RGS secondary school feedback

[CrypticMum2024]

Hi Mums,

My son is in year 5 in a prep school currently in Woking. We are looking around for secondary schools currently. We visited RGS and liked the school. Please can anyone help with the below questions.

1. I know my son would be able to get through the RGS assessment but not sure about interview as my son is a bit introvert and do not have much worldly knowledge which might get asked in the interview. How touch are the interviews at RGS?
2. I understand RGS is quite pushy. My son is good academically but he likes to do things at his own pace so not sure if RGS will suit him from that perspective?
3. I understand RGS doesn't have much sports grounds or much of the other facilities compared to schools like Hampton, Cranmore etc so not sure if we should go with the schools providing these great facilities considering the fees at these schools is quite high.
4. Which other school around Woking which mums would like to recommend.

Thanks

@CrypticMum2024 , look at a range of schools and apply to a handful and your ds will end up with offers from schools that is right for him. Don't worry about interviews at this stage.
Other options are
St George's weybridge
Reeds
St John's Leatherhead
Claremont fan court - if you live on a school bus route

The 11 plus admissions process is extremely long and drawn out and it's best to go into it with an open mind and range of options but I'm sure your prep school will guide you and you can find out how the current year 6 cohort has got on too.

Many thanks @tennissquare for the guidance. We are meeting the head of current prep school this week so hoping they will give some clarity as well. When we met the head last Nov, we were advised RGS, Hampton, St John's Leatherhead, REEDs and St George's weybridge pretty much same as what you have suggested - based on the CAT score achieved at the end of Year 4 but those assessments were not timed and now with the timed assessments, the CAT scores are going down hence we want to keep our options open in terms of not too academic school but at the same time right balance of academics.

Hi two DS at RGS here. The school isn’t pushy, all the DC are able and want to learn so I don’t think they need to push them. I did hear similar hothouse type comments before we joined,I have never seen it. They seem to celebrate sport, music and artistic achievements as much as they do academics.
RGS has lovely sports facilities, the school is in the town so the green fields are a few miles away. They do sport at other venues as well.
I think you have it covered with the choices you’ve already got. Good luck.

Thanks @sazzy5
Good to hear that the school is not pushy.
Do you know if RGS accommodates kids who have learning difficulties? We have just last Friday got a report from the education psychologist that my DS might have ADD which means he has focus and attention issue. Any idea if RGS takes kids with SEN? When we visited the school, they did say that they have SEN department and they do accomodate quirkiness in kids and help them to realise their full potential.
I am concerned whether I should apply to RGS or not now that we have this report from ed psychologist.

Hi @CrypticMum2024 . There are boys with SEN, it also has plenty of quirky boys. It’s a very good school for those with SEN, one of my DS has SEN which was picked up and dealt with. I would expect all the schools mentioned upthread to be good with SEN provision.

Thanks @sazzy5 for the response, this gives me reassurance that we can still try RGS for my DS.

If he is an introvert he will do well at RGS. They do like the quiet and studious type. Not for your all rounder types. Sports facilities are not the best with no football played till a levels! Rugby and cricket are the main sports, I like the fact it was a part of the town centre. Rgs will
always get superb results. I think he could be a great fit.

Fully agree with @sazzy5 comments. Not sure what @Anotherviewing's expectations are of sports facilities. Bradstone Brook is large, can house multiple rugby pitches and 3 cricket pitches. Football is being played competitively from U15 and would expect it to percolate through to the younger age groups. They even play Ultimate Frisbee... plenty of variety

Maybe have a really good look at other schools - when you are paying 18k/ term as opposed to 7k there’s a reason why darling!

If someone has £54k/yr (+VAT) good on them. A town centre school will struggle to compete on sports grounds, if compared to a campus setting like Reed's, St Georges or Hampton... or Charterhouse, Eton, etc.
We've been happy with RGS for DS... lots of opportunities to try different sports, music and other societies.

This is quite an old thread so hopefully OP has now looked around several schools, got a better feel for them and she and DS are getting ready to do 11+ exams in the coming weeks. As the chat showed up in active and I have a child at the school I thought I would answer.

Going back to your original questions, OP, the RGS interviews don't try to trip up the children. They are trying to get to know them and get the best out of them. Naturally it can be a little nerve wracking for the boys but the interviewers are kind and considerate. It is a selective school and the bar is fairly high but they don't make the interview an ordeal.

As for pushy - I disagree. The school does have high expectations for the boys and they do work hard. It suits self motivated, academic boys. Contrary to pp's comment about the type of boys they like, my own son is an outgoing, chatty, confident all-rounder. He is bright, hard working, enjoys a broad range of co-curricular activities. His friends are also well balanced all-rounders.

It is a town centre school and doesn't have the luxury of being surrounded by playing fields. That might not appeal to everyone but the facilities they do have are good and the short journeys to offsite facilities are well managed. Hockey, sailing, cross-country, shooting, climbing.... in addition to the sports already mentioned.

We applied to RGS when looking for a senior school for my son. We loved it, the headteacher was very impressive and the school just had a lovely feel to it. The entrance tests were fine and I wouldn’t worry about the interview as I’m sure they make allowances for those kids who are shy and introverted, We decided to accept another school’s offer, mainly because the journey to Reigate from our home would have been a nightmare. Good luck with your search.

@shaddupayouface are you commenting on Reigate Grammar?

I could be wrong but thought this thread was about the Royal Grammar School, Guildford as the OP was looking for schools within striking distance of Woking. Reigate Grammar School would definitely be quite a commute!

oops

There are a lot of schools with the same initials 😂