The Bulletin 254 by RGS Guildford

FROM THE HEADMASTER

“Ready to respond to change but holding fast to unchanging values.” As I reflect on the publishing of our ISI inspection report this week, there is real resonance to this quotation from the inspectors from almost 70 years ago. Students, staff, and parents may come and go at the RGS; governments, policies and trends may fluctuate; and yet there is something deeply reassuring about a school with a 500-year history which has remained proudly true to its founding principles.

Arthur John Bradford Green was appointed Headmaster of the RGS in 1918; he was part of a generation of teachers which believed fervently in the value of education for its own sake. Education, he said, was for life, not just for a career. He fought against what he described as the popular idea that education should be judged solely by examination results. These, according to Nigel Watson’s original school history, Green claimed “were almost the deadliest enemies of schools”. He told parents that they should not assess the school on the work that was done in class, important though it was, “but on the work and play and discipline of the school as a whole, considered from the effect they were having in training the character and developing the mind of their sons”. Our current School Values echo not only in spirit but also in phraseology the values established by Green over a century ago.

Even back in the early part of last century, inspections were an established part of the educational landscape, focusing on: quality control; teacher evaluation; facility checks; and compliance. The emphasis was very much on teaching rather than learning, teachers rather than students. Watson in his history provides tantalising references to inspections over the years. The school inspectors in 1920 singled out advanced literary work, mathematics and science as being in need of particular improvement and Green himself regretted the limited number of university places being achieved. The Board of Education inspectors returned to the School in 1931 and considered that academic standards had improved noticeably and complimented the school on the award of six university scholarships during the previous three years. We hear little of inspections in the intervening years until 1956 when the school was, according to the inspection of that year, “a home of sound learning with a vigorous and many-sided life outside the classrooms”. It was a place, they continued, “ready to respond to change but holding fast to unchanging values”. This feels like a timeless mantra which has epitomised the RGS philosophy throughout its recent history.

Fast-forward to 2001, the verdict of the inspectors was that the RGS was dedicated to the education of the whole person by “developing the character, intellect and physique of every pupil, within a scholarly environment.” The inspectors went on to praise the fact that pupils “have an instinctive respect for academic high standards and the traditional virtues of hard work, commitment and loyalty: they also have an intelligent understanding of the needs of the modern world”. The inspectors also spoke of the spirit of co-operation and collaboration, consideration and a sense of responsibility. They concluded by saying that pupils “leave the school confident, balanced individuals with a secure academic foundation, well prepared for a fulfilling and worthwhile future”.

Tolerance, kindness and mutual respect pervade every aspect of school life. “

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As I reflect on our latest ISI Inspection report published this week, I – of course – have immense pride in the findings but, equally, there is a sense of pride in a school which has a confidence about what it is and what it stands for. Irrespective of external forces and factors, the RGS continues to place value on scholarship but also on the development of traditional values of kindness, decency, inclusivity and respect. I hope you are as proud of the report as I am but, more importantly, I hope you are as proud of your sons as I am. As the Inspection Report 2025 articulated so clearly, the RGS is “an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated… where tolerance, kindness and mutual respect pervade every aspect of school life.” Ready to respond to change but holding fast to unchanging values: it is the RGS way.

RESPECT COURAGE

SCHOOL PRIORITIES 2022-2025

Our current RGS school development priorities are Collaboration, Student Experience and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. These priorities are in the final year of our three-year cycle.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

We have focused on responding to student and staff voice, as well as experienced external providers, to inform our strategy which is currently centred around developing a more inclusive curriculum; staff diversity; and providing additional training and support for staff and students with the aim of making our whole community more tolerant and inclusive.

COLLABORATION

We are focusing on four areas: staff collaboration to develop and improve teaching and learning; sharing best practice between RGS and RGS Prep; co-educational opportunities and links for our students socially and academically; and linking with our international schools to provide students with cultural and academic enrichment opportunities.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

This is always an area of continual development; however, our current focuses are on student appearance; the reporting process; academic tracking and reporting; co-curricular participation; literacy; pastoral support; reviewing the Sixth Form curriculum provision; and effective use of student devices and the possibilities that AI offers.

NOTICES

General Sports Reminders

Please be aware that there continue to be roadworks in the vicinity of Broadwater School so do allow yourself extra travel and parking time this weekend.

We very much welcome parental support at weekend sports fixtures including football at Bradstone Brook and hockey at Broadwater School. May we politely remind you that dogs are, regrettably, strictly not allowed. May we also remind parents that for any midweek hockey fixtures at Broadwater School which take place during the school day, unfortunately, parents are not allowed to watch owing to visitor regulations which are dictated by Broadwater School. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Monday 17 March

Joint RGS and GHS Concert at G Live.

Wednesday 19 March

Senior Piano Concert in the Recital Room.

Thursday 20 March

Upper Sixth Form Parents’ Evening in Great Hall

Junior Drama Production Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations for 2 nights.

Friday 21 March

MFL play Le Bossu de Notre-Dame for 2 nights in the courtyard of the Old Building and Big School.

Monday 24 March

Service of Compline sung by Schola Cantorum in St Mary’s Church.

Thursday 27 March

Ensembles’ Concert in the Auditorium.

Book tickets & view more events here

A school culture that actively promotes inclusion and mutual respect highly successfully. This is a significant strength of the school.

Highlights

An extensive range of co-curricular activities supports pupils in developing and pursuing their interests...fostering life skills and independence.

[The School offers] a variety of opportunities for pupils to contribute to the lives of others both within the school and in the wider community.

[Teachers] deliver exciting lessons which challenge pupils. ”

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Pupils are taught to appreciate diversity and to value the strengths and potential in everyone. ”

Leaders prioritise and support pupils’ physical, mental and emotional health well. ”

Teachers...engage pupils in highly sophisticated discussions, using probing questions to challenge their ideas and encourage scholarship and thought extremely effectively.

Pupils develop social skills, confidence and self-esteem, ensuring they are well prepared for life.

Pupils feel well-supported in school.

Pupils develop a breadth of knowledge and enthusiasm for scholarship. This is a significant strength of the school.

[A] strong academic culture leads to pupils who readily engage in critical thinking And deep learning and display intellectual curiosity.

The careers guidance programme is comprehensive and well planned. It provides pupils with up-to-date guidance on a broad range of educational and career options.

LATEST NEWS

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

RGS students ranging from novice First Formers to experienced Sixth Form delegates travelled to Epsom College for their annual MUN conference. The topics that were debated were varied and nuanced, including the rights of migrants, territorial disputes in the Arctic, antimicrobial resistance in pathogens and the question of reparations for post-colonial countries to name just a few. Two of our three delegations (or 11 students) won Highly Commended delegation awards. Individually, Cameron Brown, Ayan Chowdhury and Leo Manolis all won Highly Commended delegate awards; Oscar York and Alex Rea both won Outstanding Delegate awards.

CHEMISTRY

In the UK Chemistry Olympiad 16,216 students from 1,502 schools took part in Round 1. RGS students achieved another outstanding set of results with 11 Gold, 10 Silver, and 17 Bronze awards. Alex Mann, Yuvan Raja and Joel Sellers were in the top 1% of all the candidates. In addition, Oscar Gilliam, Ronit Sachdeva and Matteo Varda all achieved the distinction of a Gold award in the Lower Sixth.

MUSIC

The Joint Schools' Chamber Choir made their highly anticipated first visit to St George’s Chapel, Windsor, singing Evensong in a stunning display of musicianship. Founded in the 14th century by King Edward III, the chapel has been a place of worship for the Royal Family for centuries. The choir’s performance of Charles Wood’s setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in F Major and Purcell’s Remember Not, Lord, Our Offences was delivered with exceptional clarity and emotion, filling the chapel with a rich wall of sound. For those who were lucky enough to be in the congregation and for the members of the choir themselves, this was a truly memorable experience and one that will stay with them for many years to come.

PHYSICS

In the British Physics Olympiad, Yuvan Raja was invited to sit Round 2 on the basis of his performance in the previous round and was awarded Gold. Yuvan has now received an invitation to the training camp for selection for the national team: a phenomenal achievement. In addition, in the British Astrophysics Olympiad just 17 students nationally received Gold awards; Yuvan Raja again secured this prestigious award. Ronit Sachdeva secured a Bronze award.

SPORTS NEWS

SAILING

The RGS Sailing team competed in the British Keelboat League schools meet at Queen Mary Sailing Club against some of the strongest schools in the country. Two fantastic days of sailing were had in summer conditions, 20 degrees and perfect wind. The A team of Finley Harman, Alex Judge, Finlay LomasClarke and Haytham Rayner finished fourth overall – an incredible achievement – and were awarded a wild card entry to the BKL finals in September.

FENCING

The RGS teams enjoyed success against Charterhouse School winning at Senior Épée, Junior Foil and Junior Épée. On an individual front, in LPJS St Benedict's Foil in the Under 14 event, Lucas Ngai secured Bronze medal out of a field of 25 fencers.

In the British Schools' Team Championships, Under 15 Foil team comprising Valentine Wallin (captain), Cyrus Choi, Lucas Ngai and Harry Radforth finished as Silver medallists, losing narrowly 42 – 45 to a talented Westminster School team in the final.

FOOTBALL

Highlights of a busy fortnight included convincing wins for the 2nd and 4th XIs against Kingston Grammar School by 6 – 1 and 7 – 0 respectively. A succession of players scored braces in the senior teams, including Sam Carney, Charlie Clyde, Daniel Bristow, Adhit Gupta, Andrew Lee and Jake Ventham. In the Trinity Cup Quarter Final, the 1st XI beat Reigate Grammar School 2 – 1 with goals from Hugo Turner and Eddie Banks

HOCKEY

In our junior block against King Edward’s School Southampton, our Under 13 and 12 teams lost just one of 10 fixtures with the free-scoring Under 13Fs winning 9 – 0. A tight set of fixtures against Reed’s Schools were mostly decided by a single goal; highlights included a tense 3 – 2 win for the 1st XI, 4 – 2 victory for the 2nd XI and an excellent 6 – 0 victory for the Under 16Bs who continued their 100% win record against U16B teams this term. Against Merchant Taylor’s School, the 1st and 2nd XIs both recorded back-to-back wins, while the other teams played Kingston Grammar School due to the weekend A3/M25 closure.

In cup competitions, the Under 16As beat Tonbridge School 7 – 3 to secure a place in the last 16 of the National Championships, while the Under 15As beat Hurstpierpoint College 5 – 3 in the ISHC Plate to progress to the last 32.

CHESS

Our 1st VI won their regional semi-final to progress to the next round of the National Schools Chess Championship. Sebastian Allam, James Guo, Ronit Sachdeva, Aditya Sengupta and Samuel Webb all won their games.

TABLE TENNIS

32 junior students participated in two fixtures against Salesian College, with 64 matches played in total. The RGS emerged victorious in both the Under 12 and 14 age groups: testament to the strength in depth currently in table tennis.