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Original poster

LRGS- Lancaster royal grammar school

30 replies

curiousmummy01 · 06/07/2018 10:58

Hello all,
I am new to this forum.
My son is starting LRGS this september and is going to be a Boarder as we live a distance away. Is there anyone here, whose son goes to LRGS?
Any information will be highly appreciated.
Thankyou so much

OP posts:

Mumski45 · 06/07/2018 11:04

Hi My DS is just about to finish year 7 at LRGS. What would you like to know?

Original poster

curiousmummy01 · 06/07/2018 12:05

thankyou so much for responding.
My son will be joining in year 8 this september . so same year group as you r son.
my DS will be a boarder as we live in London. Is your son a boarder?
Would you know of many boys who come from the SE of England?

How has your experience been with the school? how is the pastoral care?
This is the first time we will be sending our DS away from us so we are very nervous and excited for him.

OP posts:

Roomba · 06/07/2018 12:30

My son is also at LRGS. I have been very impressed with the school so far and DS is doing very well - he loves it! He's not a boarder but has friends who are. He often wishes he could board as he says the food is great (his stomach seems to be his prime concern in life right now ). Not sure how many boarders are from the south, but DS has mentioned boys who have come from abroad. So your DS won't be the only one who is far from home and the staff are very reassuring and experienced.

Re pastoral care - I'll be honest, I was a little apprehensive before he started, as a friend whose son also attended LRGS (again, not a boarder) had said the pastoral care wasn't as great as it could be, in her opinion. But her son left a couple of years ago, and from what I've seen they have either really improved or my friend's experience was unusual (to be fair, she complains about her daughter's school too and now her son is at uni she complains his lecturers aren't helping her son enough, so maybe just her not anything the school did!). The staff are all very supportive of my son, brilliant at encouraging him to stretch himself, but he also knows he always has people he can go and talk to if he has any worries or problems. He has ADHD and Dyspraxia and LRGS have worked really well with him to find ways to help him. He's very happy there and I have gone from worrying about the potential academic pressure and misgivings about the grammar school system and single sex education as a whole, to feeling we have really made the right choice of school for him. Obviously all boys are different, but I'd recommend the school highly overall.

Original poster

curiousmummy01 · 06/07/2018 12:49

Thankyou so much for your response Roomba .
Your feed back is very assuring.
I am worried because my DS would only study when I am after his case. I really hope that in boarding there is someone who can keep an eye on him and not let him slip.
I know that a lot of emphasis is put on sports in the school. how about the academics side? are the boys pushed to achieve there potential?

OP posts:

Roomba · 06/07/2018 13:38

Yes, they are a bit Rugby obsessed! Particularly in Y7. DS is not a rugby fan, that's the only bit he isn't as keen on, but there are lots of opportunities for other sports too.

DS is a lazy sod whenever he can get away with it and I have to nag him to do his homework. I know the boarders do their homework at a set time and there are staff there who can assist, which has to be an improvement on me attempting to help DS with his English homework while he grumbles that I don't know what I'm talking about (my degree was a waste of three years then)... So yes, they are definitely kept an eye on with regards to homework in the boarding houses. In fact, DS has joined them for homework time a few times now I think about it, as they run an after school club for day boys where they eat dinner, do their work and hang out with the boarders until parents pick them up. You can see what homework has been set and what's outstanding online too, so they can't really hide it if they haven't done what they are supposed to!

The boys are definitely pushed to achieve their potential on all fronts. There's a lot of encouragement to join in extracurricular stuff but the academic work is highly focussed on (I suppose you only have to look at their results to see that). I worried that would be stressful, but DS doesn't seem to be feeling under pressure with it all and he'd definitely complain if he was. I get the impression that boarders get a lot of focus and help - I suppose there aren't many of them, OFSTED rates the boarders separately I believe, so they really want the boys to do well! They will let you know quickly if there are any issues and in my own experience teachers seem very happy to discuss any problems or answer any queries thoroughly.

A friend of mine taught at LRGS for a term a couple of years ago. She'd been teaching in a very challenging inner city school beforehand and said that LRGS was the easiest teaching job she'd ever had! All the boys did as they were asked, first time, and were eager to learn and do well. How it compares to other boarding schools I don't know though.

Original poster

curiousmummy01 · 06/07/2018 14:07

Thankyou so much for your so detailed feed back. which year is your son in now? did he start from year 7? would you keep him in the school all the way till sixth form?
Would you know of any boarders who come from London and close by areas?

OP posts:

Mumski45 · 06/07/2018 17:34

Hi no my DS is not a boarder. I did once have a chat with a parent from London at a Rugby match whose son was boarding so I know that your son won't be the only one.
I would very much echo the previous comments about pastoral care. My son's form tutor has been very accessible and responsive when I have needed to talk to her and I have been impressed with both the pace of the academic teaching and the focus on non academic qualities both of which have been pitched at the right level for DS. I feel he is very much seen and treated as an individual and not as a number or statistic.

There is an emphasis on sports but not in a bad way. DS is average at most sports and not one who stands out particularly but this doesn't mean he is excluded in any way.

It's also good to hear that others have the same impression as me.

Roomba · 06/07/2018 22:43

My DS is just finishing Y7 too. I'd happily keep him there for sixth form if he continues to do well there.

DS really isn't sporty either, but has got involved with several other groups and volunteered for various things he wouldn't have had the confidence to do a year ago.

Original poster

curiousmummy01 · 09/07/2018 10:44

Thankyou so much Roomba and Mumski45. Your feed back is most appreciated.
Would you know how big are the class sizes?
What policy does the school have on mobile phones?
Also, I am in the midst of finalising a phone contact for my some, is there a particular network that works better than the other ?
I also read somewhere that every 2 months we get a report from the school. is that the case?

OP posts:

Roomba · 11/07/2018 10:46

Sorry, just seen your questions.

Class sizes are 30 in each class for most lessons. But 30 generally very well behaved boys, which makes a big difference.

Their mobile policy is a bit of a funny one as they seem to actively encourage use of devices (phone or tablet) in some lessons, for watching relevant video clips or researching things. But they are penalised if they have devices out of their bags and turned on if it is not required for the lesson and DS says they are pretty strict on that. I honestly have no idea what the rules are for boarders outside of lessons, sorry.

As for mobile providers - AFAIK there's a decent enough signal for most providers up there? I live fairly close by and haven't had anyone complaining of lack of reception when they visit. My Giffgaff phone works fine with full signal when I'm in school - they use O2's network so sure O2 will be fine as well?

Reports - we get a termly breakdown of DS's result for each subject, achievement and attitude. This may be different/more frequent for boarders, I don't know sorry.

Mumski45 · 12/07/2018 16:13

The mobile phone policy is that if they are used when not supposed to the phone is confiscated and can be collected from the office the next day.
As Roomba said we have had 3 reports over the year which include grades and attitude to learning scores plus a pastoral report around Feb and a final summer report last week. I have found DS's form tutor very helpful and very responsive. Class sizes are around 30 but DS' form was around 26 ish till Xmas when 4 new boys joined.

Original poster

curiousmummy01 · 13/07/2018 09:59

Thankyou so much on your input Roomba and SKi. I am so grateful for you to take time out and answer my queries.

OP posts:

Gazelle79 · 04/09/2018 07:48

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 04/09/2018 08:00

Apologies for the hijack curious, for those with boys already there, what's the general feeling about sixth form going co-ed?
Do you think girls will fit there given it would only be a small cohort?

Gazelle79 · 04/09/2018 08:29

It is a very male school, there's mixed feelings from the LRGS parents about mixed sixth form. But they are a strong school on maths & science

Original poster

curiousmummy01 · 05/09/2018 12:51

Hi Gazelle,
I am very concerned after hearing that. but thank you so much for highlighting it to us.
I have pm ed you . can you please look into that.
thanks so much.

OP posts:

ErrolTheDragon · 07/09/2018 23:23

It is a very male school, there's mixed feelings from the LRGS parents about mixed sixth form. But they are a strong school on maths & science

So is LGGS.... LRGS going mixed will probably undermine that. I can't help wondering whether in a few years time the Lancaster grammars collectively will be producing more or fewer female scientists and engineers. ( sorry, OT but I have misgivings about who this change will serve).

Gazelle79 · 08/09/2018 08:05

Not disagreeing ErrolTheDragon might be cynical but its probably more a money saving measure in further years to merge the 2 & start girls boarding

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 09/09/2018 08:45

Errol, I'm presuming you have a son there? Would you not recommend a girl chancing it there at the moment?

ErrolTheDragon · 09/09/2018 09:10

No - I had a daughter at LGGS and was convinced by it of the benefits of single sex education, in particular for the paradox of encouraging girls out of 'gendered' choices. I seriously fear this move will end up reinforcing the perception of tech, engineering, physics and maybe even FM as male subjects. I hope I'm wrong!

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 09/09/2018 09:22

Oh I see.

Sandypeeps · 28/12/2018 15:31

We live abroad and my son wants to go to Lancaster Royal Grammar School as a 6th form boarder - has anyone experienced 6th form boarding there and could you tell me if there are many full boarders or will he end up being one of only a few left there each weekend?
Thank you

Juja · 03/03/2019 16:06

My son is in the L6 and is a weekly boarder. He has been there since Year 7. As you go up the school more boarders stay for the weekends. We have been really pleased with the school, excellent academic results if you work hard, lots of clubs, lots of support for DofE, choirs etc. My son didn't enjoy rugby but from Year 9 has much enjoyed rowing. The pastoral care from his current housemaster is excellent and the new Year 7/8 housemaster is delightful.

Sandypeeps · 03/03/2019 17:29

Thank you Juja it sounds amazing we’re coming to have a look around the school in July

LoonyLunaLoo · 09/10/2019 12:35

DS has just got his place at LRGS for next year! So excited!

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