Reigate Grammar School

[summersky42]

We are considering schools for 11+ for our DD and this is one that came up.

Are there any parents whose DDs go to this school? I am concerned that it is mainly boys-focussed so might not be ideal for girls. Certainly, none (or very few) of the notable alumni listed on their own site seems to be girls/women.

I read on another thread that Caterham does not (or until quite recently did not) allow girls to play certain sports. If true, that is shocking and very surprising in today’s times. Is there something similar going on at RGS?

I have no intention of sending our DD to a school where she will be discriminated against for being a girl. The very thought grates!

Not sure I will get the true picture speaking to the school, so if any parent or alumna with actual experience is able to comment, that would be very much appreciated!

Neither school is particularly restrictive afaik. Of the two RGS is probably the more traditional and serves a less diverse clientele.

Not sure where you have the idea about sports at caterham. Boys in my sons year (8) play lacrosse and Netball and there is a really strong girls cricket team.
There is extra curricular girls rugby
Caterham seems diverse because of the hoarding element but also because a number of pupils get the direct train from London suburbs.
It's much harder to reach Reigate by train,

RGS probably has slightly higher academics but they are pretty level.

Girls never used to be able to play hockey at Caterham; we were told this was for boys only. My info is 7 years out of date though. We were thoroughly put off by this at an open day we attended, not because my DD particularly wanted to play hockey, but because the attitude of the staff who answered our questions on this made us feel like girls were second class citizens. I spoke to other people who looked round on the same open day after the event and they had formed exactly the same impression unfortunately. However there has been a change of head since so hopefully things have improved.

Girls definitely can play hockey at Caterham now. Dance was available as a games option for both boys and girls from 3rd year. Feedback from RGS was that although there were several official team sports they were not given equal value or financial support.

@LIZS that's good to hear about Caterham.

It’s great that Caterham is now letting girls play hockey. But it does make me wonder if girls aren’t better off in all-girls schools where there isn’t (or shouldn’t be!) an historical anti-girl bias that needs to be overcome.