Hampton vs RGS Guildford

[jmummy11]

DS received offers from Hampton and RGS Guildford. Both seems to be very good school with the right focus on academics and sports. Distance to either is not an issue.
Can mummies to sons in these schools give some feedback please? What kind of atmosphere / culture do the schools have? Is it easy for boys to make friends coming in at 13+? How are the teachers and staff? Thank you so much!

Any feedback pls? Thanks!

This may not be the week to ask as the 11 plus parents are waiting to hear if their DS have interviews at Hampton and the RGS 11 plus exam is in less than a week.

We are accepting RGS. Seems to be a lovely school. Lots of my daughter's friends brothers go there. I don't think there will be any trouble joining at 13+ as they make up 2 classes of new boys. Don't know anything about Hampton

Hampton has a big 13+ intake from the prep schools.
All the classes are mixed up so the boys that have been there for 2 years have to in effect start again. In some ways it's harder on them than the boys coming in.

Both are excellent! Don't think you can go wrong with either.
RGS is town based so produces quite street-wise boys. Tend to have a very good sense of humour and really does cater for all types from the sporty lads to the quieter, geekier types. Very special place.
I know less about Hampton as we are further away from it but hear nothing but brilliant reviews. I think the two are extremely similar. Both have good links with local girls schools.
Does your DS have a preference? Any friends going to one or the other schools?

Thanks all!

Chilmunkdance
DS has a few friends going to Hampton but I quite like the setting at RGS, and he does too. He was just not sure abt making new friends but I assure him it will be fine...hopefully!

Both are great schools we chose RGS over Hamptons partly because it was slightly easier to get to but also because I preferred the Head. My DS knew no one at RGS and has made loads of friends. Sport is way better than I thought and it isn’t as pushy as I assumed it would be. I expect Hamptons is similar. I really don’t think you can go wrong with either school.

DS applied to both, RGS seemed to be a bit useless for his special need and less modern generally, so he much preferred Hampton.

He now does rowing quite avidly (which only starts at 13+ so he literally missed out on nothing by joining at that age), which is good as he is not very coordinated for ball games. They also have climbing which appears to be for those who are neither coordinated nor wanting to put much effort in it (rowing is very full-on). I don't think RGS had such options - it looks like it's just ball games.

Neither of these things are necessarily considerations for you.

I hear great things about both . Hampton has more sport fields , but they do sports at RGS too .
I am very positive about RGS . I think the school is very well organised and the teaching is generally dynamic . Good relationships between boys - teachers . Nice bunch of boys , in fact as someone said - it’s ok to be geeky . I like the fact it’s in town , later on they will appreciate this . Pastoral care is good too . My son joined in yr 13 and is shy but has made friends , don’t worry .

Not yr 13 , at 13 , sorry

Curious about how you received offers for both schools just before the exams - are you applying out of year, or have you held onto offers from last year?

Maybe they’re pretty sure to get offers from both schools ?

There’s an older thread on Hampton vr RGS btw .
It says that Hampton has more on site facilities , which is true . And that a geek would be happy at RGS , which is also true . If you’ve got the choice and live somewhere in between. , it comes down to if you prefer sports facilities or a town setting probably .

Both great schools, and agree with the sentiments above. I would say you get a real sense of difference in the schools through the personal styles of the headmasters. Both impressive gentlemen, with admirable philosophies, and but quite different in their manner and approach.