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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

RGS and Guildford High School

67 replies

Peppin · 21/04/2012 14:36

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!

OP posts:

Pagwatch · 09/05/2012 13:10

Auto correct aplenty in there... [sigh]

Original poster

Peppin · 09/05/2012 14:01

Thanks pagwatch, that's good to hear. I had understood that RGS don't interview all boys but only the ones who they're unsure about on the basis of the exam results alone. Is that right?

I think DS would be OK in an interview as he can talk for England and has a range of kooky interests (though I'd hope he wouldn't get started on his favourite conversational topic: his favourite PS3 games...).

We're visiting the school next month. Will they talk to DS about the exam at all then? He is quite apprehensive about doing an exam as so far in his education, he has never had to do any exams.

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Pagwatch · 09/05/2012 14:05

No. Actually that's not right.
All the boys get interviewed once. Ds1 was accepted immediately.
A third get accepted immediately. A third get rejected immediately. The middle third come back for further testing and another interview.

Pagwatch · 09/05/2012 14:07

talking about his fav ps3 game is fine.

Pagwatch · 09/05/2012 14:10

I would ask.
I would expect the visit tour will be conducted by a boy from the school. You will then probably meet the head or one of the deputies. Ask them. You/he will be one of many in the same position. Ask them what they recommend.

Original poster

Peppin · 09/05/2012 23:01

Thanks again pagwatch. I will ask when we visit.

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gettingalifenow · 10/05/2012 08:33

When my DS was there, they would get a boy from your school to show you around, which was a friendly touch...

As I recall, the interview Pagwatch is talking about is on the exam day. And I think I remember that my DS just had a chat with a teacher, with one other boy too, so not even one to one. But that may be different now....

IvySquirrel · 12/05/2012 17:06

Agree with pagwatch, not everyone tutors. We just made sure DS knew what to expect by doing the Bond practice papers at home, particularly in VR as he had not come across that before. As he was at state school no preparation at school at all. It's true that RGS is not at all keen on intensive tutoring and will spot it.
The interview on the exam day was with another boy and a couple of teachers and took the form of a chat about hobbies etc.- they had to fill in a card beforehand with the hobbies & interests on it.

They do their best to make the exam as non-daunting as possible. My DS had never done anything like it before and was fine. I was more worried than he was, especially when I overheard some mums at the beginning of the day discussing their surprise that the maths paper was only an hour as their boys had been doing 2 hour papers at their prep!

sharonsss · 21/05/2012 15:37

Peppin my son's at RGS. He was at a state primary school and did not have any tutoring for the 11+. I did buy a pack of the Bond 11+ papers, and I did manage to get him to have a go at one verbal reasoning test - he's a typical boy as far as only wanting to put in the minimum effort! So, if your son is happy to do some practise, then fantastic, but don't panic if he doesn't do much - he should be at the right level for English & Maths from what they teach at state primary, so it is only the verbal reasoning that he won't have practised at school.

Original poster

Peppin · 21/05/2012 17:18

Thanks sharonss. I have got some Bond stuff and literally just started getting him to look at it. It is mainly the verbal reasoning. I must say, without doing a bit of practice first, I wouldn't fancy my own chances of completing a paper in time.

I think the main thing though is just getting him used to the concept of doing a timed paper, which is something he's never had to do.

I feel more anxious for my child than I remember feeling when I did the 11+ myself!

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capsulemum · 23/05/2012 14:03

Hello AliceInSandwichLand,

May I ask you about GHS 11+ entrance exam please? I have one DD and thinking about sending her to GHS. I have heard that the exam is tough. Could you please advise me what preparation I should do with her? My DD is currently at the state primary school (Y4). Although she is very good at school, I'm worried that the standard of her school might not be enough for her to pass GHS tests. Were both of you DDs in prep school before GHS? Do you recommend any tuition? Thanks for your help.

AliceInSandwichLand · 23/05/2012 22:51

Hi capsulemum,

My daughters did go to prep school, which did do some preparation work with them for entrance exams. The entrance exam consists (or did in my day, and I've not heard it's changed) of English and Maths papers, both of one hour, plus the interview. The English paper is a formal comprehension, from a text of the sort of level of "Tom's Midnight Garden" (the only example I can remember) plus a piece of free writing from a choice of several titles. The maths is an 11 plus sort of thing, starting with very simple questions on multiplication etc, and working up to quite complicated "thinking" problems. Lots of stuff like calculating the area of a garden and how much of it is made of flower beds, or how many matches you would need to repeat a certain pattern five more times, that sort of thing. The various commercial 11+ test papers would be a useful resource for you to look at, although perhaps not quite the same.

The interview is nothing to worry about, really just a chat to get to know the girls. I am sure they are well aware of the differences in preparation from different schools, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. I don't know how many people go for tutors - we certainly didn't - but I do however know a really good maths tutor (she's a close friend), north of Guildford - let me know if you want more info. I think the main thing would be to get her to practice working to time, so that the exam doesn't faze her too much, and to practice that sort of maths question a bit so she knows what to expect. Hope this helps a bit.

capsulemum · 24/05/2012 10:49

Hi AliceInSandwichLand,

Your information helps me a lot. Thank you so much for your kind advice.

Many thanks!

Original poster

Peppin · 07/06/2012 15:54

So... I got some Bond 11+ stuff and got DS to have a stab at some questions. Now I am wondering how to tell whether he will be the required standard for RGS. He is at the top of his class in his state primary but I am well aware that RGS is very academic and the standard may be far higher.

DS has not done any 11+ work before this week and seems to be around the 85% mark, which he thinks is amazing of course, but I'm aware that at grammar schools most kids get 100% to get in and so am worrying that 85% will not be enough. Obviously we can do a bit of practice but I don't want to coach him up really, as I think either he needs to be able to do it, or we look at other schools rather than get him in there and then find him lagging.

Does anyone know what sort of pass mark is a "pass" for RGS?

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IvySquirrel · 10/06/2012 19:58

As far as I know no actual pass mark - just take the top 100 or so iyswim.
Is he doing the actual 11+ level rather than the prep ones for younger kids? My DS1 was averaging 90 on these around when he took the actual test (depending on what mood he was in and how hard he tried!) and he was fine. DS2 currently getting 85 - 90 on the 10-11 age ones and about to move on to the 11+.
Both mine are top of class at state primary and I thought they had minimal chance as RGS so hugely academic. I was pleasantly surprised by DS1, so fingers crossed for DS2!

Original poster

Peppin · 11/06/2012 16:59

Thanks Ivysquirrel. He is doing the actual 11+ at the moment.

As an aside, did you consider other private schools as a "plan B" for if your DS didn't get in to RGS, and if so, which ones?

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IvySquirrel · 11/06/2012 22:26

No didn't consider any other private schools, in fact hadn't considered private at all until ds went to RGS summer school and loved it!
Would have been state otherwise and sure he would have been fine, but the extra opportunities you get at a school like this, well it's perfect for him.
Sounds like your son is doing well peppin, lots of luck to him!

gettingalifenow · 12/06/2012 09:35

It depends where you live, Peppin, but our plan B was Salesian at Farnborough (where DS's best friedn went and was very happy)

Original poster

Peppin · 12/06/2012 10:08

gettingalifenow isn't Salesian Catholic? Do many non-Catholics go there?

I am a paid-up atheist. My DCs go to a CofE school at present but only because that's our only option in the state system. I've nothing against religion per se, but I have the (perhaps erroneous) idea that for a non-Catholic to go to a Catholic school might leave him feeling a bit of an outsider. What do you think?

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gettingalifenow · 12/06/2012 12:18

Not in my experience, Peppin. Round here it's just seen as a good academic option with solid values - lots of non catholic boys. Worth a look?

Original poster

Peppin · 15/06/2012 12:42

Thanks gettingalifenow, will look at Salesian.

Went to see GHS with DD yesterday and she loved it, so I'm hoping that DS will be as taken with RGS when we go there in a couple of weeks.

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gettingalifenow · 15/06/2012 12:48

How many years between them, Peppin? My DS and DD moved to RGS and GHS at the sAme time (13) and (11), and I remember the finger crossing hoping they would both, or neither, get in!

Original poster

Peppin · 15/06/2012 19:43

DS is 10 now and DD is 8, so they will be going for places in year 7 and 5 respectively.

DD is absolutely full of beans about it and can't wait. I have no doubt about her ability to pass the test, it's just whether or not they have a place available in year 5 as it's not a standard entry time.

DS is less enthusiastic, more "why can't I just go to [state secondary]?" (though hasn't seen RGS yet), and more concerned about "what if I don't pass?". I am a bit confused myself. He is one of the most able boys in his class, and does English and Maths papers easily but just needs a bit of experience of VR as he hasn't done this before. However, on here everyone is saying don't coach as an able boy from state primary should be fine, but in RL I spoke to a mum who knows lots of mums whose boys go there and she told me that last year there were 600 applicants for about 60 places!

OP posts:

IvySquirrel · 15/06/2012 22:50

Well I don't know the number of applicants but they have 100 places in year 7 not 60.

Original poster

Peppin · 15/06/2012 22:53

That's what I thought too! But then thought maybe only 60 in year 7 and then 40 in year 9?

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