Royal Grammar School Guildford
The RGS is a dynamic and vibrant independent day school for boys aged 11 to 18. The School has been closely associated with the beautiful town of Guildford for over five hundred years and has a long and distinguished history.
welcome from the headmaster
As a flagship for boys’ education, the RGS has a national reputation for academic excellence but also prides itself on its traditional values of decency and respect, supported by very strong pastoral care. RGS boys have the opportunity to experience the widest range of enriching opportunities providing them with a broad and balanced education. They enjoy learning in an environment which sparks curiosity, passion and imagination and which allows them fully to realise their natural potential. The RGS is a welcoming, happy community where each individual feels valued and has the opportunity to flourish and fulfil his potential. Current parents speak highly of this inclusive culture, the inspirational education which nurtures a genuine love of learning, the dedicated and talented staff, the impeccable behaviour of the boys, and the exceptional preparation for university and beyond.
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I hope this prospectus provides a flavour of the RGS; I would, however, encourage you to visit the School to speak to me, the staff and, most importantly, the boys. It is the boys themselves who best exemplify the true values and character of the School and I feel certain the RGS will leave an indelible impression on you.
Royal Grammar School
Guildford
Dr Jon Cox Headmaster
Royal Grammar School
Guildford
tradition and innovation Located in the centre of the historic town of Guildford, the School dates its foundation from the provisions of the will of Robert Beckingham in 1509 whose wish it was to establish a school in Guildford. In 1552 the School acquired the right to style itself Royal Grammar School when King Edward VI ordered that there was to be “one Grammar School in Guildford… for the education, institution and instruction of boys and youths in Grammar at all future times for ever to endure.” In 1977, the School became an independent day school for boys. Ever since, the RGS has combined tradition and loyalty to its grammar school roots with a forward-thinking approach to education suitable for boys in the twenty-first century. This fusion of over 500 years of history, specialist experience in the education of boys and appropriate innovation have allowed the School firmly to establish itself as one of the country’s finest independent schools.
“Pupils are extremely loyal to the school”
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Royal Grammar School
Guildford
“The quality of teaching is excellent”
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an education tailored for boys The RGS has a long-standing tradition of providing the very best education for boys and the School’s educational philosophy is geared to achieving this aim. Accomplished members of staff tailor their teaching to provide a stimulating, inspiring education which fulfils boys’ need for pace, variety and healthy competition. Boys are given the space and opportunity to mature and develop at their own pace and, most importantly, they enjoy a happy and challenging education in a supportive, positive environment. The ethos encourages each individual to fulfil his potential in academic, sporting, artistic and extracurricular pursuits; boys are able to express and challenge themselves, irrespective of their chosen field. RGS boys emerge from the School as modest yet confident individuals, cultured and well-rounded. They develop a global outlook and are ready for the challenges of a modern, rapidly-changing world. The School’s close ties with the local girls’ schools and the strong sense of community and family which strengthen these links mean the boys benefit from regular academic, extra-curricular and social interaction with the girls while still enjoying all the benefits and advantages of single-sex education.
The RGS remains loyal to its rigorous, traditional grammar school ethos and provides a robust set of academic subjects. The combination of breadth and depth lies at the heart of the School’s philosophy. The curriculum offers access to all the aesthetic, human and social, linguistic, mathematical, creative and literary, scientific and technological, physical and moral and spiritual areas of learning. Boys have the opportunity to study languages such as Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Russian. The RGS follows the GCSE and IGCSE curricula; at Sixth Form level the boys study A Levels in a programme which also incorporates independence and breadth through elements such as the Independent Learning Assignment and the General Studies programme.
“Pupils enjoy their learning and relish challenge”
Royal Grammar School
The School’s aim is to encourage the growth of intellectual curiosity, creativity and passion for learning within a scholarly community. Talented and respected members of staff strive to stretch each individual and to inculcate a lifelong love of learning. Each boy is nurtured to find his own academic voice and draw out his innate ability in such a way as to engender academic confidence and self-esteem. The dynamic and creative teaching, supported by modern technology used appropriately, encourages discussion, debate and extension. RGS boys have the belief in themselves to be assertive and decisive but they do so with genuine warmth and without arrogance or pretention.
Guildford
fulfilling potential
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Royal Grammar School
Guildford
“The pastoral care from which pupils benefit is excellent, offering outstanding support”
every individual matters Respect, tolerance and understanding of others characterise daily life at the RGS and the very strong rapport between boys and teachers makes for a vibrant environment. The boys establish lasting friendships within the year group; in addition, the house system, mentoring, and role of all senior boys as prefects ensure relationships are forged throughout the School. The outstanding pastoral care on offer from dedicated form tutors, heads of year and personal tutors, all overseen by the Deputy Head Pupils, enables the boys to thrive in a mutually supportive environment where every boy can flourish as an individual.
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The ethos of the RGS is firmly based on traditional Christian principles and the School has strong links with Holy Trinity Church in the centre of the town and Guildford Cathedral; however, as a non-denominational school, boys from all faiths are welcomed. A diverse, stimulating assembly programme provides the opportunity for collective worship and broadens the boys’ horizons while establishing a tolerant set of values and a strong moral compass.
“Pupils are friendly and at ease in one another’s company”
Royal Grammar School
The School’s aim is to provide as diverse a range of sporting opportunities as possible so that each boy has the opportunity to enjoy sport at the level of which he is capable and to become equipped with the necessary expertise to continue that sport in later life.
Guildford
sport for all Every RGS boy is encouraged to participate in competitive sport and the School provides fixtures for all standards of sporting ability. The major sports are rugby, hockey and cricket, and it is not unusual for the RGS to field over twenty teams on a Saturday, particularly in the rugby season. With our Sports Hall on site and extensive, twentyacre grounds at Bradstone Brook, the School is well equipped to provide facilities appropriate to high-level performance. Specialist sports coaching, competitive fixture lists, and overseas tours provide a challenging environment for our elite sportsmen – who enjoy notable and regular success at district, county and national level – as well as those who wish to play sport socially. The RGS has also established an enviable reputation in sports including athletics, fencing, judo, sailing and shooting, many of which the boys start on joining the School. The School sees sport as an integral part of each boy’s development and places great importance on providing opportunities for boys irrespective of their interests. In addition to the major sports, there is a wide variety of other options available including cross-country, football, squash, swimming and tennis. The inter-house cup allows boys of all abilities to represent their house competitively in the major sports as well as sports such as badminton, basketball and table tennis.
“Provision for sport is a strong feature… pupils achieve regular success at the highest level”
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Royal Grammar School
Guildford
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“The range of musical opportunities is outstanding”
inspiring creativity All boys are encouraged to participate in, or take up, some form of creative pursuit and they do so with exceptional skill, imagination, enthusiasm and enjoyment. There is a sense of creative freedom and opportunities exist for each individual to explore his own passions, however idiosyncratic, resulting in the boys developing a true appreciation of the arts. The purpose-built facilities for the arts provide settings designed to maximise the quality of the boys’ work: the recently opened Music School is an environment appropriate to high-level performance in the twenty-first century. The Music Department has established an enviable reputation and offers a host of choirs and ensembles which, supported by a staff of passionate musicians, caters for all abilities and interests. The School offers tuition on all orchestral instruments as well as percussion, guitar and singing; a talented team of instrumental teachers visits the School each week to allow boys to fulfil their natural potential. Regular concerts and recitals locally, nationally and internationally allow the boys to showcase their talent in surroundings as intimate as the aesthetically stunning courtyard of the Old Building and as impressive as the imposing Guildford Cathedral.
Royal Grammar School
Guildford
freedom of expression The Art School is an inspiring environment which is conducive to fulfilling the School’s aim of developing aesthetic awareness in all boys. A focus on mastering techniques allows boys to develop self-expression at their own pace as well as a confident and personal appreciation of art. The teachers are professional practitioners who work in their studio classrooms so that the boys can respond to them as artists; bespoke exemplar materials and demonstrations allow boys readily to gain practical experience and insight. The range of work, including sculpture, metalwork, mixed media and more traditional art forms, clearly illustrates the breadth of talent. Visitors to the RGS frequently comment on the quality and diversity of the boys’ work which is displayed throughout the School.
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Royal Grammar School
Guildford
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a stage to f lourish Drama is a vibrant and energetic part of the life and ethos of the School. Curriculum drama lessons in the younger years stimulate confidence, creativity, empathy and imagination. Major school productions and more intimate plays – a number of which benefit from artistic collaboration with girls – illustrate the abundance of talent among actors of all age groups. The School regularly performs as part of the nationwide Shakespeare Schools Festival and at other local and national festivals. Enrichment activities include frequent theatre visits, backstage tours, and workshops from professional theatre companies on areas as diverse as stage fighting, clowning, circus skills and stage make-up. Boys can also choose to become actively involved in all aspects of technical theatre from lighting, to sound, set construction and stage management.
“Achievements in creative, physical and performance skills are exceptional”
Royal Grammar School
Guildford
enrichment through variety The exceptional range of extra-curricular activities offered is one of the greatest strengths of the School: there are currently over sixty societies at the RGS. Such activities are central in developing the character of the boys and in nurturing teamwork, leadership and self-reliance. The value of these activities is highlighted by the fact that curricular time, as well as five Field Days throughout the year, is devoted to these enrichment activities. Adventurous pursuits include the Combined Cadet Force incorporating the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections, Explorer Scouts, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and Outdoor Pursuits. The wide range of clubs and societies is challenging and, run as a partnership between staff and boys, exists to provide as many experiences for RGS boys as possible. Boys take real pride in initiating and taking responsibility for the running of the societies which are often born out of a desire for something different. The School respects and encourages the freedom of boys to explore their interests. The sheer diversity is notable with societies ranging from Amnesty to Young Enterprise, from chess to climbing, from science to skiing.
“Excellent interaction takes place between pupils of all age groups”
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Royal Grammar School
Guildford
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maturing with confidence The Sixth Form at the RGS marks a transitional phase between school and university. The boys have their own purpose-built Sixth Form Centre and with the subject specialism of smaller classes and seminarstyle teaching, the School produces independent-thinking students. They have a love of their chosen disciplines, an enjoyment of academic enquiry and debate, and move on to the most prestigious universities. A learning culture is nurtured where boys are critical in their thinking and reflect maturely on their experience so that learning takes place both inside and outside the classroom. The boys are equipped with the skills to allow them to rise to the challenges of life and to make a positive contribution to the wider society. Sixth Form students adopt positions of real responsibility and the prefect team takes a leading role in running the School. In addition, students enhance their personal, intellectual and social development by participating actively in the full range of opportunities offered, many of which involve the girls’ schools. The boys leave the RGS with appropriate self-confidence, self-discipline and a deep sense of personal and social responsibility.
“Excellent independent learning and research skills and intellectual curiosity”
In an increasingly global context to the boys’ education, the RGS has forged meaningful links with schools and organisations nationally and internationally. These initiatives, especially the partnership with two schools in Nepal, have served to increase the boys’ understanding and experience of the world, as well as providing scope for educational visits and projects. Expeditions and trips are challenging and ambitious and are often one of the highlights of boys’ memories of their school days: the camaraderie, the personal challenge and the enrichment mean the value of such experiences is an intrinsic part of each boy’s development. Whether it is participating in adventurous expeditions in the Bavarian Alps or the Arctic Circle, performing concerts in cathedrals in Italy, playing rugby fixtures in South Africa or visiting Tunisia on a Classics trip, boys have the chance to visit all corners of the globe, ensuring that the classroom is only the catalyst for their education.
Royal Grammar School
Taking advantage of the School’s unique position in the heart of Guildford, the RGS continues to take genuine pride in meeting the charitable aims for which it was established over 500 years ago by encouraging an awareness of the world outside and a sense of service locally and further afield. As well as extensive community and charitable work, the RGS continues to enhance its bursary provision to allow the School to be as accessible to as many boys as possible, irrespective of financial constraints.
Guildford
local and global perspective
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“Mutual respect for the views of others is common”
Royal Grammar School
Guildford
realising aspirations The School’s approach is underpinned by a deep commitment to providing the boys with foundations for the future by preparing them not only for university but also for life. RGS boys, almost without exception, go on to study at the very best institutions in higher education: Cambridge, Oxford, other leading Russell Group universities, the top medical schools, and Ivy League institutions in the United States. The RGS has an almost unrivalled record of offers at Oxford and Cambridge, consistently securing in excess of thirty offers each year.
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Comprehensive, individually tailored advice supports the boys through each stage of the university application process. A structured programme is designed to allow them to make informed, objective choices as to the right university and degree and to maximise their potential for higher education study.
“Self-esteem is strengthened by the school’s emphasis on valuing each pupil as an individual”
The Royal Grammar School High Street Guildford GU1 3BB 01483 880600 admissions@rgs-guildford.co.uk www.rgs-guildford.co.uk Quotations in this prospectus are taken directly from the School’s most recent ISI Inspection Report. This prospectus describes the broad principles on which the School is presently run and does not form part of any contractual agreement between parents or guardians and the School. Registered Charity Number: 312028