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Original poster

RGS Guildford 11+

496 replies

Sophie42 · 16/12/2019 12:00

Hello fellow parents, Just wanted to start a thread on RGS Guildford, which our children will be sitting on 11th January 2020. Not long now.

OP posts:
123EyesOnMe · 15/01/2020 09:26

Does anyone know who conducts the interviews? Is it subject teachers or Dr Cox?

GU24Mum · 15/01/2020 10:06

It definitely wasn't Dr Cox who did the callback interview - assume it was a subject teacher. Ours were done in pairs (ie two boys, not two teachers). I think Dr Cox does the scholarship interviews but as that was never going to be something for us to be concerned about, I didn't listen as carefully to that part!

goobledygok · 15/01/2020 15:27

@Sophie42 seems too long. The message from Mr Cox on the day was no news is good news but I am not finding any lessening of stress with that so far.

R272727 · 15/01/2020 15:36

Anyone heard from Rgs today?

BooRadley7 · 15/01/2020 16:29

@R272727 not here... think the 2nd interview & scholarship invites comes tomorrow. Outright no’s should be sent on 31 Jan and yes posted first class on 13 February.

AtiBati · 16/01/2020 09:36

This year there were 396 boys for 110 places

AtiBati · 16/01/2020 09:37

Anyone heard anything today about interview or scholarship and is it in email or snailmail?

BooRadley7 · 16/01/2020 10:14

Nope, waiting in anticipation..,

Last year it was per email and sent in the afternoon.

TaupeAndTeal · 16/01/2020 10:16

In his talk to the parents Dr Cox said "if you receive a letter from us, please open it". He told an anecdote of a mother calling the office to find out what it said in the letter because she was too afraid to open it.

So I think, probably snail mail...?

TaupeAndTeal · 16/01/2020 10:17

Oh ok, crossed posts. I defer to BooRadley's knowledge on the subject.

123EyesOnMe · 16/01/2020 11:23

Thanks for the numbers info AtiBati.
Got to feel for the 286 who aren't going to get a place.... :-(

Also...why only 110 places this year when there were 130 last year?? Anyone know?

TaupeAndTeal · 16/01/2020 11:25

@123EyesOnMe on a positive note they will have to make offers to more than 110 boys as some will take up offers from other schools....

123EyesOnMe · 16/01/2020 11:32

Good point, Taupe AndTeal!
Can you tell I'm on the edge of my seat....? Grin

TaupeAndTeal · 16/01/2020 11:32

As the school dropped from,I think, around 15th in the A level league tables in 2018 to 47th in 2019 families with a choice between schools may well choose another one.

www.best-schools.co.uk/uk-school-league-tables/list-of-league-tables/top-100-schools-by-a-level/

TaupeAndTeal · 16/01/2020 11:33

I think this week is the worst for parents. The waiting!

AtiBati · 16/01/2020 11:50

Sorry, should have made it more clear. I know for a fact that the exact number of boys sitting last Saturday was 396 from a friend who works there. I have heard two numbers of offers for 11+ for September 2020. One was 110 and the other 150. Not sure which one is right.

I am sure there will be people who will turn it down. Then what they do with those places ???? They must go back to the boys who are in the grey area and invited back for the interview I guess??? Anyone know?

Hopeful201 · 16/01/2020 12:08

AtiBati, we were told that they made offers to the boys that made it through the process as they are the boys that will thrive at the school. So I doubt there would be any wait list as such. As long as you receive nothing at all by the end of Jan you are in...all the no's will go out soon. If you avoid that letter, you are in!
In terms of their A level results, I think they had a 'bad' year. In having said that, RGS doesn't tell any boy to leave if their GCSE's aren't good enough-which is great for the boys but doesn't always help league tables. I have heard that some schools kick DC out if they aren't going to get the desired grades.

TaupeAndTeal · 16/01/2020 12:32

AtiBati If the schools have 110 places to fill they offer to more than 110 boys. I'm not sure what the percentage is. But say they make 150 offers to fill 110 places, based on the fact that a proportion go elsewhere.

At my older DC's school there is a year group with an extra class as far more than the expected number accepted their offers. That meant they had to reduce the number of offers they made the following year to balance it out.

goobledygok · 16/01/2020 13:12

@AtiBati where did you get the number 110 ? I have heard that they have flexible intake between 140-160 and depending on how many suitable candidates they get they can expand (or contract) the intake for the year. Wondering if 140 includes 13+ though...

AtiBati · 16/01/2020 13:17

@goobledygok I tried to clarify that the 110 I was not sure of. The 396 I definitely know is right. But I too have heard numbers from 110 to 150! So could be anywhere around that.
Fingers crossed ladies. I would say we are definitely in the afternoon now. No?

Mantapeace · 16/01/2020 13:18

This waiting is FAR more nerve wracking than I thought it would be.

ErmieMum · 16/01/2020 13:20

Does anyone know if 13+ rejections or come back at 12 letters come out at the same time as 11+? I assume all offers are the mid feb date but not sure about 13+ as they don't get invited back for interview?

R272727 · 16/01/2020 13:51

Any one heard today? What percent get a second interview do you think? For those applying to multiple schools where does RGS rank?

logfire2020 · 16/01/2020 14:07

If same as previous years. Interview call backs first, then no's to both 11+ and 13+. Then a long wait for all without a firm no until offers posted (and then no, callback at 12+, yes).

Re numbers and offers. A year group from 13+ contains 150 boys. Most arrive at 11 (suspect around 110) and the rest at 13 .They all sit the exam at the same time.

150 out of 396 seems better odds this year than other schools......

HampshireGirl123 · 16/01/2020 14:12

My son sat the tests on the 11th too and he DESPERATELY wants to get in so I’m feeling very anxious and am terrified when the post arrives each day! My friend asked Dr Cox on Saturday and was told that there were 380 applicants with 120 places so an approximate 1 in 3 chance of getting in. Fingers crossed everyone! Please let us know here as soon as you receive a letter or email!