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Secondary education

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Original poster

RGS Guildford exam 2017

200 replies

riti56 · 21/10/2016 08:27

To the Mums whose son sat in RGS Guildford entrance exam in previous year(s) . Please suggest on exam preparation

Many Thanks

OP posts:
orangeplum · 12/02/2017 14:55

Well done JJP - really pleased for your DS (and you!)

user1486836371 · 12/02/2017 19:43

We got a 12+ call back letter, I wondered if anyone knows how many call back letters are given out and if the format of the exam is the same as the 11+?

Is there much of a chance of being offered a place following the 12+ exam?

Any advice would be welcome!

8Comp · 13/02/2017 09:09

I got NO after second interview (English).
Do I have an option for appeals?
Can I re apply in year 8, 9...... ? how ?
My son has done good in grammar schools entrance waiting for seat allocation, but keen wit RGS.
Please guide me

thanks for your support.

sazzy5 · 13/02/2017 10:11

8comp I'm sorry your DS didn't get in, the call back is a really difficult wait. Personally I would not think of questioning the system, a lot of boys apply for this school and they choose the boys based on lots of experience. If you have other choices that is great RGS isn't the be all and end all of education.

sazzy5 · 13/02/2017 10:13

User I don't know about the 12+ but JJP above has been through the process so maybe ask them directly? Clearly boys do get in but it is the extra long wait that must be difficult!

Sassy56 · 13/02/2017 11:57

I personally wouldn't hold out for offer after 12plus. From what little I know there are very few spaces available and it really is a long shot . Better to opt out now and look elsewhere. As for a 'No' that's it I think. Not sure you can appeal?

JJP123 · 13/02/2017 11:58

Hi,

Yes we had the 12+ letter last year. We had a great other option and I very much left it to my DS to decide if he wanted to do it or not. He did as a few of his friends are going there.
It's a similar format - English, maths and VR. The interview though is with the Head and the Head of Admissions. They go in in 3s and are asked two very random questions each. You cannot prep at all for it. They obviously want to see how they think and how they think on their feet.
As for how many letters, I don't know I'm afraid but I'm sure the school will tell you if you ask. My DS said there were approx 25 sitting it but not sure how many places there were.
Good luck if you do go for it. My advice would be to be relaxed about it and if you have another great option, then it's not the be all and end all. The worst thing was having to wait another year to find out and to have to sit the exams again.
Good luck either way.

JJP123 · 13/02/2017 12:01

As for appealing the 11+ decision, I believe that's a no no. I also think they won't let you re-apply. The only way you're allowed a second shot is if you go for 13+ in the first place and they offer you a 12+ callback, which is essentially the equivalent of the second interview your DS had

Original poster
riti56 · 13/02/2017 20:40

8Comp, very sorry to hear about "NO". I am not much aware of appeal process to RGS, there was no mention of it in the admission supplement . But I would say your DS is a bright kid as he has performed well in grammar school entrance exam. Grammar schools are as good as independent schools. Good luck to you and your DS!

OP posts:
Original poster
riti56 · 13/02/2017 20:47

Helen, Thanks for sharing your experience with me on your DS's everyday commute to Guildford by train That was very kind of you. Nice to hear that his commute so far has been smooth and trouble free ( with just only 3 cancellations :) ). Sounds encouraging to me and has boosted my confidence. Thanks again!

OP posts:
8Comp · 13/02/2017 22:18

Thanks.

IBM2017 · 14/02/2017 14:08

Preparing for next year 11+. Thanks to all for the experience. Does anyone who know about the Academic scholarship. Just heard it's very hard to get. How many boys can be offered every year. Not enough information on the school web. xx

RainbowBabyMum · 14/02/2017 14:59

Hi

Could I ask your advise on the school choice please? We received offers form RGS (13+), KGS (11+, large bursary that is very important for our family) and Trinity (11+, bursary amount to be specified later). My DS is very gifted in singing and music and bright boy, but not especially academic at the moment. What would be your opinion on choosing between these three schools?
To focus my interest, my main concerns regarding schools are: 1) Is RGS rather hothouse exams factory than inspiring environment for various talents? 2) Is KGS rather focused on kids having relaxing happy school life than on ambition and development? 3) Is Trinity rather base for brilliant choir and music facilities than good all-round, including academic, school?
Thank you very much in advance.

gerbera20 · 15/02/2017 08:26

First of all congratulations to all for securing a place at a fantastic school. Rainbow baby mum, I have a son in L6 at RGS and he has been there since year 7. It is a fabulous school and not a hothouse at all. Up until GCSE there is no pressure at all, and even at GCSE only those who can do and should do better are being monitored and rightly so. The ethos is very much that the boys have to want to do it for themselves, which is instilled in early years. There are no sets, they assume that everyone is at the same level. If your son is naturally bright then he should not have a problem at all, those who have had to work hard for their 11+ results might find it bit more challenging. Most teachers are very inspiring, they tend to cover what they need to know very quickly and then use the rest of the time to look at other things beyond the curriculum which keeps the interest going. My son is sporty so I don't know a lot about the opportunities in music, but from friends whose children do have a passion for music it seems very well catered for up to a high standard. I can't comment on the other schools as I have no children there, however, if the bursary is very important to your family I would weigh that more heavily. At the end of the day, no school is worth it if it would put financial strain on your family.

RainbowBabyMum · 15/02/2017 09:00

gerbera20, thank you very much for your answer

sazzy5 · 15/02/2017 15:35

Hi our son is at RGS and it definitely isn't a hot house-just full of bright able boys. My DS does a lot of sports training outside of school which he has kept up with. So I wouldn't worry about the hothouse word. I thought music was well regarded at RGS but we are not musical so not an issue for us.
I would choose based on location and it sounds like the bursary is a major factor too. There is no point paying hefty fees if you don't need to.
You have a lovely choice of schools and can't go wrong with whichever you choose.

RainbowBabyMum · 15/02/2017 18:39

Thank you sazzy5

Sassy56 · 17/02/2017 14:48

Definitely not a hot house. The boys seem to motivate each other to want to do well. Those who are good at music seem to thrive as well as those who like sport. The one thing I'd say is that sport isn't probably taken quite as seriously as other, more expensive boarding type schools, but there's certainly enough going on. After all, they aren't there to play games all day and if that's what you are looking for - wrong school.

ISD1 · 18/02/2017 19:32

Congratulation to everyone who received an offer, we did as well from RGS/KGS. With our preference being RGS, and therefore having to also move and having heard of children travelling from the North Camp area, how far is it to walk from Guildford Station? I notice from previous comments it takes ~ 10 minutes from London Road, but the property prices on that side are out of our reach. TIA.

sazzy5 · 18/02/2017 22:25

It is a short walk from London Rd, my son does the walk with no complaints. They love catching the train and I can honestly say it has helped him be more independent. I was very worried at first but he knows the timetable and what to do if there are delays etc. We took the train the first day and on the way back but he didn't want us after that!

helenwilson · 18/02/2017 22:52

Hi, I'm gatcrashing this thread again. My son travels into Guildford from North Camp although he is not at at RGS. He does walk up occasionally with his best friend though, he takes his bike on the train and then rides on to his school afterwards (if he's earlier than his friend he just rides off taking a different route). Lots of RGS boys arrive at Guildford station and walking up is straightforward. I think it takes about 20 minutes plus or minus a bit depending on pace. You could change at Guildford for a London Road train, but it's probably more hassle than it's worth. From North Camp there's a group of boys who catch the 7:34 train, this train is sometimes late but rarely cancelled. If you check before you travel you can go from Ash at 7:45 in an emergency on the same ticket. There is a later train at 8:04 ish but that requires a brisker walk. We live in Mytchett, we moved here from Guildford last June (hence bit of a commute to get to his school), my daughter will also go in September and I have no concerns about the train. There is a little group that go from North Camp to RGS each morning from across the year groups and they have all made my son feel very welcome on the train even though he is not even at their school ! In terms of looking for a house, Mytchett it nice (well connected to London too from Ash Vale station), Farnborough and Frimley are possibilities or you could look at Worplesdon or Pirbright (more expensive but nice areas and closer to Guildford - easy five minute train journey from Worplesdon station). Or potentially the Onslow Village area of Guildford as the number 18 bus goes right past RGS in the mornings.

Original poster
riti56 · 22/02/2017 10:53

Hi everyone,
Since all the mums on this thread have been pretty responsive and considerate I would like to ask if anyone can suggest me a good English tutor for KS2. We are based in Fleet. Apologies to post an entirely different question on this thread!

OP posts:
Original poster
riti56 · 22/02/2017 10:56

IBM2017,
Do not know much about the complexity of scholarship exam. All I know is this year 27 candidates were invited for the exam ( top 27 performers)
and around 7 were offered scholarship.

OP posts:
ISD1 · 24/02/2017 19:14

helenwilson
Sorry been busy at work. Thanks for the informative post. We will make a decision next week whether to send DS to the school and start looking to move in earnest, for now awaiting results for the free grammar's local to us.

sazzy5 · 24/02/2017 19:26

Riti we didn't tutor, we just used the 11+ papers. Might be worth asking friends if they use a tutor.