RGS Guildford exam 2017

[riti56]

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

Many Thanks

Hi Sazzy, thanks for replying. Actually, I am not looking for 11 plus tuitions as such. Just wanted some good tutor who can help a student ( ks2) in creative writing and improve English skills in general.

My DS has a place for September entry @ 11+ and is I'd say bright in some subjects not all, not really the sportiest kid in the world (usually found in the bottom teams) and dropped playing piano a few years ago as he found it uninteresting, so music is not at the top of the agenda either! Since that time, we could not bring ourselves to try another instrument . Question I have is, will the parents with current DC think it's worth a shot or is there too much emphasis on sports and music that he may struggle with? Even at an academic level he is not a straight 'A' student, so we were really proud and surprised when we received the offer letter. He also just received a place at a free but Grammar school (top 100 for GCSEs) closer to home but I'm sure both are chalk and cheese in comparison. Just not sure if he'll fit in with all the extra compulsory sports at RGS. Are matches held on weekdays or also on weekends and does this result in a lot of travelling for all teams, or just the top ones? Sorry for all the questions, need to make a decision by Monday , and being stressed is an understatement as its a huge financial committment for my partner and I.

MKD I have a son at RGS. It is not a sports school; yes there are sports fixtures and they have many teams so that everyone who wants to participate has a go. If you do not want to play in the sports fixtures on Saturday (there are coaches to take them there), there is no pressure at all. Music is very good, but again only if you want to do it. Sport and music, they are there (and with excellent coaching/music) but there is no pressure from the teachers or other boys to take part.
Academically, if he has a place then they saw potential in him. It is a very academic school, but gentle, not pushy or a hothouse.
It is the top 3 boys school in the country but with very gentle/supportive feel to it. We had this choice 2 years ago with a grammar school and RGS, not regretted our decision. But again if the fees will put great pressure on the family, no school is worth that. Good luck!

musicathome76 thank you so much for your response. Been panicking since the National offers day with our dilemma (sincere apologies to those I messaged directly). We will be somewhat strained financially but have one DS and the opportunity seems to be too good to miss. From what you write, can I assume then there is no compulsion for the boys to attend matches on weekends? I gather Music is mandatory up until year 3 and an option to extend to GCSE? DS is quirky in some respects and can read all day if he had his way but was tutored for the 11+ Grammar School tests and I cannot say hand on heart this did not work to his advantage for RGS. His heart is set on it, he really enjoyed the exam experience and made friends quickly - even though we did not encounter any other DC from his current school..

Hi we have a DS at RGS. Music as a subject is compulsory initially but think all schools are like that? As is art and RE. My son loves sport so joins the after school training but if you don't want to be in a team there is no pressure to play other than in normal games during school hours. If your DS isn't trying for a sports team he won't be picked so no Sat matches.
I think the school is great but I would take the grammar place if I had a choice-it's free. We don't have that choice unfortunately. Good luck.

Hi Sazzy (and other posters).

We are looking at the 2018 RGS exam for DS1. Which 11+ papers did you use - Bond or another brand?

Any advice welcome!

HI
We used a variety of books from WHSmith-I think most were the bond ones. The English comp was multiple choice this year I believe. VR is totally about practicing and making sure you control your time. Another friend used Galore Park? Good Luck!!

Thanks!

Hi,
There is no scarcity of publications in the market for 11 plus. We used Bond and CGP publications for 11 plus for all the subjects. Since RGS exam is more of GL style, I would recommend GL publications as well. In addition you can also look at various independent school website. Some of these publish sample papers, which will you give you a fair idea on how the real exam may look like. Here is the link to the various independent schools and some free sample papers to practise for - www.independentjunction.co.uk/specimen/11.html

Good Luck!

Thanks!

Have got some GL and some Bond books

Hello ladies,
I am back after a long break. Hope u all are well. We are yet to find a house to move into, closer to school :( and DS would have to commute from our current house in Basingstoke to begin with!
Really anxious about the whole idea of him commuting from here!
Also really looking forward to meeting all of you mums on the 21st of this month - Induction Day.

HI Forevermum, I do know a few boys that have long journey times (1 1/2hrs each way). They are not moving either so they will have to do it for the duration of their stay at RGS. How long
does it take-is it a train to Woking then change and on to Guildford? That wouldn't be horrendous? Where have you been looking to buy? The market is pretty slow at the moment so probably not many properties available.
The 21st will help you feel it will all be ok.
Good luck.

Hey Sazzy5, so good to hear from you...remembering our chats back in Jan and stalking the postman :)
DS would have to take the train from Basingstoke to Woking at 7:47 am which takes 19 mins and then change for a 10 min journey from Woking to Guilford. It's not too bad in the morning u see..but it is the afternoon journey that worries me. DS would have to catch the 16:17 train to Woking so he can reach Basingstoke by 5 pm. I know it takes 12-15 mins to reach the station from school...so don't think he will be able to catch the 16:17 train.
His next option is catching the 16:34 train to Woking, but the change from Woking to Basingstoke is a slow train which takes 40 mins, which isn't ideal!
He could wait in school and then catch the 17:00 train from Guildford to Woking and change to a fast train which will reach Basingstoke at 17:36.
The ideal thing for him would be to catch the train that leaves at 16:17..but I am not sure if he will be able to wrap up everything quickly and run to the station to catch this train!
I don't think he will have any company at all and I know there's safety in numbers. Coming home late also means he will be more tired and with all the homework etc, I am not sure if he will be able to cope up with the hectic schedule, which is the complete opposite of what he has now..a 3 min drive to school!!! I am also worried that his social life won't be so great if he doesn't have friends who live nearby. Going to school with friends will be a good thing and children form strong bonds when they travel together.

We are looking to buy in Farnborough, but no luck. As u mentioned..market is slow and nothing much out there to our liking! We got to meet on the 21st..am really excited. Also sazzy5, thank u so much for your reply. Made me feel slightly better after I read it yesterday :)

Forevermum
Our chats kept us sane in those mad weeks in January! Glad I never have to do that again!
You could ask Mrs Sweet if there are any other boys coming from Basingstoke, I am sure he won't be the only boy. There may be older boys that do that route that will guide him. It is worth asking.
My DS sometimes catches the 4.17 but he has no time pressure to get it as we live in Woking. There are also some days that the lessons always end on time so they leave promptly. If your DS can make catch the 4.17 that works well but maybe if he knows he will struggle to catch it he could just sit in the library and do at least one homework to take the pressure off.
My DS friends are all over the place and they all seem to be able to arrange to meet up and often go by train. It does make them independent!

Thanks Sazzy5, will definitely talk to Mrs Sweet to see if anyone travels from here. We looked at some houses in Woking too, but couldn't find anything that suited our requirement. But will keep looking. Woking is ideal to travel to Guildford. If DS can manage from here, then nothing like it..it will save us a lot of money and the trouble of the move itself! Hopefully, he will settle well and make lots of friends in the new setup.

Forevermum,
I am in same situation as you. We live in Fleet. So no direct train to Guildford.Do not plan to move near to Guildford at the moment but may be in near future. I plan to drop my son to Farnborough North train station or Blackwater from where he can catch a direct train.
But what worries me more is the walk from train station to school, Traffic would be too bad in rush hour and he would have to go thru couple of traffic light crossings. I am not sure enough to let him go on his own to start with.
I was hoping that some parent may be interested in sharing pick/drop off to school or a taxi sharing ( may be from Farnborough) if we can manage to find a good number of boys.

Hi riti
I was very very worried about the walk too but there are so many that do it they are safe. My DS catches the train that goes up to the London road station it is a better walk from there and all down hill! I took the train the first day and my DS didn't want me the next day . I have to say my DS has become very aware of trains traffic etc so he has grown up big time.

Hi Sazzy,
Thanks for the assurance. Felling better now. You are right that the path from the London road train station to the school is better. Why I did not think about it even though I traced the path on one of the days?

See you all on 21st June.

Hi Riti,
I am actually more worried about the 2 trains that my son needs to take and not so much about the walk from station to school n back. Reason being I am planning to go all the way to drop him to school to begin with and once I see he is quite ok with it, I will go until Woking and pick him up from Woking until he tells me to stop doing it. I have a friend whose son goes to RGS year 9 and lives in Farnborough. He says there are many kids who live in Fleet and travel together to Guildford. I think you should be fine as he will have some company. Looking forward to our catch up on the 21st.

Sazzy..u r so right. This independence will make them more responsible. I am really waiting for that day when my son will ask me to stay back at home :))

ForeverMum,
Yes, I think initial few months are crucial and then they will settle down eventually. To start with even we are planning to go with him everyday by train untill he is okay to do that on his own. See you then on Wednesday.

Hi Sazzy5, did u enjoy the Induction Day at RGS on the longest and hottest day of Summer ? Gosh! The heat was too much to take in and socialising with other parents was the last thing on my mind that day! Fanning myself to sanity was top priority :))!
However, amidst all the heat and sweat..I bumped into Riti56 ..glee :))
Sadly, couldn't catch up with u! If u look in the contact list for year7, u will find me easily; I am the only one from Basingstoke! But finding you isn't easy for me, as there are many kids from Woking. Please drop me an email if u can and let me know if your son is also in the same class as my DS. Even if they aren't, I am sure they will make friends across the classes and not just stick with their classmates.
Looking forward to hearing from you; for a change - somewhere other than mumsnet :)

I have a son at the school and my advice would be : don't tutor unless there's a good reason - like they've been il or English is not their first language .
I would go through the VR books you can buy in WH Smith's - just to familiarise with this sort of test so that the child knows what's expected and won't panic .
On another thread someone called the school a ' hothouse '. As Mrs Sweet ( admission registrar ) once said to me : the right school for the right boy . If your son needs lots of tuition to get in , he won't be happy there . Doesn't mean he can't get excellent results somewhere else . But he might feel too much under pressure or intimidated by all the extremely bright boys . I am going to let another son try , but if he won't get in I'll trust it's for the best .

Hi all, preparations are going well for us!

Can anyone tell me what date the past acceptance deadline has been? Hampton publish it as midday on Monday 5th March but RGS don't seem to say.