RGS and Guildford High School

[Peppin]

What are these schools like and how hard are they to get into?

DS and DD are in village primary at present. DS is year 5, DD year 3. DS was assessed on last school report as being 2 or 3 "bands" above where they expect the average child to be by the end of year 5; DD is on gifted and talented register and does her literacy and numeracy with the year group above her. But neither has had any 11+ type coaching (yet).

Am seriously considering moving both into private sector from 2013 onwards. Like the sound of RGS and G'frd High School but wondering if DS in particular would be prejudiced by not having been coached for 11+ enough in advance. Would also like to know what the social side is like - are the kids at both schools mainly nice, is there much bullying, etc? What are the head teachers like?

All comments gratefully received!

RGS is a very academic school. It's on our shortlist of schools for DS.
Overall the school had a very Oxbridgey feel to it. Seemed like it would suit highly intelligent, quite quirky boys. I got the impression boys could be themselves, and be as geeky as their hearts desired without being mocked. DS is that way, and I can see him being blissfully happy geeking around the corridors making jokes in Latin and working out how to square the circle. But if your DS is more normal and sporty, my guess is there are similar schools not far away that are more...normal.
I do snoop on the boys in Guildford sometimes and from what I've seen they are a very happy, polite, gentle lot. Quite old fashioned in some ways. I see them being very courteous to each other in the streets. The impression I got was of a school where there'd be a lower level of bullying than elsewhere.

Thanks racingheart. My DS is quite quirky and - although not unpopular - is not one of the "cool kids at school because he is interested in "weird" things like Greek mythology, the solar system, ancient history and so on. I often see boys from RGS on the High Street at lunchtime in town and hearing snippets of their conversation they do generally sound like nice lads. My concern really would be that as DS won't know anyone at the start (his current school is quite some way away and I know a lot of boys go into RGS from local prep schools so will know each other), how easy/hard it would be for him to break into existing friendship groups. But it does sound - from the little I know so far - like the sort of environment he could thrive in.

I have two DDs at GHS, one of whom has a boyfriend at RGS, so I know plenty about both schools. Agree with racingheart's evaluation of RGS - it's academic, the boys are quite old fashioned with a good few geeks among them; if I had a son, I'd love him to go there from what I've heard of it - I know loads of people with boys there, and nearly all the feedback is good.
For GHS, about half the girls in year 7 come in at that stage, of which a good few are from state schools and many don't know anyone else when they come. My DDs both came in at year 7. I've found the pastoral care to be excellent and the opportunities great; it's very good at bringing out the best in the able, but not very good at encouraging participation in sports teams, music, etc, from those who are keen but not particularly skilled. It is very good IME at accomodating those who don't quite fit the standard mould, and at encouraging individual interests, especially higher up the school. The sixth form is particularly good IME, with lots of opportunities for contact with RGS and thus a bit more of a stepping stone to university. PM me if you would like more information about it.

Peppin, I wouldn't worry too much about who knows who. I think they are quite careful about placing the boys in groups, so newcomers with no one from their old school are grouped together to make friends. (The HM mentioned this in his address to parents on open day.

And from your description of your DS, he'd click with mine so well. RGS seems to be a school where all the brilliant minded misfits suddenly find themselves surrounded by other boys who actively want to learn ancient greek in their spare time, and they are so happy to have found each other. They were pretty earnest but very sweet and delightfully bright. All the boys I know who go there are lovely.

We're looking at Hampton too, as we are between the two schools. By contrast it seems much edgier, sportier, harsher in some ways but also more zesty and energetic. Also for bright boys but a different breed of boy. Sounds like your son would fit at RGS very well.

I too have/have had DCs at both and agree with what others say - RGS suited my academic quietism DS perfectly - he was not at all spoty but very musical but his friends were a huge range interests. In general, I'd say they lean towards the sciences in general but that's not to say that humanities and Arts are not well covered s they are- he now has friends reading history, architecture, French as well as sciences as uni.

GHS is similar, to be hornet - in general it's brothers and sisters so you'd expect values to be the same.

And GHS has a far higher proportion of girls going to do science at uni than most girls schools but again you can do anything Nd Re encouraged to do anything. I have on girl at uni now and one in the. Senior school and I think the petrol care and attention to subject combinations and uni choices has actually improved in the last couple of years (it was always brilliant but now it's even better).

The difference I found, and my boy is my eldest so this goes back a few years and Dr C might have changed the approach a bit- is that at RGS they don't really need any parental input - you give them your boy at 13 and they give him back at 18. At GHS you are much more involved in what your daughters are doing on a week by week basis.

I have never regretted, for a single minute, choosing these schools for my DCs.

Thanks all. Both schools sound like a good fit for my DCs. DS isn't particularly sporty (unlikely to make the first team for anything) but does like to have a go. I wouldn't want him to be at the sort of school where sporting prowess is essential for popularity.

Would be interested to know a bit more about the school day at both schools. Do kids walk out at 4pm and go home, or do many stay for after-school activities? Also what is the etiquette re drop-offs and pick-ups? I find it impossible to imagine my precious DCs going off to school/coming home alone but my DS (age 10) is already mortally embarrassed by being seen too near me in the vicinity of school so I am well aware that Mummy dropping him off is soon likely to be an absolute no-no. Do parents drop off/pick up or do the boys and girls make their own way to and from school?

Also, how much should I allow for for uniform, school trips, etc?

Hi peppin. I"m surprised you could make any sense of my earlier post as it was so full of typos! Not only is is my boy not spotty, he was not sporty either - never wanted to make even the 5ths in anything and he never felt excluded or looked down upon. And they support and encourage boys all the way through the the teams they call 'the socials'

School day wise, the majority exit exactly on time to get their trains. They swarm together to the station all being very social - the train is a great social experience which they get into very quickly.

Or if you drive them, most people Drop off and pick up the boys in the little car park behind McDonalds and for the girls there is a supervised (by the caretakers) drop off and pick up process in the school grounds which you get used to.

Tbh, the kids at these schools are not the type in general who mind being seen being dropped off - they carry so much kit and caboodle each day, most of them are grateful for the odd lift every now and then! The majority of the girls, even up to 6th form actually get kissed goodbye...... Not the boys, tho.....

gettingalifenow I did chuckle at some of the typos but this happens to me a lot as well!

How far away do kids come from on the trains? We are going to be moving house to move into the area and so another thing I'm considering is where to move to. We currently live in a nice rural village and I would quite like to retain the ability to see green fields from my windows, but on the other hand I appreciate that as the DCs become teenagers they might want to be in a proper town, so maybe I should look actually IN Guildford.

They come a long way, sometimes. I advise you carefully at connections tho - we start the train in Farnham (others are further down the line to Alton) and that is 3 trains to London Road station each way (change at aldershot and guildford main).

The longest journeys seem to be from Camberley and beyond - the connections mean a 7 o'clock train, I understand (ours is 7.28).

If I had my time again, I'd live in Clandon or Horsley which is a direct train to London road and only a 10. Min journey - the kids are home by 4.20!

Also nothing wrong with Shalford, Haslemere and that way - just one change.

You might consider actually living in Guildford itself - there are houses backing onto the downs which give the best of both worlds - walking to school and a rural view!

DS1 is at RGS in year 7 and I absolutely love it. He is not sporty and that is fine - he has enjoyed the sport he has done at his level and further up the school there are lots of sport options which should appeal to most. He enjoys most subjects and is certainly being stretched academically. He knew no one as he came from a state primary on his own, and though this was hard to start with he has now made lots of friends. It helped that his primary friends went to lots of different schools so there was no feeling of them all going elsewhere without him. Also he had already met a couple of the boys in his form at the Year 5 summer school that RGS run so there were a couple of familiar faces. Do children from your primary attend this? Our primary HT picks out 2 or 3 to go each year and my DS2 (year 5) has just had a letter for this year's one.
The school are great at pastoral care and there is a lovely supportive, hard working atmosphere.
Travel - we live on the Worplesdon/Stoughton side of Guildford - it is much cheaper here than G Abbott catchment, I look out on fields and there are 4 buses an hour past our road into town. DS has gone on the bus from the beginning as he wanted that independence. Hard for me intially but I've got used to it! Good thing is if he wants to stay after school for whatever reason there are plenty of later buses. The great majority of his friends travel by train from literally everywhere.

Uniform is expensive at all secondary schools round here, but there is a decent second hand shop. Trips again similar to other schools, not too bad really, though I suspect will be more expensive as he goes further up the school.
I never saw myself sending my kids private but this is absolutely the best school for DS1 and so pleased we were able to send him there! Fingers crossed for DS2 now!

That's nice to hear, IvySquirrel. I arranged a school visit today - they can't see us till June but I am really excited and I hope DS will like it too.

I asked about the summer school but it sounds as though this is for local primaries and we are a long way away (we'll be moving next summer). Hadn't really considered the Worplesdon side as don't know that direction as well as the south side. What's the drive into Guildford like from that direction in the morning?

On the uniform front, can anyone give a ballpark figure for what it costs to kit out a new boy?

I'm hoping to apply to RGS for my boy too. He sounds as if he would fit right in, what with his obsession with Latin and mediaeval history and lack of sportiness.

From the state sector, at what point is it worth starting tutoring?

I went to GHS and my brother went to RGS. Lucky children! We both went from state schools - brother at 11 and me at 12. It was a fair while ago but the schools were excellent. Not snobby at all. We had private tutors for a few months leading up to the entrance exams. As I was a year later than most girls, I was way behind on a lot of subjects but soon caught up, except for lacrosse - never manged to get the hang of that! Brother was very academic and a bit of a swot (a lovely one) and fitted in fine - a real mix of sporty boys, academic boys etc. He went to Cambridge and his best chum went to Oxford. Hoping my DD will go to GHS too when she gets to that age and if I had a boy I'd want him to go to RGS.

Good luck!!

Alexandra, we started doing some Bond books and similar in Yr 4 and started formal tutoring in Spring term Yr 5, so DS will have had 1 year of tutoring. You can always start informally if they're younger by reading a lot with them, and generally discussing the world, going to galleries and museums etc.
I like the sound of your son!

thanks racingheart we do lots of reading together already but we could definitely ramp up the culture a bit. Thanks for the tips re Bond books and tutoring.

Drive into town from us - less than 10 mins at quiet times, 20 - 40 mins at busy times! I rarely drive at peak times as I work this side of Guildford - good bus service and driving takes so much time out of the day.
FWIW we did not pay for tutoring, just used the Bond books from about a year prior to the entrance exam, and currently doing the same for DS2 (Y5). They just need to get the idea of what the papers will look like esp in verbal reasoning. If your son is working at NC Level 5 in English & Maths the entrance exam should be fine. Discussing the world, news events etc also useful and have some hobbies up your sleeve for the interview.
Uniform - I reckon I spent about £300, including shoes - got a blazer & rugby boots secondhand and given jumpers by a neighbour.

Thanks again IvySquirrel. Mentioned the schools to both DCs this evening, as have now arranged visits. DD has now read the prospectus cover to cover 6 times and marvelled aloud at all of it; DS is much more reserved as he considers "private school is for poshos". Am hoping that he will keep an open mind at least for the visit.

Re rugby - do you find that many boys have never done rugby before starting? my DS is actually quite keen to have a go but our local club is full so I'm not sure he'll be able to. I know the prep schools do it so wonder how boys from state schools fit in with the "new" sports?

Peppin - get him to go and visit the school. We've looked at lots of schools, and of them all, RGS is the least 'posho' school we saw. As one mum I know said, who has two boys there: 'They're just normal, lovely boys. They don't have that public school sheen rubbed onto on them.' That's true.

They aren't posh schools! Full of quite normal if bright kids. Actually girls at Tormead which I would considered slightly posher thought my DD was posh because she goes to the local Comp (I think its because you tend to live in the richer areas to go to the Comp, or poorer areas and scrimp for the Independents).
Get them to look around. There are also lots of alternatives for your DD if GHS isn't right for her, it is trickier for boys.

Agree with mummytime - they are so not posh! Yes there are boys with considerably more disposable income and bigger houses than us, but this is not at all a problem.

They don't have that 'public school sheen' but they do become more confident and articulate, which we wanted for DS.

Thanks all. Have arranged visit and will take DS along. We will definitely be in the significantly-less-well-off category so it is reassuring to hear that we won't be alone!

Agree that they are not "posh" - in the sixth form GHS and RGS socialise with each other, while St Cats socialise with Eton, in comparison (supposedly).
You don't need verbal reasoning for GHS, unless they change it - just English and Maths papers - the English is a comprehension and a piece of creative writing, the Maths is a paper with progressively harder questions but starting with some v easy ones - and they also interview them all - not looking for the "right" answers but just trying to get a feel for their personalities - my DD1 was asked to talk about a scene on a Christmas card and asked what she did at home (to which she apparently made up a complete lie about wholesome bike rides with her sister, which she would actually have regarded as a fate worse than death, because she thought it would sound better - not sure if that was the right path to take, but she got in, anyway!)

There are plenty of boys at RGS from State schools, he does need to be good at Maths (or at least that is the reason given for Lanesborough boys not going there but to St John's instead).
I know fewer state school girls going to GHS, but that is because the girls tend to disperse more widely: GHS, Tormead, St Catz, St Theresa's, Manor House, Priorsfield, Farnborough Hill and the one in Chertsey.

Coming back to this... how much preparation for 11+ goes on at RGS? Bearing in mind DS is at a state primary he has had no preparation for an 11+-type exam yet. I know RGS says they prefer parents not to prepare boys for the exam but I bet everyone does, right?

Although DS works 2 or 3 "bands" above his year group for literacy and numeracy, he's not familiar with the format of an 11+ test and in particular has no experience (so far) of verbal reasoning.

Should I start tutoring him now?

No. Not everyone does!

Ds1 went to a prep school but had changed school a couple of times so was not scrupulously prepared.
The school hate boys being tutored. They try to ensure that they spot - talking around subjects, throwing random subjects in interview all factor in to spot over coached boys. Be very careful not to make up fancy shit for his interests. They will ask and will view a child who talks with great gusto about his collection of Marvel characters than a child who claims to love reading and museums. If they do, great. But the teachers kniw boys inside out. Don't try and pretend to be anything you and he are not

For ds1s interview he was asked about himself, his home, his brothers autism and the MMR.

Make sure your choked understands what will happen. But too much prep could back fire massively. Especially as the new Head is keen to get the number of state school entries up.