Any comments for The Royal Grammar School - UK State Boarding School

odelia_ho

As topic.  Any comments?

My son would like to enrol for Year 10 in 2014.  I've found that the FT ranking of this school is quite good.  Any parents have comments for this school?

Cheers,  

odelia_ho

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odelia_ho

回覆 demio 的帖子

Thank you, demio
Do you mind to share which schools you are applying please?

demio

回覆 spiderlily 的帖子

Hi Spiderlily

Not yet! Have to wait until early February.  My son still have two tests in January.

How about your son then?

spiderlily

demio 發表於 13-12-18 15:25
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Congratulations!

demio,

How about your son?

demio

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Congratulations!

odelia_ho

回覆 Lomama99 的帖子

Hi Lomama99,
I  reviewed my old post on forum this morning. Found this topic.
How is your son?  He decided to go to the UK in 2014?  Which school you selected?
I want to share that my son got a place for Year 9 in 2014 at Royal Grammar School (High Wycombe).
From my understanding, the school only offer 2 places for HK students (Year 9), I know another boy comes from an elite school on HK Island (St. Jx)
My son decided to go.  How about your son?

odelia_ho

回復 Lomama99 的帖子

Hi Lo mama99,

That means you are still looking for other schools? Like Lancaster, its ranking is high, it should be a good school. For my own opinion, I think it's too north from London.
Anyway, good luck !

Lomama99

Hi lamb2003,

Just pm you, please check.

lamb2003

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Lomama99,Would you please pm the name of your agent to me? I am looking for some agents who can help me find some good state boarding schools. Thanks!

RobertPaPa

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My son was also accepted by Old Swinford Hospital , it is a good school. But I have chose another state school instead.

Lomama99

odelia_ho 發表於 13-5-13 18:08
Hi Lomama99,
Thank you for your comments. It's useful
Any other schools be your target?  Woul ...

Hi Odelia,

We only made up our mind to let our son studying abroad in late August 2012.  As there is not much time for detailed research, we just simply looked up the school list of the state boarding school's association and then contact those with 2012 FT ranking 1,000 or above thru' our agent.  There are actually not many of them, and after excluding those which did not response, told us that their places were full, required us to sit exam in UK, etc., I think my son took exams/interview for six schools.  As my son's English is really not so good, he was only accepted by Old Swinford Hospital in Stourbridge (we will resit the English paper of Lancaster Royal Grammar School later in May/June).  We have accepted Old Swinford's offer and will accompany him to UK in late August.  

Just my own experience and hope this is of use!

CPU1995

Actually my experience told me that some state boarding schools would have no compulsory ECA after school, no extra tuition for weak subjects, free to go outside school until 9:30 pm, not allow taking exam in extra subject if not covered in school syllabus, one subject one textbook.

My younger son is admitted by one ind school ranking within 100 for year 9 either in 2013 or 2014.  I have paid about 4,000 pounds deposit.  

Anyway, I would try to apply one or two state schools later with good pastoral care and word of mouth in Sept.  Ranking within 600 is acceptable if it can save me 22000 pounds a year.

odelia_ho

CPU1995 發表於 13-5-13 19:31
HI Odelia,

The school visit would normally give a good impression of the school concerned.  

Hi CPU1995,
Thank you for your advice.  I think the above criteria are compulsory in most of the boarding schools, except students could have meals outside schools during weekdays.  Isn't it?  For the exam matter, please advise more? Are most of the schools not allow students to take extra subjects?  I have no idea about this. How is the progress of applying schools for your younger son?
Cheers,
odelia_ho  

CPU1995

HI Odelia,

The school visit would normally give a good impression of the school concerned.  

I would ask the school concerned the following questions before enrollment:
- whether the school would have compulsory ECAs after school
- whether the school would offer any extra tuition for weak subjects
- whether the school would allow students go outside to shop around or take meals after school during week days.
-whether the school would allow the student to sit for extra subject in public exam

If the student has great autonomy in his boarding life without any compulsory ECAs after school, I would not consider this kind of school.

odelia_ho

Lomama99 發表於 13-5-13 15:07
回復 odelia_ho 的帖子

Hi odelia,

Hi Lomama99,
Thank you for your comments. It's useful
Any other schools be your target?  Would you please share?

odelia_ho

CPU1995 發表於 13-5-13 13:57
I may not try since I don't know anyone studying in RGS.  Based on my experience, I think that past ...

Yes, agreed
I've just seen Lomama99's comments, it's quite possitive.  Give me more confidence to apply this school

Lomama99

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Hi odelia,

RGS did not mention in their reply where the other applicants came from and my son was not put on the waiting list either.

I have good impression on RGS because we had visited the school in Dec. 2012.  The Director of Boarding met us personally and introduced to us the boarding house patiently and in details (he even showed us the weekly menu).  Though not big (they got only 70 boarders), the place is decent and tidy.  He then asked a sixth former whom he met outside the boarding house to take us walk around the school.  I still remembered the boy is so gentleman, sincere and always has a smile on his face that I very much hope my son can be like him when he grows up .  It is after this visit that my son did not resist studying abroad.

CPU1995

odelia_ho 發表於 13-5-13 13:25
Hi CPU1995,
Do you select RGS for your younger son?
...

I may not try since I don't know anyone studying in RGS.  Based on my experience, I think that pastrol care is more important than the ranking of the school.  

I would have confidence if someone whose kid studying here would recommend others to study this school.  Otherwise, it is quite risky to rely on the ranking to select such a school though there is limited choice of state boarding schools with high rankings.  

odelia_ho

Lomama99 發表於 13-5-11 16:52
My son took RGS's late entrance test for Year 9 in March but was not accepted.  The school said that ...

Lomama99,
Thank you for your entry.  May I know, the 32 applicants, are inculding other students, say from the UK and other countries?
And did the school put your son's name into waiting list?
Thank you.