RGS The Grange / RGS Worcester

[LouLouLouL]

Hi. We’ve been looking to switch our children’s school for a while and RGS The Grange is on my radar.

I suppose I’m hoping for reassurance to concerns that I couldn’t expect to get from the school itself without feeling I was being mollycoddled.

We are moving from a small independent school that appeared to be family oriented and holistic when in fact it was quite bigoted and an academic hot house.

I suppose we are hoping that RGS The Grange will take the glaring spot light off each of my children in the large numbers of students they have.

I want my children to be able to fall back a bit if it’s all getting on top of them without fear of causing disappointment and failing.

Opportunities to participate just for fun.

On the flip side I’m worried that there are so many children that they won’t get a sense of their own identity and value as an individual.

I’d genuinely be happy for them to be ‘B’ students as long as they are happy in themselves.

Right now my children all seem to be suffering some form of anxiety or inferiority complex, except my middle child who has a big middle finger for the world instead - also not ideal!

Are there any parents out there that consider themselves a bit alternative and holistic who have an insight into this school?

I want my children to be content and relaxed when they come home.

Have you thought about just sending them to a decent rounded state school?? I have friends who love the Grange but for all the reasons you want to avoid

I agree with @firedog I am not sure RGS is renowned for being holistic it definitely prides itself on being academic.
In saying that only you can decide wether it suits your child. It is a lovely school and has a very good reputation so worth checking out for yourself. but as with most private schools I would guess most parents there will be aspirational for good grades for their child which will feed down into the school culture.
If you could find a good excellent state school that would probably better fit your brief as they tend to be more inclusive and there isn’t the same level of competitiveness and pressure for higher academic standards because you are paying for it.

My friends love it. DC do loads extra curricular sport & music that isn't available to us.. but people pay for high exam success.

We moved from a state school to RGS The Grange a few years ago. We don’t feel the academic pressure is that great and the smaller class sizes are helpful in supporting a range of abilities.

The main difference from the previous school is the slant on extra curricular activities and plenty of sport and creative opportunities. Overall the teachers are excellent - really enthusiastic and generally seem to have a good laugh with the children. The deputy head is lovely and focuses on mental health and wellbeing, however I don’t think this is what you are looking for in regards to holistic approach ie. agree with the others that RGS is not particularly ‘alternative’.

One thing that has been disappointing for us is quite a lot of general unkindness from other children in a particular year group which the school probably wouldn’t acknowledge. We wish the school took a stronger stance against bullying and bad behaviour. To be fair, we may just be very unlucky with that year group as there appear to be nice kids in other years. I’ve only posted this as you mentioned that 2 of your children are suffering from anxiety, so if either of them ended up in the same year then they might find it a rough ride.

If it helps, despite the fees and what I’ve said above we don’t regret the move. Good luck!

LucyTiseman I am considering RGS and my child has experienced unkindness in their current year group at their current school. It’s the main motivation for moving. Would you share the year group even (by pm if you prefer) as I would be so very sad for my DC if we moved straight into an identical situation.

I’d be interested to hear any thoughts about RGS the Grange or Kings Hawford. We are at a prep not too far away and wondering about moving as we feel the current school hasn’t been as good as we’d hoped academically or pastorally for our bright daughter who has been there for all of her school life.

To clarify the above thinking about moving our youngest child to avoid same problems.

Anyone got any experience of both RGS the Grange and Kings Hawford?

I didn’t find there was any major academic pressure at RGS The Grange. The head has a massive sense of humour which spread through the school. They were brilliant with my child with SEN. Arts, music, sports are all important. It has a family feel. I loved it for my kids.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking the senior school is the same though, it isn’t. Here it is all about academic pressure and they are utterly useless to the point of being discriminatory towards my child who is more neurologically challenged. I’m looking to move both of mine despite my daughter being settled. If they can’t support ALL children to do their best then why should they get my money for the other easy child?!

I know this is an old thread but I’m interested to know which school is the ‘hot house’ in the op as I’m looking at schools in the same area for our dd and would want to avoid that. @LouLouLouL please would you maybe pm me the name of the school?