RGS Guildford 2016

[anothersurreymummy]

I am disappointed that there has not been a thread this year but so am stopping 'lurking'. Not want to give any specifics as maybe there is an extra exam day although this doesnt seem to be published anywhere but did anyone on Saturday ask how many Year 7 possible boys there were, as it is hard to tell who is for which year? It is pointless to ask 1 suppose as the boys are so differnet and with multiple choice method it's impossibel for boys to to know for certian anyway but the 'verdict' was Maths and English OK but the VR hard. I think January will seem a very long month.

Congratulations to all who got in and for 12+ Calls I have heard that many of those do in fact get in the year after. So good luck with that too although I appreciate the extra waiting is not ideal.

Surreyuk I have exactly the same concerns as you and would be very interested to discuss further / the possibility of a minibus arrangement. We live in Camberley area.

Surreyuk we live on the same train line as you if you are in Cobham. We also have a daughter at a Guildford school and when she started we had exactly the same concerns as you but she took the train from day one and it has been absolutely fine. The train is full of children going to the various Guildford schools and the journey is the highlight of her day. They get off at London road and RGS is an easy 5/10 minute walk from there. There will be crowds of boys heading in the same direction and in my experience the children all look after each other. On the very rare occasion my daughter hasn't had a friend to walk with she has just tagged along with other girls. Pm me if you want - no idea how that works!! If you do go for the train we could always get the boys together before September.

We worried about this too and so did a few trial runs over the summer holidays and linked up with other boys in year 7 who would do the same. This is easy to organize after the summer induction afternoon.

absolutely no problems when it came to it. Loads of boys come by train and its a great way to make friends (we knew no-one). The older boys tend to lead the way at first eg if train late or diverted they all follow.

Has worked out much better than we expected and I would recommend it.

Thank you Cfm2016 (I will pm you) and tillyho. I am sure we will be more stressed than our son, it is a good idea to do some "dry runs" before shool starts

We were also wondering about the trip to school, specially during the first months... We were planing to do some dry runs too. We live in the Camberley area Minem33, were you planing to use the north camp train line? Apparently it's inly 15 min to Guildford, however not to the London road station but the main station, which is a bit further. Anybody knows when the summer induction is (approx.)? We could try to meet up then so the boys can meet and recognise friendly faces when in the train....

We are in Crowthorne and plan to get the train from there or Blackwater to Guildford. I'd like to be kept in the loop with those travelling that route! X

Just to second what cfm2016 has said; the trains to London Road station are packed with DC going to RGS, GHS and Tormead in the morning - those coming in from Cobham etc and also those coming into the mainline station and changing. For RGS it's possible, but a bit longer, to walk directly from the mainline station. I know GHS organise "train buddies" for the year 7s at the beginning, by pairing them with older girls making the same journey - don't know if RGS do anything similar.

I am usually trying to get on a train at London Road when all the DC are getting out, so witness daily very large groups of happy chattering kids heading off to all the three schools (including some very young looking year 7 boys!) many juggling bags, musical instruments, sports kit etc along with them.

Well done to all those celebrating a positive letter!

Just to reassure - my sons go to school on the bus as we live on the outskirts of Guildford, and they feel they miss out a bit on the train social life. They have friends who come from as far afield as Surbiton and Wokingham and have been on the train from day one. There is no buddy system as at GHS but if a first form boy looks a bit lost be assured an older one will look out for him. Because RGS boys are basically just nice people IME.

It is reassuring to hear that train journey may be a viable option especially if they have friends/ other boys travelling with them. Princesitalinda we were thinking of doing a few dry runs trying different alternative routes. Frimley is one option but it takes 30 mins and only to main station which is not ideal. North camp maybe another one.

It's a good idea to meet up and introduce boys. I'll be out of circulation for a while as I'm off to Tanzania tomorrow to climb Kilimanjaro but will certainly check this thread on my return so perhaps we can arrange a meet up with others in Camberley/ Frimley area if anyone is interested?

Really don't worry about the train. As everyone says on here it really is fine and very much safety in numbers with lovely children who look after each other. We had a couple of occasions early on with delays and trains not stopping at London road but the older ones took over and escorted the year 7s to school safely.

Wow, what a trip Minem33! RE. Meeting up, sounds great. We can organise something when you're back. We live in Camberley and as far as we know, north camp seems to be the best option (fastest) although they have to change at guildford main to go to London road. I heard that there are many people doing this...I guess the best option is to try for ourselves. I thought maybe I can take him early in the morning but was told traffic is very bad so train is still the best option.... Have a great time in Tanzania!

Hundreds of rgs boys use the mainline station and don't bother to use London Road unless it's on their line in. It's no trouble. Would advise a visit to Guildford Mainline station at 8 am ish or 4.30 ish to witness the hoards.

Thanks tillyho, that's good to know. I think I'll do the dry run by myself first on a weekday and that will make it much clear. any idea of what time they should arrive at main station to be on time for school (well in time)? Also, the summer induction is normally in June or July? Just thinking ahead as trying to not clash with summer holiday plans....I want to be here for the summer induction

From google maps I figured out the walk is roughly 8/10 mins from London station and about 10/12 mins from Guildford station, with the change etc I'd be more inclined to say it would be easier to get off at Guildford and walk up. Have you ladies thought about Blackwater station from Camberley? Or is North Camp your nearest? A lot of the kids I believe get on at blackwater by the meadow roundabout and it's then about a 22 min journey. The train would be the 0755 one that gets them in at 0817.

Hi mums!

I'm not a mum, but I may as well be, I go to RGS, have been for 2 years, and I'm in year 10 (5th form).
Feel free to ask questions.
RGSkid.

P.S. I also get the North Camp train!

Hi,
Some insider info.

Not many people get London Road train, but it takes about the same time as walking, due to having to wait for the train. It takes about 15 minutes to get up to school, 10 if you walk fast and alone. I don't know how fast it is to run, nobody has ever tried it (visit Guildford, it's a massive hill)
Majority of people walk.

For the train, there is the the 0725 train at Blackwater (0734 at North Camp), we call it the Early train, or the 0755 at Blackwater (0804 at North Camp), the Late train.
Personally, I recommend the early train, gets you to school with spare time.
After school, there is the 1614 (stops at all stations) which is hard to get, you have to run, or the 1644, which the majority of people get, but it doesn't stop at Ash, or Farnborough North, or other stations (stops at 1 in 2 stations).

As for your kids, don't worry, most of us are friendly, we can take them under our wing. There is one kid that can be really annoying, but we keep him under control (joking, he's usually fine), and he can be friendly too.

Approx. 18 of us get this train, quite a lot, but we separate into groups usually so it's not a nuisance, and not everyone always gets the train.

Rgs kid.

Hi,

Forgot to say, early train arrives at Guildford at 7:50 ish, late train arrives at 8:20.
In the afternoon, late train gets to North Camp at 4:55, and Blackwater at 8:02.

RGSkid

Thanks RgsKid, very useful information. We will aim for the early train. Thanks again!

Hi Princesitalinda,

Sorry this is later than planned but I am now back from Tanzania. Assuming you get this message, please let me know if you want to meet up to introduce the boys. Would be nice as I think they will be taking the same route.

Many thanks for all the useful info RgsKid! Good to know the little ones will be looked after:)

I'm in the Lower Sixth at RGS. Looking at the last couple of pages I can say that going to school by train hasn't really been a problem. I've been getting the Oxshott/Cobham train for the last six years and there's always someone from RGS on there (most of the time there's about 50+!). London Road is about a 8-10 minute walk to the school building. In another note, a lot of sixth formers drive in.
The school is currently undergoing one of the biggest 'overhauls' (in my opinion) in a very long time. There's a 'RGS Masterplan' which is underway where the whole school is being rebuilt, with the first phase opening in September 2016.
I love the location of the school, from the third form you can go out to town at lunch which is great as there are loads of shops and restaurants.
Compared to when I joined in 2010, there definitely have been a lot of great additions to school life such as the introduction of Drama, a new Music Block and improved Field Days.
For me it was the choice between KCS and RGS and I'm really happy with this decision.

See you tomorrow!

Hi All,
I am new to this forum. My son is appearing for RGS Guildford 2017 entrance exam. Please can anyone advise me on the preparation based on their last year experience?
Any book on Comprehension? Has anyone's son appeared in Grammar school exams and RGS both? Which one is easier?

Thanks

Hello all my son sat RGS guildford assessment on the 14th Jan 2017. Was wondering how many did take the test. There were long queues to get in. Very nerve wrecking. My son did 11+ he found Maths hard. Any thoughts on what they looking for. My son is from state school nod not prep. What are the chances of him getting in. He does play district cricket.

Hello
My son also set RGS assessment on the 14th of Jan. He did 13+ (he is in y.6 now). I wonder if anyone heard back from school yet?
Thanks in advance.

HI there, I saw that you commented on a thread about RGS Guildford a while back. It looks like we might be about to get an offer and I'm desperately trying to canvas opinion to see what people with boys currently there (or new leavers) think of the the school. The pros and cons and what type of boy might thrive and struggle there. If you have a moment in your day to share your thoughts I'd be so grateful, Cheerio