SCHOOL NEWS

SCHOOL OF THE YEAR!

Reigate Grammar School has been named School of the Year in the prestigious Tatler Schools Awards. The announcement was made at a special online event, hosted on Tatler Schools’ IGTV (Instagram).

The Tatler Schools Guide is one of the most prestigious school reviewers operating across the sector and we are proud to have been listed in its 2020 Schools Guide and named as the top school in the country.

The review says Reigate Grammar is a “caring and inclusive school… producing down-to-earth yet high-achieving all rounders.” Adding that RGS has a sense of “community at its heart”.

Headmaster Shaun Fenton said: “I am delighted that Reigate Grammar School has been announced as School of the Year by this prestigious school reviewer and magazine. Of course, it is the experience of our students and staff on a daily basis that trumps any award but it does help to see how the school is held in high regard by respected external sources. I see these nominations as testament to the quality of our teachers, the support of our parent body and to the credit of the fine young Reigatians in our care.”

RGS was also shortlisted for ‘School of the Year’ in the Independent Schools of the Year 2020 awards programme.

DRAMA

Setting aside the challenges, 2020 created an opportunity to explore new concepts, technology and ways of working for the Drama department. A production of The Secret Diary – originally scheduled as a stage production for June – was adapted into a film and recorded during lockdown by Third and Fourth Form students. This really showed the commitment of students and staff and the film was a delight! The autumn term was packed with a variety of exciting performances, including the First Form’s new interpretation of A Christmas Carol, featuring over 25 separate scenes rehearsed and performed in bubbles. The show was filmed in a day and released online for the whole Reigatian community to enjoy. Visit rgsdrama.net for all the latest news.

MUSIC

Throughout 2020, the Music department has explored innovative ways for students to showcase their talents. In September, it launched RGS Sounds, where students’ solo and ensemble performances were shared each Friday on the RGS Music YouTube channel. The new First Form recorded a socially-distanced version of John Legend’s All of Me. Polyphony and the Brass Ensemble gave a moving performance of Abide with Me for the Remembrance Day service. RGS in Concert at Leatherhead Theatre was the first live concert since March – what a treat it was to be able to share music with a real-life audience! Students performed superbly. As part of the school’s outreach programme, virtual performances, including the Advent Playground Performance series, were shared with local care homes. Visit youtube.com and search for ‘RGS Music’ to enjoy the performances.

ART, DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Talented RGS students consistently produce a plethora of beautiful works of art using a wide range of creative techniques and media

Students applied a variety of ready-made prosthetics based on themes such as science fiction, mythical or aquatic creatures

First Form students created fun and dynamic mini planters, designed to hold a small plant, for a project studying portrayal of the human form

ReiMUN

RGS proudly engineered the world’s first online Model United Nations (MUN conference), welcoming 16 schools to the all-day event. Advanced filming of some regular ReiMUN staples included the keynote address and the Chair’s briefing. This year’s keynote speaker was Alan Bates (RGS 1990-1997), a top Barrister working in competition law in London, who spoke about the making and breaking of international law. Other debate topics included gender pay gap equality, the sharing of water resources and the colonisation of Mars. More virtual conferences are sure to follow.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Six RGS Upper Sixth Form students successfully completed the Qufaro and City & Guilds Cyber Security EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). At their virtual graduation ceremony David H, John O, Max C, Tae K, Harrison B and Ahmad H were all awarded A* grades and, in recognition of their achievement, have been given honorary membership to the prestigious Chartered Institute of Information Security (CiiSec). David H’s project on Bitcoin security and Harrison B’s project on the role humans play in creating security risks, were both awarded additional prizes.

DofE

Despite turbulent times, DofE students at all levels were able to venture out on expeditions. Third Form students achieved their Bronze Award by putting their camp craft and navigation skills to the test on the North Downs. While Silver students trekked 50km along the South Downs. Gold Award students had mild weather and challenging hills to climb in Wales. Covid-19 presented challenges, yet the Gold students showed that with proper planning, and the skills and experience gathered over their DofE careers, anything is possible.

SPORT

When summer cricket, tennis and athletics were put on hold, students became well versed in the phenomenon of online PE lessons. As the autumn term began, sport did return but, in the absence of competitive fixtures against other schools, students enjoyed a more varied and creative training programme. The aim throughout 2020 has been to strike a balance between physical and mental health, with a focus on developing skills. When competitive sport does return, our students will be ready!

RGS INTERNATIONAL CONTINUES TO GROW

An artist's impression of the RGS Zhangjiagang Primary School

Given the considerable impact of the pandemic and the global challenges that it has created, we can look back on 2020 with some satisfaction, with significant progress made in our international business and education activities.

Encouraged by the growing strength of the school’s academic results and the RGS brand, and the worldwide reputation of British education, Reigate Grammar School has been exploring options for international expansion. Reigate Grammar School International Limited was established in 2017 to develop our international footprint and to identify partners who would enjoy a long-term collaboration with RGS. This began in 2018 when we signed a multi-school deal with the Chinese Kaiyuan Education and identified the ancient city of Nanjing to be the location of our first school. Having initially established the kindergarten, 2020 saw the emergence of the primary school. Phase two of the project will see the middle school completed and operational by September 2021.

Meanwhile, rapid progress has been made with school two, based in the free-port city of Zhangjiagang, near Shanghai. Currently under construction, with the junior school almost complete, the whole school will be fully operational by September 2022.

RGS International is now looking forward to officially announcing the launch of RGS Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, to be our third school in the territory which will open with a senior school.

Meanwhile, in February, we signed a non-commercial MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Zhixin High School, one of the highest-rated schools in China and based in Guangzhou, with the aim of developing educational collaboration through cultural exchange and joint initiatives involving both children and staff.

There has also been progress with other projects in other countries, to broaden our portfolio and relationships. We are hopeful that RGS will be the first British school brand in Morocco, having signed an MOU in January with the British International School of Casablanca, as part of the UK-Morocco trade agreement.

In June, a further MOU was signed with the International School of Vietnam, based in Hanoi. Again, when completed, RGS will be the first UK school to establish formal links in the country.

It has been important to welcome overseas visitors to Reigate and share educational ideas and perspectives, whilst promoting our ethos. We are extremely grateful to all RGS staff and students who demonstrate all that is excellent about our school and create such positivity to our visitors and partners.

By developing international links and perspectives, we hope to enrich the RGS community further through exchange opportunities for students and staff. It will open up cultural and educational links across continents, which is crucial in the increasingly global world in which we live. Children and staff in Nanjing and Reigate are already enjoying active collaboration.

Finally, let us remember that income generated by the international schools helps to fund RGS bursaries for disadvantaged students. The school is committed to an ambitious drive for social mobility via its Changing Lives campaign. Sean Davey, Managing Director, RGS International Ltd.

In January, RGS signed an agreement to open a school in Morocco

Nanjing Primary School opened in 2020