Lanesborough and RGS

[ddas]

Have also posted this in education as not sure where it fits.

Our ds has just been accepted into lanesborough for nursery next yr and we're in two minds about whether to accept. We mainly did the assessment so at least we would have the choice of going private or state for primary.
Like probably many guildford parents for secondary we'd love for him to end up at RGS. We know that lanesborough is no longer the 'feeder prep' for RGS although it seems that a lot do come from there. Our main reasons for going private would be smaller class sizes so more one to one attention which we feel ds may need as although seems to be bright (difficult to tell at 2 really!!!) he's an August born boy. And for the same reason we worry about him getting lost in a class of 30.
However we've heard a few people say that going to lanesborough would actually put him at disadvantage for getting in to RGS at 11 as they are trying to take more state school pupils and lanesborough is also weak at maths.
Just wondering what people who have ready been through the system think of this?
We don't want to send him to prep thinking it's the best thing of him only to put him at a disadvantage later on. We can afford prep but would mean going without some luxuries ie. a bigger house, better car, holidays etc but are happy to do it for his education.

Should have said if we don't go for lanesborough, the state primary would be st Thomas of Canterbury catholic school in Merrow as the ones in our catchment area are not very good so we'd go for catholic.

Bump?

Hi,

I'd be very surprised if Lanesborough out him at a disadvantage. The two schools are still linked and a lot of boys come through Lanesborough and on to RGS. (The ones that do seem far more equipped than the state school boys - my DC blanched at workloads that Lanesborough boys took in their stride.)

Not sure if this is gossip or news but I heard that Lanesborough will be opening up a secondary department, so if your son settled in there he may not have to leave!

Ooh Woodrunner, where did you hear that? Would be a huge bonus if that happened, the area badly needs another good boys private secondary

I've heard the same about Cranmore - extending to 16

Would be good to have another option for boys at secondary level in guildford. seems to be rgs or go out of area. Although depends whether people will want to take a risk on the unknown- lanesborough's good results at primary may not translate to secondary.

My kids go to one of the local state junior schools that has good relationship with RGS. I can't see how Lanesborough would be a disadvantage, the numbers moving from L to RGS are still high. also you get the choice of miving at 11 or 13. Quite an advantage.

Quite a few move at 7 from state to Lanesborough.

As a mum of an August born boy, if I had my time again I would have sent him to a small reception private class. The difference between September and August boys can be huge at that age.

There is far more choice at secondary now than a few years ago. It doesn't take that long to go to Hindhead. Apart from GHS and Tormead, girls have to leave Guildford too, and plenty do.

Not sure where the theory about Lanesborough extending came from - ex-Lanesborough now RGS parents, I think. You could ring Lanesborough and ask them.

Where would they put more pupils at Lanesborough? It would have to be offsite somewhere?

And hadn't heard the Cranmore rumour either, but who would want a private school only to 16? The whole point of secondary is to take them to university entry - no one would sign up for 16 only ( in the Guildford private sector that is)

if RGS is leaning towards a greater intake from state schools they're keeping it quiet. And it doesn't show yet! They've so far fulfilled their public benefit criteria with outreach programmes but its not beyond the realm of possibility, I guess. And no sign or talk of it at the girls' schools either.

If Lanesborough opened a secondary department it would have to move probably out of Guildford. It's biggest issue is already how cramped it is.

It also doesn't have a reputation for taking boys into year 7, although the Head could be changing that I suppose.

I second the questioning of Lanesborough going up to 16. I think perhaps someone has mixed up Cranmore and Lanesborough.
I know Cranmore is planning extending to 16 (and has the space). But agree you wouldn't go to a school just up to 16. I guess a sixth form would be in the pipeline or I doubt it would be marketable to parents. I think it would just create an extended prep school feel as it isn't like GHS/Tormead and the other girls' schools models where the junior and senior dept are very much separate and big intake at 11.
I wonder how St Edmunds in Hindhead is doing as it has recently done the extension up to 16. Seems to be a bit of a trend.

Cranmore are not extending to 16. They are taking girls up to 7 from September. Their nursery has had girls for a few years and they've decided to keep them until the end of Year 2.

Good friend with son at Cranmore says the talk of extending to 16 is in the pipeline and the head had discussed it with her saying it is a strong plan... I could be wrong, but it sounds like it is a LT plan.
Unless the adding of girls was their plan A to boost numbers and to 16 was just a plan B.