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Original poster

RGS Guildford 2018

380 replies

Rianna · 02/01/2018 14:11

I’ve had so much fun lurking on the entrance test threads in the last years - now it’s my son’s turn .
Still 10 days to go but I’m starting the thread .
Sitting a couple of other schools as well so maybe we could start a general ‘ Surrey entrance exams ‘ thread ( fun ;-)! )
DS ‘s first exam is in two days time .
He’s preparing himself by playing computer games . I let it go as I don’t believe in prepping children too much for these exams - . I just want him to be relaxed .

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Zam786 · 09/02/2018 16:48

From what I recall. Hamptons has good cricket and one of the former students went on to play for England - Zafar Ansari

Random2017 · 09/02/2018 17:14

Restlessdad Cricket is very strong at RGS as well. They do extra training this year 'winter nets' for the first years boys every Saturday PM so assume they will continue for the next intake. The RGS U12A team have beaten Hamptons in the last 4 years if that helps! Although Hamptons win all at U12 B and C level!

sazzy5 · 09/02/2018 17:19

We had the choice of the two schools last year restless. We chose RGS due to locality and spread of children, not meant came our our way. Both schools are fantastic. Sport at RGS is mikes better than we anticipated and they’ve definitely started doing more cricket wise in terms of winter training. Having said that I know sport is fab at Hampton too. The ability of the years will be mixed but they definitely love cricket, hockey and rugby. Good luck with your choice.

sazzy5 · 09/02/2018 17:21

Well done all that got in-you survived the process. Not it is your turn to choose! Btw the train is great my DS coped well and hasn’t forgotten anything. They see it as an opportunity to chat with friends.

Levante · 09/02/2018 17:59

Don’t know much about cricket at Hamptons but I hope Cricket is good at RGS as my son is a keen cricketer too! Re: Zafar Ansari -he also went to Cambridge. RGS has an old England cricketer as well as its alumni -Bob Willis! I know someone in the first year at RGS who attends the Saturday indoor sessions which I understand are coached by a member of the Surrey coaching squad. And also....the first reference to cricket dates back to RGS!

Levante · 09/02/2018 18:09

In 1597!

JandJMum · 09/02/2018 18:20

Well done everyone, great to share the joy here. DS got offers from both RGS and Hampton too for 11+, he is playing happily with his Lego at the moment. I prefer RGS but Hampton is hubby’s first choice. DS doesn’t mind either, he is not very sporty though.

JandJMum · 09/02/2018 18:35

With regards to the state grammar, DS is expecting an offer from Wilson’s too on 1 March. But I wouldn’t take it due to the distance.

restlessdad · 09/02/2018 21:20

Thanks all, the information is really helpful. We are planning to go to Hamptons and RGS on 23rd and 24th and that will hopefully help us decide.

Original poster
Rianna · 10/02/2018 06:32

Resrlessdad you could be in a worse position . There are various threads on Hampton vs RGS .
Personally I think they’re very sinilar schools ,both former state grammar schools . Hampton has a bus and a girls school next door , but then RGS teams up with girls schools too . Hampton is in a residential street a bit in a boring part of town , RGS is in town which I personally find a huge advantage . Not so much when they’re 11, but when they get to 15,16 they really appreciate the freedom and independence that comes with it ( going out for lunch or dinner with friends !).
Hampton has a bus but the train has been straightforward. My son left his PE kit only once on the train but as it was an RGS bag , the nice person who found it took it home and called the school .
On sport I can’t comment . So basically : very similar schools , biggest difference is the setting .

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Original poster
Rianna · 10/02/2018 06:57

Ps I’m over the moon ! Big brother very happy too . The boy himself (DS2 in mumsnettish) was very tired after school , could not seem to believe it . I’ve always pointed out the advantages of other schools as unsure if he would get in . So we give him a bit of space . He really likes Reeds and I do too , but I think RGS might suit him better even if he will have to live with some M ‘s on his report cards . He will enjoy the lessons as the teachers are generally very good . But in the end , if he really wants to go to Reeds it’s his choice .

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Shezmum · 12/02/2018 13:33

Finally our delayed post has arrived!! And it is a great news!!!!!, absolutely delighted - DS has been offered a place at RGS. Wishing the lovely mums here all the very best and thank you for all the support.

Satvik · 12/02/2018 17:08

Congratulations Shezmum! I can understand the excitement after a long uncertain wait!, Enjoy half term :-)

Levante · 12/02/2018 21:35

Well done! That must have been an anxious weekend!

Frazzledmumofboys · 12/02/2018 22:07

Congrats Shezmum!

Just had a thought, and would be grateful if any current RGS parents can advise....

Have realised that when we accept the offer, we will have to juggle an additional 4 weeks of holiday a year compared to the state school system. I have a job and limited holiday, so reality has just hit home!

Do RGS run any courses/clubs/camps to help deal with those extra weeks of holiday? The holiday clubs we normally use only run during the state school holidays. Help! What do other working parents do?

My DS is a youngster, and will only have just turned 11 when he starts, he is far too young to be left to fend for himself for at least a couple more years.

Any advice would be gratefully received! Thanks.

noodlechops8to11 · 12/02/2018 22:20

Congratulations to everyone who has received good news!!

We were delighted to receive an offer for RGS on Friday but am now feeling slightly gutted that our DS has decided he wants to go to St Georges instead.....

What would you do? We think that St George's is a good school but just not as great as RGS and think that RGS would probably suit our slightly quirky son better. I'm worried that if we try to persuade him against his wishes he'll either dig his heels in and want St Georges even more or worse still, will go to RGS and be miserable.

Help! Any advice welcomed please. Are there any families who have turned down an offer from RGS and think it was the right decision?

anthos · 12/02/2018 22:57

Noodlechops. We are in the same boat. Our decision is not St.Georges but Reeds. DS is rather sporty (yet academic) and Reeds is much closer, both of which impact our decision. RGS academic results are exceptional... so naturally there is a draw there for us, whereas Reeds is up and coming and in my book pastorally better (smaller, leafy, foundation places etc) and being more local = local friends.

Personally, I think your choice is based on distance to travel, co-ed versus all boys, extra curricular (St Georges does both quirky and sporty). Town based versus more leafy. I have tried to remove the 'academic draw' and tried to visualise where I think my DS would be happiest and thrive. A happy bright child will thrive wherever they are.

sazzy5 · 13/02/2018 07:39

Noodle please try and get some views on St George’s. A large number left the junior school last year to go to RGS due to the way the school is being run. I would hate for you to turn down RGS and then be disappointed. I wouldn’t worry about results your DS will do equally well at either school.maybe try and find out why your DS prefers the school?
Btw I don’t really know St G hence why I would advise to try and get some views on it.
Anthos I would totally agree distance is a big factor I wouldn’t want my DS having a long commute when they’re young. I really liked Reeds too and thought the Head was very approachable. It must improve academically as the 11+ is so competitive. It is a lovely much smaller school.

noodlechops8to11 · 13/02/2018 08:52

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm even more concerned now!!

My DS seems to prefer the more open, leafy setting of St G's and the more I talk to him about it, I think the more he is trying to come up with reasons why he doesn't want to go to RGS. He has even said he would prefer co-ed (despite having absolutely nothing to do with the girls at his prep school and actively avoiding them!)

I still think that RGS would be the better school for him but am really worried that he will feel we are forcing him to go to a school that he doesn't like.....then again, he is only 11, so I don't know how much he will be aware of what an amazing opportunity he will be passing up if we turn down his place at RGS.

Does anyone have any views on RGS vs St George's please?

cmjmama · 13/02/2018 09:39

my neice and nephew go to St Georges and their parents couldn't be happier with the school, it seems to offer opportunities to take part in everything to students of all abilities much more than RGS where there are some kids so good at certain things no one else ever gets a look in. A lot of the focus and effort goes into the very top tiers, I think someone here said that their top cricket team beat others but their b c d teams did really badly.
On the other hand I have been speaking to a lot of RGS parent and they have said that their boys are really happy, they work hard but there is so much variety in the extra curricular activities that they get some great experiences.
We are working on the idea that all of these school have the capacity to get the very top and best out of your children and they all want to get the very best out of your children so they will thrive anywhere academically. It comes down to the little things

jimcon · 13/02/2018 10:20

Hi guy's sorry for coming to this late. My DS has been accepted at RGS which we are delighted about and so is he. He is currently at St Georges and we've been delighted by the junior school. I've noticed a thread on here about the senior school. They have a new head mistress Rachel Owens who is very impressive and are in the process of spending £23m on a new activity centre which will be the first of it's kind in Europe. I make no bones about it it'll be amazing. In this particular year there is a strong group of girls who are very sporty and quite belligerent. They get away with it as they are National Hockey champions ( a wonderful achievement). The A level results have been really poor the last few years with no Oxbridge candidates last year (although 5 this year). This made our decision to opt for RGS as DS academic not sporty. Also he wants an all boys school. St G's will no doubt get better academically but their primary focus is sport. Year 6 was a particularly bright year this year and they offered 84 out of 88 places. So he competition for externals. Congrats for getting offers. Hope this helps.

VisitingGran · 13/02/2018 11:05

As some of the above may turn down their RGS place, just wondering why they don't have a waiting list. Or at least no-one's mentioned one.

Levante · 13/02/2018 12:00

I suspect they offer to more than they have places as they know some will choose another school. The offer letter did state to let them know by 5th March so that they can offer the place to another family if the answer was no to RGS so they may have a waiting list.

Random2017 · 13/02/2018 14:20

I don't think RGS have a waiting list. When we asked in previous years they said they didn't. They have a standard, and we have seen this, as the intake last year was high at c.125 whereas two years earlier it was c.96.

Original poster
Rianna · 13/02/2018 15:18

Congrats shezmum !!

Other mums : RGS does have sport . The reason I say I think it might be better suited to my non sporty son is that there doesn’t seem to be a stigma on not being sporty . The prep school where’s he’s now is very sporty and socially , it’s not ideal . So if Reeds attracts mostly sporty kids , my son might be a bit of an outsider . Otherwise I think Reeds is a great school , never heard a bad word about it.
My friend’s son who went to St. George’s I now at Cambridge and most people I know have been happy with the school . Heard some bullying stories but maybe that’s everywhere .

My son seems to have to get used to the idea of RGS - he never thought he would get in .
He told me it was about the train - I can bring him first term .he also thought it was far but my google map gives Reeds 15mibutes , RGS 21 - not a huge difference .
I think he does want to go in the end .
My husband started saying , but he hates maths . Ok but he is quite good at it and has to do it everywhere anyway . His brother found maths boring too as school Maths is boring . He doesn’t have to do it one year early .
So , no decision yet in our family although I think my son is coming round to the RGS idea and his siblings think it would suit him best - and they have experienced secondary school .
An 11 year old can’t really choose schools .
They will choose by where there friends go or which brownie was nicest .
You have to choose for them but make them feel they choose themselves . So put some arguments out which atronmy point in the direction you think is best , then tell them what they think and you will consider their opinion .
You will never know how a child would have been at another school .
One thing I can say that these are all excellent schools .
There is something to be said for co - education , very true .
Good luck everyone with the final decision !

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