RGS Guildford 2024 Y7 entry

[themidimit]

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

That is a very helpful explanation. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Hi,

Good to see this thread active again.

We have just been through the assessment and are waiting for the results to come out in Feb - and age away still!

I just wondered how your boys have got on during their first year, and in particular, how they have found the commute? Do any come on the train, and how did you introduce it/get them comfortable travelling independently?

Thank you!

Hi, I remember the wait well! Good luck to your son.

I cannot believe how quickly my son has settled. He did not know anyone at the school either. Not only has he made friends at school but he’s made a separate group of train friends. My son was super nervous about getting the train (as I was if I am being honest) but from the 2nd day onwards he enjoyed doing the journey and looks forward to seeing his friends in the morning and after school. The only down side to the train is there has been a few cancellations and delays recently on a number of morning trains. The school are very accommodating with lateness due to public transport.

Regarding train introductions, parents created what’s app groups at the settling in afternoon towards the end of year 6 term and from there discussions about who was using the train were had. More groups set up for the various train routes and a few trips were taken over the summer with the boys and parents. This helped the process immensely as the boys started to form friendships.

Overall we really like the school and very pleased we accepted his place.

We joined this year as well and commute in. I must say the school is truly exceptional. My son was very fortunate to have multiple offers and we are so pleased to have chosen RGS Guildford. Everything they say at their open days and settling ins have been true. The teaching quality is outstanding and the kindness ethos is seen theoughout the school. My son has made lots of friends from the train journey, clubs and his year group.

Hi @Wingingit2024 and @Hokilaris ,

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Sounds like your boys are thriving! Which is wonderful and very reassuring - especially when it comes to letting go and giving them more independence to travel by train etc.

It's also great to hear that the parents have been so proactive in forming whatsapps groups and communicating with each other etc. Sounds like a lovely school community.

We really do love the school and are hoping we are successful, but trying hard also not to get too invested and to be happy with our back up choices if we have to go with them.

All the best to your boys and I might be back in touch come February with more questions. Fingers crossed!

Hello does anyone who’s ds sat the exam this year know when the second interview letters/ emails will be sent ?

There is another thread on here for this year, which mentions emails were sent on 12th December. We didn't hear anything, so it's the long wait until February for us!

Thank you for your reply ! Can you kindly share the link to the other thread so I can follow it. we didn’t get an email either so it’s the long wait for us too.

RGS Guildford 2025 entry, Year 7 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/5225874-rgs-guildford-2025-entry-year-7

Thank you ☺️

Hi,

I just wanted to come and say we are thrilled to have received a place at RGS for our son starting September 2025, so a big thank you to this thread for the encouragement and answering all my questions along the way!

@Gymnogene so pleased to hear your news. Many congratulations!

Hi, current parent. First form…. Just wondering what the process is pupils only get 50/60% in end of year exam for most subjects? I have reached out to the school but I just wanted to see if anyone knew. It has me worried my son is underperforming and we may be asked to look for a different school.

Hi current parent and in year 7 too. My son too has got 40s and 50s. But I don't believe they'll be asked to leave school.

Please can you post the reply from school here or message me.

Hi, I will do. I was just hoping that someone with children already in the school may be able to offer some advice. You never know if they expect the children to be hitting 85% + in the first year. It’s so difficult to measure.

DS is further along the school journey than First Form. A number of his year have had results in the 30%/40%/50% range and haven't been asked to leave the school. If anything, the school is at pains to put arms around the boys and work with them to support their learning, if they are struggling.
If someone is struggling consistently in a subject, they may be offered the opportunity to step-out of a GCSE, to focus more on their strengths... but, that happens much further along in their school journey.

@Wingingit2024 I don't think the exams are there to see if boys need to look at other schools. Your son got into the RGS only a year ago so if there's been a significant drop since he was accepted, the school with work with you and him to figure out what's going on. I have a son further up the school, and I've not heard of anyone being encouraged to leave.

I think that a lot of the point of first form exams is to give the boys some practise so they learn how to revise and start to learn exam techniques (particularly if he hasn't taken exams a lot before now). The exams are just a small part of what he's done academically this year - his grades from the last 2 terms are probably more indicative of how he is getting on. If your son has underperformed in the exams vs what he's done all year then that's just a sign he needs more guidance on revision and exam techniques - something school is there to help him with. Please try not to worry too much, the boys have had a big year transitioning to secondary and there's been a lot for them to take on board as well as learning and exams. For some of them they are still finding their feet, if your son is happy at the school then I would say that's the biggest indicator as to whether he is in the right place and the rest will follow.

Thank you for your feedback very helpful.

That's true. Have you heard from the school yet?

They advised me to wait for my son’s report to be issued, which has arrived today. I can then arrange to speak to the individual subject teachers. I am more concerned as he has a few 2s in attainment in his report, which isn’t great and his confidence has taken a knock. I just want him to be confident and happy.

Hope it has been a better start to the year

Hi, yes it has. Although will know more when I get the exam results back from this current set.