KCS, RGS or Hampton

[Esher2021]

I saw a few of us need to make choice between 2 or 3 of these schools. I thought a thread would be useful to see what people are thinking.

Looking at travel for us we prefer RGS and KCS - eventually I think public transport will be practical for both schools as DS get older. The trip from Hampton I think is more complicated.

We have a lovely s/s but it isn’t helping us separate the lovely schools. I think KCS looks like it has an edge for on school facilities but I’m not convinced DS is going to be too bothered.

Both are clearly academic but I have a nagging doubt that the pressure will be even higher (too high?) at KCS. Curriculum look very similar as do subjects offered.

KCS sports ground is closer for us. Think DS prefers RGS but only because that is the one in his head from when we started as DD is at school in Guildford. I think the academic scholarship at RGS will be great for his self confidence but I’m not sure there are any other benefits.

And that’s as about as far we got. Great to have a choice, and he has really done brilliantly. Wasn’t expecting it tbh.

And then I come full circle and wonder if I was rash to discount Hampton so quickly.

Where is everyone else’s heads?

My nephew went to RGS on an academic scholarship and DS went to KCS on one. In both cases it has not made a difference and is pretty much forgotten about when they get there (apart from the tiny fees reduction). I wouldn’t base my decision on this if I were you. Is there anything your DS particularly enjoys in terms of extracurricular that might be better at one school?. My DS is a keen footballer so that was a deciding factor for him in choosing KCS whereas his cousin played a lot of hockey which I think is more of a major sport at RGS. Drama is particularly strong at KCS but not as good at RGS (I think hardly any of the RGS boys do gcse drama while it is very popular at KCS). A levels versus IB is also a huge factor...If your DS is very STEM focused then he will probably be happier to do A levels but if he is an all rounder that favours essay based subjects but want to keep a “hand in” math and science then IB is a good choice. And finally do you want girls in 6th form? Some boys really don’t care and are happy to be single sex all the way but others can benefit from an introduction to girls prior to uni. In terms of culture I think RGS feels very Home Counties and the demographic reflects this. KCS is a bit more diverse - lots of boys with parents from other European countries, South Africa, the US, Australia etc - it reflects the London melting pot demographic. According to my DB, RGS parents tend to be more traditional doctors, lawyers and accountants. Either way I don’t think you can go wrong though as they are bothering fabulous schools (as is Hampton!)

@Esher2021 have you come to a decision? We haven’t. We’re going to go to KCS tomorrow to see what the journey time is like. If we go with KCS DS will probably need to go on the train as we are quite far from the nearest coach pick up.

I was hoping someone might have answered my query about when KCS became more popular as it was only a few years ago that children at my DS current school went there if they didn’t get in to RGS.

Still in 2 minds and household is dividing! I think I said but we did the drive to KCS ourselves to check the run and peer in.

It is hard when both KCS and RGS we would have taken without hesitation if we were only offered one. It is hard to know where he will fit better and be happier? Is the large KCS intake from junior a downside there. Will KCS stretch DS the right amount given it is a notch above (to quote a previous post) or will both stretch just fine?

DS joined KCS in September. Didn't take RGS exam last year as it clashed it KCS!! I had a look around RGS and was initially keen to apply as the chance of getting a scholarship might be higher than KCS. I even wrote to ask RGS admissions if they could schedule another test date for those who took KCS exam on the clash date. They didn't entertain the request :)

So we had to choose one school between the two for the entry exam, as we would have chosen if two offers were received, and we couldn't be happier. DS came from a one-form entry state primary and he loves his senior school. The school said state/prep split in Year 7 is 40/60, in September the Junior School will join the new Year 7 so obviously the state % will be smaller.

Both schools are excellent and have very good public transport connections. I would suggest taking the train to school for a full journey and have a feel. It's very important as children this age see school as an extension of their home life, they don't see results/destinations/prestige etc. Personally being in London I would only send DS out to Surrey for school if he has acres of greens to roam around, not to a town centre school. The walk from station to school for RGS is through concrete commercial high street, the walk for KCS is through leafy neighbourhood streets.

Again both schools are excellent so take the journey and go with your gut feel.

@Esher2021, you say your house is dividing, which is DS's preference? It is so hard as both are amazing schools but if you'd be happy with either, I would be tempted to just go with the one he likes best....

Agree too though with @springisnear's advice to try both train journeys/walks to school. We have done the journey to both our school options this week - not that we've been able to do any more than look at the outside of them but DS was visibly excited at the airiness, amount of space and extent of the grounds at the Hampton site, and less excited about RGS. It definitely compounded my gut feel that of our two, Hampton is the place for him.

(Although I did point out to him that a walk through a town centre back to the station would potentially yield the ability to nip into Caffe Nero on the way home to pick up a snack but no, he wasn't swayed. Which says something, actually, as DS LOVES a Caffe Nero snack).

Springisnear

The school said state/prep split in Year 7 is 40/60, in September the Junior School will join the new Year 7 so obviously the state % will be smaller

Could I ask you to explain what this means please? I am rather confused about the KCS situation for Y7 and Y8? Is it no longer the case that their own junior school Y7s and 8s are kept separate from the relatively newly formed Lower School 7s and 8s and only come together in the senior school at Y9, along with those doing 13+

Does what I’ve typed even make sense?

Not that I think it is a deciding factor in your decisions, but I am a little bemused at the description of Guildford High Street as concrete.

It's funny my two have loved the fact they can socialise after school in Guildford-in those good old days when you could! It is a lovely town centre and has other facilities the boys can enjoy like the Spectrum-they often meet up in half term etc. These are all things I didn't even think about when choosing schools!
My DS loved Hampton but when we took him back he realised he would be on a coach for a long time each day. I also couldn't just pop over if they needed something or where ill etc. So I think journey and social side are the two most important factors. The academics are amazing at all the schools.
Once you put your deposit down you won't give the other schools a thought-that is how I felt and I know my DS was really happy with the choice he made. Just think how lucky you are to have such an amazing choice.

Just to add my bit - we live near Esher and my son has gone to KCS since he was 8. He would get the school bus in and I would pick him up on the days I could. From Esher the journey is less than 20 minutes by car (longer on the school bus). From Day 1 he has absolutely loved the school and we are so pleased for him. We have found it a very nurturing school but yet firm enough so that the boys know the boundaries of behaviour and what is expected of them. My son is now in Lower Fifth and cannot wait to be back in school with his friends.

Squiggles as a current patent, could I ask what the general view is on the merging of the top end of prep with the senior lower school? So effectively ending the junior school at Y6 and starting in the main school two years earlier. Has it gone down well?

We have an offer and I have to admit I didn’t know anything of this change. We went to an open day a year ago and they didn’t mention it.

Thank you all for the help, it has been invaluable.

We have picked RGS, and are very happy with the choice.

I thought I would drop our personal reasons, in case it helps anyone else. We loved the teaching staff and it had a lovely family feeling about it. DS felt he would settle and be happiest there. We really liked having a social life for him that would centre around Guildford and public transport home as he got older.

I took a close look at the results and he was going to be stretched at both schools collecting the same number of A*\9s. So we couldn’t really separate them on that.

There wasn’t much in it for us logistically.

Good luck to everyone else choosing. These are three amazing schools.

@Esher2021 that’s great news. So pleased you have a decision you are all happy with and I’m sure your DS will have a fabulous time there.

As I’ve said on other threads, we have decided in favour of Hampton - we are nearer, it’s an easier journey but is also DS’s clear favourite out of the two by a mile so just made sense for us.

As you say, you can’t really go wrong with any of the schools, our boys have all done incredibly well and I am sure will have a great time wherever they go. What a year hey?

Good luck to everyone who is still to make a decision

@Motherdare what did you choose in the end?

Thank you @Jumpalicious! Have you decided to go with KCS or Tiffin?

Exciting times for our DC now...hopefully they can start to look forward to starting their new schools

Oh that’s great news - I’m sure DS will have a fab time.

I know what you mean about feeling reluctant to let the state option go though. We didn’t do Tiffin, but our state comp allocation is highly regarded and gets great results and I felt a pang letting that go too.

Good to have decisions made though! I’m sure once they all settle and get started we won’t look back (other than with relief that we survived the madness of 11+ during a global pandemic).

Well done everyone. We had a wobble giving up Kings and Tiffins as well.

Excited about RGS - loved the school and the people we met. Really sold it for me, as people say having made the decision it is much easier now.

I don’t think there was a bad choice possible for many of us. Hope that WL boys hear good news soon.

@Esher2021 will your son be going by train - i'm guessing from Esher?! Bit nervous about solo public transport at 11, but sure it will be fine :)

Solo public transport is something that can be trialled over the summer holidays. My DS bumped into one of his (now) friends on one of the trial journeys [friend travels from Walton on Thames]. By week 2 everyone knows which carriage to find their friends in 😁

Probably and I think a lot of kids will be doing it. Quite a lot go on the London Road line as well