How academic is RGS Guildford?

[ByfleetingBlush]

Hi,

We’re looking at independent secondary schools, to apply to in Autumn 2025. We like RGS Guildford but are not sure how difficult it is to get into and also how hard going the workload is once there.

Our son is fairly clever (top 10% in his year at maths), gets good school reports, has lots of different hobbies, enjoys sports but is not sporty. He completes his schoolwork quickly but can be a daydreamer. He is at a good state school and doing Atom learning which is showing he is on track. But the school head says she thinks it will be a stretch for our son to get into as it’s too academic for him. So we are very undecided as to whether to even apply.

We know that historically RGS was exceptionally academic, but is that still the case? Does anyone have any recent experience of the admissions/assessment process and culture at RGS? Thanks in advance!

The top 10% in one primary school can be completely different from the top 10% in another. Primary schools are simply too small for that statistic to hold any real significance.

Atom Learning is fairly focused on rote learning. I am not familiar with the school suggested, but it might be worth trying any sample papers they provide to get a better sense of what to expect.

@ByfleetingBlush , you need a range of schools so RGS could be your stretch and the St George's Weybridge as your aim etc plus also Reeds. There are many schools to choose from but ultimately the schools choose who they want etc.

I’ve got two currently at the RGS. There’s definitely lots of very bright boys but there’s also a range of ability. I don’t think everyone’s a genius :) I think if your son is doing well at primary school, and has a little support prepping for the entrance exam, then he’s got a good chance of getting a place. I also suspect that the introduction of VAT on fees will mean that, competition wise, it's slightly less intense than previous years? Homework wise – my experience is that it’s a very normal amount, potentially less than I’ve seen from other schools. Contrary to the rumours, it's not a pushy, exam factory environment. The opposite in fact. It's very supportive and they really do aim to foster a love of learning - not just teaching to the exam - with the quality of the teaching staff being excellent. Both my boys love their school and are really happy there.

Thank you for your thoughts on this so far!

Im still trying to square some perceptions that it is considered a very difficult school to get into, with my understanding that there is a range of abilities. I don’t know much about private schools so please forgive my ignorance, but is there a range of abilities because many of the children will have come up through the prep school, and they then only take the absolute best from those applying from outside of the school through the 11+ assessments?

Both my children went to state primary. There is a prep school attached but my understanding is that there isn't an automatic pass into senior - they too need to sit the exam and go through the interview process. One of the things we loved about the RGS most at application was it's commitment to ensuring that state schools are strongly represented in their intake. They know what they're looking for in the assessment process, and how to find it, so there is an element of needing to trust them. If your son is offered a place, academically he'll likely manage fine. He he doesn't get an offer, it perhaps wasn't the right school for him. 'Range of abilities' is probably a bit vague. If he's a strong academic performer at primary then it's probably worth a try. However if a state school is suggesting that RGS may not be the right fit - this is perhaps worth listening to as in my experience, state schools tend to stay well out of the process!

I had DC there though some time ago,now I tutor for RGS and other schools and have done so for many years. I have a pretty good idea of what is needed to be successful.
Message me if you would like to.

Hi,
My son is starting in a few weeks and was from a state primary. I was like you and wasn't sure if my son would do well enough in the exams, we didn't ask the school what they thought but thought we would give it a go and applied for another school too as a back up that's not as difficult to get into. We did 3 months on Atom Learning for preparation and used some 11+ books without a tutor. He was offered a place after 2nd interview. They say they look at the whole child and see if they fit in and progress and flourish and obviously exam marks too. They say there are over 400 applicants each year. If he seems to be going well on atom learning definitely give the exam a go.

If you think it would be a good place for him then it's worth trying otherwise you might always wonder "what if". Look at some other back ups with a slightly broader intake maybe. Depending which side of Guildford you are there's Churcher's to the west or others at the London end of Surrey. Depending on how much homework his state school gives (if any), the Year 7 workload is likely to be a step up and probably more so in an academically selective school as it may be pacier. If he's enjoying the environment he'll rise to the challenge.

@ByfleetingBlush , I'd echo @Lonestar123's comments. RGS Guildford is a much broader church than other's perceive it to be - the boys all develop differently through their early teenage years... and from a homework perspective, it's not been an academic hothouse for the boys. During & post-COVID the school took a very holistic well-being approach to homework assignment.

I, too, am surprised that your current headteacher has expressed a view on your DS's capability to be successful in the RGS selection process. My DS's primary said nothing and would not involve themselves in any preparation support.

We went to a tutor who could administer CAT (Cognitive Ability Tests) to check whether the schools we had in mind were sensible. If you want clarity and guidance on which schools your DS would be likely to be successful in the entrance process, I'd definitely recommend getting CAT tests done. [Old rule of thumb used to be for RGS & Reeds a CAT score of 125 was a baseline, reading age >3yrs ahead of chronological age, spelling age >2yrs ahead of chronological age, to gauge if someone would thrive with the academic pace... that may be out of date].

Good luck! Sure that you'll set your DS up for success and will find the right school to thrive😇