RGS Guildford 2024 Y7 entry

[themidimit]

Anyone else DS sat the tests this term? Any idea when we might know a decision?

Hi we’re also looking to apply to RGS for 2025 entry. So for Atom did your kids make good progress from when they first started using it to closer to the test ? Let’s say august time when they were getting 130/140 in maths and 125+ in English and Verbal? We have done some mock tests and at the moment getting around 125ish in maths and 110 in English and 110-125 in verbal. Just trying to see what the chances are for our son to progress until august /September and whether it’s worth applying to RGS for him to do well if he gets in.

Thank you so much for the reply. We‘ll check out the CGP books x

Historically, CAT scores >=125 (average) were what boys needed as a foundation to have a reasonable chance of passing the RGS entrance exams and bring able to manage the teaching pace when they start.
The exam is just one part of the admission process. The interview and school reference play important parts to being offered a place, too. School is looking for boys who can express their thoughts, listen to others and work together.
For Verbal Reasoning questions, we were recommended to use Walsh. Bit left field, but worth a look for different styles of questions

Thanks @Pyrfwondering. This is exactly where my son is in terms of scores. They are all very similar, with the exception of verbal reasoning which is very high because he is a complete bookworm.

I'll have a chat to admissions too, and hopefully they can guide me.

Hi,
I hope everyone is enjoying the sun while we can 🌞🌞. I have a query on uniform please, is it mandatory to buy from the school supplier- Stevenson. I guess we need to buy blazer, jumpers etc from them as it has logo, what about other stuff please like shirts etc.do anyone else also sell RGS uniform. Additionally I am unsure, if we would need to get the sports kit straightaway or can wait for few weeks, once they decide what game they will play. Sorry new to all this. Any advice would be appreciated .

thanks

You can buy the trousers and shirt from outside of Stevensons.

The shop is only needed for the blazer and any jumpers you need. Mine rarely wore the jumpers and the blazer is a reasonable price. Check to see if you need to book a time as I seem to remember it being very busy. There are lots of second hand sales at the school.
in terms of sports wear, mine liked the tracksuit trousers and wore them a lot. I can’t remember what I did at the beginning, I think that I bought the basic white shorts, socks and top.
There is a second hand sale on Wednesday.

I am planning to wait for the new boys afternoon on Weds where I hope all will be explained.

Hello! I believe they all play the main sports in 1st Form so you'll likely need all the sports kit, but I went to a second hand sale and managed to buy absolutely everything very reasonably - they had lots of stock. The second hand shop is open this Weds do I'd recommend getting there early before the new boy event perhaps x

Although edit to say they won't play cricket until next summer term x

You'll need the rugby kit (Inc mouth guard) and PE kit from the start of Autumn Term. Would recommend waiting to buy hockey stick until Dec (nice Xmas pressie), in case they grow. Cricket is summer only, so can wait until Easter holidays.

The SHUGS sales are good for clothes, rugby boots and equipment. Sometimes people sell nearly new kit via Classlist (you'll be invited to join/download the app very soon). If you're buying new sport kit from Tacklebag, it's good to pool orders, to share the delivery costs.

Thank you for all your replies. It’s really helpful and gives some direction. Appreciate all your responses

Current parent :-)

Hope you all enjoyed New Boys’ day today. M and S shirts and trousers are fine. There is no choice of sports in First Form, you need rugby and PE kit for the first term. Hockey is played in PE kit and rugby socks in the second term so that helps with costs.

Thanks @SheilaFentiman. appreciate your response.

Hi all, are we meant to be getting the boys to learn some Latin before September? I know of a parent who is tutoring already for it. I hadn’t read anything that suggested we should do this. Just wanted to check with others. I’ll keep my son ticking over with Maths and English but doubting myself now.

Hi
Tutoring will not be necessary. They need a break and don't need any revision in my opinion. They are all bright and hence in RGS. It'll be full on when they start school, so they should really wind down now.

No, they don't need any Latin before they start - my son won't be doing anything that looks like school work over the summer. My understanding is that as a general rule RGS don't set holiday work as they believe the children need some downtime xx

Hi @Wingingit2024 ,

The boys don't need to know Latin before September, everyone will be taught what they need to know in First Form. DS went to a state primary, only doing some DuoLingo Latin during lockdown schooling and he got the hang of it v quickly... enjoying it, too. The Classics dept are v good getting the boys engaged.

The most that the boys are encouraged to do during summer holidays is do the reading challenge (read 5 books, 1 from each of the Olympic continents) 😃

I agree with @Pyrfwondering,both my DS were state school. Neither had done any Latin. Both picked it up fine and enjoyed it. Let your DS rest and grow, that’s what this break is for. The RGS does not set homework in holidays.

Thank you for the reassurance! I don’t have a natural reader so will concentrate my encouragement on that.

Neither of mine did any Latin before they started - the younger one has picked it for GCSE now though 🙂

My DS will be sitting the assessments for RGS next year. I had some questions on the creative writing task.

I'm assuming they write this by hand and not on a computer? Are they given a topic/title? How long do they have for the creative writing part?

Thank you all and good luck to those starting in September!

Hello, for those that already have children in the school could I ask a question? The first form grade cards, is the expectation that all children should be 4 and above?

No, that's not the expectation IMO.

RGS moved from O(utstanding), G(ood), M(odest) and U(nsatisfactory) for achievement and 1, 2, 3, 4 rankings for effort to the current scoring for the 2024/25 year.

They were previously explicit that 2G was a perfectly respectable rank.

Now its 1-5 for attainment, engagement and organisation so I would see 3 and above as respectable. But do drop your form tutor a line if you are concerned.