RGS Guildford 2022 entry

[Atreyu]

My son recently sat the entrance exams for RGS Guildford. I'm wondering if anyone has heard anything yet about or been invited to the 2nd/Benefit-of-doubt interviews in January? Anxiously waiting here and not sure whether I want to get an email about it or whether I don't!!

@Oldmonk we had the same choice and opted for Hampton - Y7 (non-sporty, non musical) DS is now very happy there. There were two main reasons for our choice - firstly DS liked it more than RGS (RGS is lovely, but this was just his gut 11-year-old feel I think!) and secondly the journey was more convenient for us in terms of the coach route. DS is the middle child of three and the train to RGS would have been much more of a faff for us, from where we live, in terms of co-ordinating family logistics.

In terms of the sports query specifically - I don't know what happens at RGS but at Hampton the boys have the option of taking 'non-competitive football' for games in Y7 if they want to. This means they don't have to compete in Saturday matches and just play football as a non-competitive group during their games lessons. The majority of boys do opt for competitive - and the standard is super high for those that do - but DS tells me that there are around 25 boys doing non-competitive, which is actually a decent number, and their group seem to be quite happy just enjoying their football informally.

Honestly, despite their 'sporty' reputations, RGS and Hampton will each have their contingents of quiet, non-sporty boys in their various year groups and I am sure your boy will find friends whichever school you opt for.

Thank you for the feedback. Lots to decide and take in!

@Oldmonk, at RGS boys can play the different sports "casually" (not beyond Games or PE lessons). They encourage 'casual' players to join in the House competitions, as without them, there aren't enough players. For House Rugby, they did reduce the number of players needed for each team to make the games fairer. But, House competition isn't only the 'big' sports... there's House Chess, House Table Tennis and other non-contact/non-sport House competitions that happen, too. House Quiz was a good one, this half-term. Everyone finds something they like

I just wanted to share that I have been very impressed with RGS in this 11+ / 13+ process and I do think they live up to their reputation of how they take in boys with potential. From my experience, RGS came across as the only one that was prepared to look at ‘potential’. My DS had a decent CAT score, was called back for 2nd interview for maths borderline and now offered a spot. He was not tutored apart my guidance in the evenings after work. My DS probably did reasonably well in the other subjects, is good in music (he learnt very much on his own and with weekly lessons, as neither my DH and I have a music background) and probably had a good reference letter from his prep school. It was likely based on these that he got the offer. But I was thinking that RGS probably had a lot of good performers to choose from. So, why should they offer a spot to a child who did not do too well in Maths in ISEB? Also RGS has been doing this all these years and yet majority of boys do well in GCSE and beyond. RGS seems to be ranking high for a number of years. My only conclusion is that they do pick boys with potential (perhaps also spitting boys who are not tutored) and have a way of teaching them that leads to good outcomes. Just sharing my personal thoughts and hope it’s helpful.

I would second JustInvolved, our experience is that they must have gone on potential with my son and I am very impressed by that given that on the face of it, the entrance process seems very rigid. We are currently deciding between RGS and a much more mixed ability option which would potentially be more ‘nurturing’. If anyone has experience of the learning support function pls could you share it with me either on here or by a PM. My son is very bright, but needs a little bit of flexibility and tailoring in the classroom - at the moment very light touch but not sure if this will become greater as he goes into the teenage years. He likes structure and predictability and needs to be challenged.. and he just loved RGS when we visited.

How did everyone get on with the offer holders afternoon yesterday? Are the decisions feeling easier now?

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Yes, do share! Keen to know how you feel / impressions about the school etc, travel, lifestyle of boys, academic pressure, sports / club commitments etc, music m. (I’m only going in mid-April for 13+.)

We really enjoyed the day. A lot of thought and time had obviously gone into it and all of the teachers they rolled out had a really nice approach I thought. The Head set the tone at the start - very down to earth and upbeat with a clear sense of direction. The teachers we met were brilliant with my son and seemed very caring. A lot of talk about the sheer number and variety of clubs, which sounds great. Academics aren't our priority (we take as a given) so we were really probing about the pastoral side - how they support the boys and make it fun. Also interested in music and art and both seem excellent. The two boys who showed us around were a credit to the school. Quietly confident, sense of fun, no edge to them at all. It was Friday afternoon and a lot of sport and sport chat going on so if I had a sporty son I'd have no hesitation. The boy who showed us around was on the tennis team. We loved what we saw but I am realistic that any senior school will be a big step (for our son in particular) and no school will be perfect or without bumps along the way.

Thanks for sharing. Its very helpful and really pleased with the info. Glad to hear that it was such a thought-out process. Pastoral care, sports, music, art and clubs is great. One query - do you know how many 'late' evenings they would have. One school we visited shared that the students must do at least 3 evenings a week of after-school activities. Any similar reqts in RGS? In RGS, I saw that boys will end at around 4pm and so trying to get a sense of return home timings. Thanks

My son is year 8 at RGS. I've just asked him and he said the after school sports practices are not compulsory but if you want to be selected for or are in a team then you need to attend. He goes to one practice per week and does one other non-sport after school club. Occasionally there are ad hoc sporting fixtures too whereby you can collect afterwards from the venue or the boys can catch the minibus back to school/the train station.

@justinvolved, like @villagegirlatheart's son, my son is Yr 8 at RGS, and he does 2 after school activities, by choice. There isn't an expectation that the boys do a specific number of co-curricular activities, after school. There are plenty of clubs at lunchtime too. Junior Science and Code-Breaking clubs are after school, finishing around 4.45-5pm, so they aren't super late. Some of the music groups meet before morning Registration. I'm not 100% sure, but I think choir meet at lunchtime.
There are lots of choices for the boys, but no compulsion

Sorry just to clarify - I thought a couple on here were asking if it had enough focus on sport - that’s why I said if I had a sporty son I’d have no hesitation! We are going for it too - there seems to be so much on offer for everyone. Good luck with the decision to others.

Both my sons have left RGS now but I come on here every year to say congratulations to those with an offer and to also to say that you won't regret choosing the school. It really is a fantastic place which encourages lovely young men to flourish in many different ways. It was a real financial stretch for us but worth every penny!

Thanks for sharing this info. Thoughtful of the school to put activities around lunchtime and no mandatory activities after school. I'm sure he will join at least 2 activities but it is a relief to see that school ends at a very decent time, including with extra activities. We live in Merton area and will take the train from Wimbledon, so its quite a journey to and fro. The timings you have mentioned make it doable.

Following on to the question on after school activities, can I check on weekend/ Saturday fixtures? Is it almost every Saturday?

And what about Away matches on Saturday? Does school provide transport from school to away venue?

@oldmonk, if your DS played rugby, hockey and cricket competitively, there would be fixtures on Saturday morning throughout all 3 terms. If he played only casually (E,F,G or H teams) your Saturday morning would be clear.

For Away matches, there are coaches from GLive to the Away venue and return after the match. You've got an option to travel direct if the Away venue is close to your home.

We found the Offer Holders afternoon very useful, and have now accepted a place for DS. He was actively excited about joining RGS after the event last Friday.

@Pyrfwondering Thanks for the details.
Ah..clock is ticking and we are still struggling to decide between RGS and Hampton..I know good problem to have!

@Oldmonk, I think they are genuinely both excellent schools and very similar in many ways. You really can’t go wrong.

At an information evening sometime back Hamptons admission staff themselves actually suggested to me they saw themselves as pretty equivalent to RGS. I think in your place the two deciding factors for me would be your DS’s preference and the commute (both its length and its ease).

@oldmonk - what was your sense from the visit to the 2 schools for the Holders' event?

Hi
Those boys who were offered a place at RGS what SAS scores did they get please?
Thank you

@yellowrose9 , the results are out on Friday

@redrobin75 thank you. Please could you share the scores then? Good luck to you all .

What are SAS scores?
I didn't think the schools shared what marks were achieved... either you're offered a place (with or without scholarship) or not.

What is RGS range for ISEB - ?