud say the onsite facilities and acres of green space on site are significantly better than many senior schools and range of sports/activities on site are huge (some free as chosen activities, some paid for after school). But I agree, it may be subjective but I think my own DS could so with 2 more years at his cosy prep school and he will benefit from the maturity that that brings him. I believe at RGS the numbers game is the same for 11+ and 13+ as only (50) half the places are at 13+ and remember for entry at 13+ you have an additional hurdle of 70% at CE which adds uncertainty, so I don't think that makes entry at 13+ easier

[JoanByers]

It was 65% when people applied this year! Bit cheeky changing it IMO. There is at least no hurdle (minimum 60% in any particular subject say).

There are papers in:

English
French
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics

plus "The RGS would expect the majority of boys to offer Geography, History and Religious Studies and would welcome Classical Greek, German, Latin and Spanish."

I'm not really sure what this means, or why you would choose to do extra exams if you don't have to, but I hope that my son's strength in maths/science will carry the day, but I will speak to his school about this.

It must make it easier to slot the boys into the appropriate sets when they start in Y9, when you have grades in all these subjects.

As for facilities, it does depend on the school, however on the whole private senior schools have more opportunities (through being larger if nothing else) than private prep schools

[racingheart]

Is anyone else finding the wait a little bit trying?

[pecky4eyes]

Yes - I am going crazy, looking at the front door every day!!

[harrison1999purple]

Amber2
My DS had to leave in Y6, so it was a don deal for us. Having never been in the Prep School to 13 culture, it was difficult for me to understand why you would want your son to stay until 13. However, I know of a boy who, although he was Head Boy at a local Prep at 13, he would still have preferred to join RGS at 11 for the reasons I previously stated.
I guess it is horses for courses, and if your son is happy keep him where he is!
I do know that they grow up quickly when they go to Senior school because they have to! Travelling independently and organising themselves around music lessons within the school day, organising their own exeats for music or sporting events, makes them far more independent and self-confident.
I never meant to give the impression that they slacken off when they get into Year 1! It was a big challenge for my two to start Latin and French, and engulf themselves in the breadth of subjects in Year 1. However, I dont believe that when the boys join at 13+, there is anything between them in terms of capability. I think the GCSE results are testament to that....

[JoanByers]

I think the breadth of subjects at a prep school would be similar to RGS. Certainly prep school boys at 11 would have been studying French and Latin for several years already. That's why I said I think that the RGS curriculum would segue better from a prep school at 13 rather than 11, because by 13 the boys coming from state schools would have done 2 years of French, Latin, etc., rather than none at all.

I have heard from another parent that she would have preferred to have moved on at 11 rather than 13, but most boys do seem to stay on at prep til 13.

[Aboleyn]

Just a quick note to say that we got the nod from our headmaster that our son has indeed got a place for 11+ entry at RGS. So delighted! Now have to start thinking about getting him ready for independent train travel at 11, which I was trying not to think about!

[Lifeisontheup]

Congratulations to your DS Aboleyn. He will have a fabulous time there and the train journey will be fine, just practice in the summer holidays.

[Aboleyn]

thank you Lifeisontheup, can I just thank you and parents of chn at these schools that take the time to help the likes of me obsessing about the whole 11+ experience. Have found your comments v helpful.

[Amber2]

Great news for your DS Aboleyn, congrats ...you must be mighty relieved!

[trinity0097]

You have a very unprofessional Head Aboleyn! When schools are given the RGS results it is under a strict message of silence until the parents are told.

[JoanByers]

why do they tell them then?

[Fayerfield]

Not long until the letters arrive :)

[Fayerfield]

The YES letters are out! Got ours today :)

[surreygoldfish]

Yey....it's a yes (13+) here too.......so nice to finally have it in writing...congratulations all.

[Amber2]

I am just loitering without intent on this thread but well done to those with a yes ..

[ddas]

Congrats to all those with places & sorry for hijacking the thread- I have a 18 month ds so senior schools are quite a way off but are moving to Guildford and like probably many parents in the area will be trying for rgs when the time comes and when i saw this thread thought this may be the best place to get some info. Wanted to know if like many private schools there are 'feeder prep schools' into rgs or whether a substantial proportion of pupils have come from state primaries as well? Our primary if we go to the state sector is likely to be st Joseph's which I gather sends a lot of pupils to st Peters but do some go on to rgs?

[BlueStringPudding]

loitering too as am local with a younger DS - Congratulations to all with the lovely YES letters...

ddas - my DDs have some friends who went from state into RGS, including one who is a King's Scholar...

[Amber2]

surreygoldfish


Any advice with hindsight to someone with a DS who will take the pretest in Jan 14? (and am i completey mad to opt for DIY rather than any tutoring)?

Did you have any doubts at all about opting for 13+ entry vs 11+ entry?

[FillyPutty]

We got a No from RGS today (for 13+). They have said he can try again for 12+ however.

Quite annoying that they sent the letter so late TBH, but my DS is very excited, because he passed for Hampton, which he prefers anyway.

[FillyPutty]

Actually feel the RGS letter is a trifle rude, we sent them a 30-page EP report, and their reply reads:

"bearing in mind his performance in our entrance, examination, the impression he made at interview and the report we received from the head of his present school."

Obviously a standard letter, since no mention of the carefully written EP report, so you wonder why they didn't send out 3 weeks ago?

[Aboleyn]

Fillyputty, sorry to hear your news. We got our 11+ offer letter today, and even that was very brief and to the point, ESP considering how long we have waited for it - we got a much nicer offer letter from another school in the same post!

Fayerfield, that's great news! Are you 13+?

Fingers crossed for everyone else!

[racingheart]

Hi - yes letters here too!

Interesting you thought that about the letters too Aboleyn.

The Hampton letter was a lot more friendly than RGS. But DH said I must NOT use that as part of the decision making process. Probably right!

So do we start a thread on how to choose?

FillyPutty -maybe RGS didn't send out because he was on their shortlist. There must be a horrible cut off point for them where they have to let a few go who they'd like to offer to. But far more important: great news about Hampton. It's a great school, and if it was your DS's preferred school there'd be no contest anyway. (Maybe he told RGS that at interview!)