RGS Academic Review 2019

RGS ACADEMIC REVIEW 2019 BEST GCSE RESULTS IN THE SCHOOL’S HISTORY

90% OF A LEVEL GRADES AT A*-B

95% OF A LEVEL STUDENTS RECEIVED RUSSELL GROUP, OXBRIDGE OR MEDICAL SCHOOL OFFERS

100% SUCCESS RATE FOR OXBRIDGE OFFER HOLDERS

TYPICAL REIGATIAN SCORES AAA AT A LEVEL AND NINE OR TEN 8s (A*) AT GCSE

HIGH PERFORMANCE LEARNING (HPL) WORLD CLASS SCHOOL SCHOOL OF THE YEAR FOR PASTORAL CARE

R E I G AT E G R A M M A R S C H O O L

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A world-class school with excellent High Performance Learning.

Professor Deborah Eyre

Reigate Grammar School is a wonderful school, I cannot fault it.

Mother of a Sixth Form student on A Level results day 2019

Happy kids and great results.

The Good Schools Guide, June 2019

Reigate Grammar School has been the school for me. It has completely changed me as a person for the better.

KG, who achieved A*AA at A Level and will go on to Medical School

The teachers are always there to help, not just during lesson time, and there was so much support in the run-up to exams.

AC, delighted with his GCSE results and planning to take four A Levels in the Sixth Form

Although it is academic, Reigate Grammar School is a really interesting and creative community.

JA, who will take Theology & Philosophy, Politics and Theatre Studies A Levels in the Sixth Form

You get the good grades but you also learn how to work with people, and acquire skills to take with you into the world.

MD, who will take Maths, Physics and Geography A Levels in the Sixth Form

Our students enjoy their school days but they also excel academically.

Shaun Fenton, Headmaster

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GCSE RESULTS 2019

THE SCHOOL’S BEST EVER GCSE RESULTS: A THIRD OF ALL GRADES AT 9 Typical grade profile nine or ten 8s (A*) 68 students have ten GCSEs entirely at 9 or 8 (A*) Almost two thirds of grades are at 9 or 8 (A*) Nearly nine out of ten grades are 9-7 (A*-A)

Reigate Grammar School’s 2019 GCSE grades are the best in the school’s history, placing RGS in the top four independent coeducational day schools in the country (The Times GCSE league tables 2019).

Individually and collectively, the facts and figures are quite remarkable, with the highest ever proportion of 9-8 (A*) grades and 9-7 (A*-A) grades ever received, and 68 students having ten GCSEs at 9 or 8 (A*).

The typical Reigatian receiving their GCSE results in 2019 scored nine or ten 8s (A*).

 These grades are outstanding on their own, but when combined with the students’ wonderful qualities of character and their achievements outside the classroom, they are truly remarkable.

Headmaster Shaun Fenton

R E I G AT E G R A M M A R S C H O O L

KEY STAGE 4: THREE-YEAR GCSE PROGRAMME Reigate Grammar School students benefit from a three-year GCSE programme, a system which has proven results for enhanced academic attainment and increased depth of learning. RGS students are already working at a level ahead of national expectations and for those students who join us in the First Form (Year 7), RGS helps students to work quickly through the important foundation stage in the first two years. This allows RGS to support students to work at the higher level of GCSE study a year earlier than at most other schools.

Students’ higher level of ability and the support framework provided by the school sees RGS students start working at GCSE level from the start of the Third Form (Year 9) rather than waiting until the Fourth Form (Year 10), as in most other schools. Having three years to

work at GCSE level means students get three years to do what other schools rush through in just two years. The extra time supports higher attainment and higher GCSE grades that will open up additional opportunities as students apply to top universities.

The extended three-year GCSE course also enables RGS students to enjoy significantly greater breadth and depth in their learning.

ELECTIVES PROGRAMME The extra time provided by a three-year GCSE programme enables RGS students to benefit from an innovative Electives Programme which contains a wide range of studies and life skills that are valuable but do not require yet another GCSE examination in order to be part of a great education. Examples of electives include a new language started ab initio, sculpture or ceramics, a programme of art appreciation, French literature, digital design, computer programming or forensic science.

THE ACADEMY The Academy is now in its fifth year and attracting speakers and debaters in strong numbers. The student-led forum is open to members of the Fifth and Sixth Forms and gives a platform to engage further in areas of interest.

Inspired by Plato’s Academy model, each session sees a student give a short presentation on an academic issue that is of particular interest to them. The presentation is then followed by an open discussion on the day’s topic encouraging

TSI FRIDAY! debating, knowledge sharing and a chance to dig deeper into a range of crosscurricular subjects.

In addition to the immediate academic gains and enjoyment, The Academy also provides students with the opportunity to practice giving presentations in a relatively informal setting. The forum provides valuable experience for university applications, employment and as a stepping stone to qualifications such as the Extended Project Qualification.

RGS’s popular series of talks Thank Science It’s Friday covers topics as varied as snowflake formation and the blue blooded horseshoe crab. From the physics of auroras to mercury poisoning, eukaryotic cells to the inner workings of PCs. Talks are given by students, Old Reigatians and staff and offer a chance to go beyond the syllabus and take a deeper dive into scientific topics.

TSI Friday talks are open to students in the Fifth and Sixth Form.

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 GCSE SUCCESS STORIES With such an array of academic and extra-curricular achievements among the Fifth Form, these few individual profiles are just a snapshot of the bigger picture; we’re so proud of the entire year group.

“RGS is a school where everyone feels welcome, that puts the individual first.”

Harry Armstrong

David Hamer

Machayla Dewdney

Harry Armstrong

1675 Scholar David took ten GCSEs plus Further Maths, and scored the top grade in all of them.

With ten top grades under her belt, athlete Machayla is now looking forward to studying Maths, Physics and Geography at A Level, having got A* (equivalent) in these subjects at GCSE.

Harry is very modest about the fact that he scored a perfect set of 9s across the board in his GCSEs, as well as the top grade possible in Further Maths. He will go on to take four A Levels in the Sixth Form, in French, History, Maths and Economics.

In addition to his superb grades, David has contributed to the life of the school in many ways beyond the classroom: in particular through debating and Model United Nations (MUN). He has attended MUN conferences, been involved in developing the RGS MUN website and is Conference Chair for a forthcoming MUN event at RGS. A beneficiary of the RGS Foundation’s Changing Lives bursary scheme, David’s story is one of outstanding success, and he will no doubt have been keen to share his superb news with his sponsor, who is himself a former pupil.

Head of Foundation Sean Davey commented: “David’s sponsor will be on hand to provide career advice and mentoring when the time comes. David and our other 1675 Scholars benefit in many ways beyond the bursary place provided, including invaluable support from the Reigatian Professional Network, which is available to all students when they leave the school.”

Machayla competes at national level in biathlons and triathlons, and was ranked sixth in GB last season, an outstanding achievement. Although competition season coincided with exam time this year, she managed to keep up the training, which she found helped her to relax during her revision studies.

Machayla wants to try something new in the Sixth Form, and is considering taking up rock climbing alongside her A Levels. She will also continue to play netball for the school.

Speaking just after she’d collected her results, Machayla said: “I’m feeling really good, I’m proud of myself and my results. RGS is a school that has taught me a lot, not only academically. I came here very shy and I’ve become a lot more confident.”

Results envelope in hand, Harry said: “My marks make me feel so happy. All the hard work paid off, and I’m looking forward to more independence at A Level and more time to explore my subjects.

My teachers have supported me so much, and I’m very happy to be able to show my gratitude through these results.

I’ve been involved a lot with MUN (Model United Nations) since I joined the school, and have found that debating has given me more confidence in myself and I’ve met new friends internationally. Aside from my grades, that’s another thing that the school has helped me with.”

R E I G AT E G R A M M A R S C H O O L

A LEVEL RESULTS 2019

TOP CO-EDUCATIONAL INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL IN SURREY AND SECOND IN THE UK THE TIMES LEAGUE TABLE, AUGUST 2019

A LEVEL RESULTS

BY SUBJECT

% A*-B

ART

100

BIOLOGY

97

CHEMISTRY

78

COMPUTING

100

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

100

Typical grade profile AAA and 90% A*-B grades

ECONOMICS

Two thirds of grades at A* and A

ENGLISH LITERATURE

100

100% success rate for Oxbridge applicants

FRENCH

100

95% received Russell Group, Oxbridge or Medical School offers

FURTHER MATHEMATICS

100

In the A Level league table published in The Times on 16 August 2019, Reigate Grammar School can once again be found at the very highest level of schools, both locally and nationally. The percentage of A* and A*-B grades that RGS students received in their A Levels was second only to one other fully coeducational independent day school nationwide, and was top of the list in Surrey.

Congratulations to students, teachers and families; it takes a community to produce success stories such as these.

In addition, this year’s Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) results are the school’s best ever, and flawless BTEC results reflect curricular diversity at RGS.



86

GEOGRAPHY

94

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

93

GREEK

100

This year’s RGS students head off to top UK, US and European universities and are outstanding young people; a delight to know and future game changers in their chosen fields. These are the employees, colleagues and leaders that any enterprise needs.

HISTORY

100

LATIN

100

Headmaster Shaun Fenton

THEOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY

89

TOTAL PERCENTAGE

90

MATHEMATICS PHOTOGRAPHY

89 100

PE

71

PE (BTEC)

100

PHYSICS

84

SPANISH

100

THEATRE STUDIES

100

For more in-depth analysis please visit our website

WHY DO WE USE THE MEASURE OF A*-B GRADES? This year, as last, our students hold university places where the grade requirements are almost exclusively all A*-B grades. Therefore, A*, A and B grades create life chances and secure university places that are aligned with the aspirations of RGS students. It is also the same as national benchmark tables.

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 A LEVEL SUCCESS STORIES We are proud of every departing member of the Sixth Form but can only feature a small sample of the exceptional individuals receiving their results in 2019.

Reigate Grammar School is a wonderful school, I cannot fault it.

Jemima Williams’ mother

Congratulations to Andrew Huang, Joshua Rogers, Ayan Shahid, Jack Wilson-Smith, Alhumam Alkhusheh, Paul Randall, Emma Starbuck, Louis Thomas and Head Girl Ellie Kim on securing three or more A* grades.

Ellie Kim

Jarrett Mee

Jemima Williams

RGS’s departing Head Girl takes home an extraordinary four A* grades and is on her way to Pembroke College, Cambridge to read Natural Sciences.

While in the Sixth Form, Ellie was a mentor to fellow students, went on tour with the Ultimate Frisbee team, and completed her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Ellie’s prize cabinet includes the Gooch Memorial Prize and The S Arbury Prize for Physics.

Having received an unconditional offer from the University of Kent to study Drama, keen actor Jarrett is the proud owner of an A* in Drama, an A in Philosophy and a B in History.

With her three A grades, Jemima is looking forward to her medical studies at her first choice, the University of Nottingham.

Ellie says: “The support from all the staff has been wonderful. Everyone is right there with you when you get up to speak as Head Girl, and the staff do give you space to try to change things, make things better. It’s really sad to leave, it’s hard to believe that this period of my life is over. One of the great things about RGS is that all of us are genuinely very sad to leave, which shows how amazing it is.”

Jarrett was Vice Captain of Cranston House and will be much missed, especially in the Drama department.

He started off in Annie in Third Form, going on to take lead roles in Molly and the Stardust and The History Boys in the Sixth Form. Jarrett received the Helen Mumby Drama Award, and was heavily involved with production at The Pendley Shakespeare Festival.

Not content with treading the boards, Jarret was also captain of the 1st XI football team.

Jarrett said: “I’m sad to be leaving, and particularly to hear that the school is doing Les Misérables this year! I’ll be back to watch that one. In show week, you get so close to the people involved, I will really miss that school show element.

My Drama teacher was a real friend and an amazing support and knew exactly when to give me an extra push, so I feel proud to give her and my other teachers these results as a way of saying thank you. As for friendships formed? I have unbreakable bonds with my RGS friends.”

One of RGS’s bursary students and immensely involved in all aspects of school life, Jemima was Captain of Williamson House and excelled at generating a sense of community and team spirit. She led on a number of successful fundraising initiatives for RGS’s charity partners.

A keen vocalist and guitarist, Jemima was also a colour sergeant in the CCF. Jemima was winner of the Sixth Form Henry Smith Prize as well as the Headmaster’s Sixth Form Prize.

Speaking soon after the opening of the all-important envelope in the school’s Old Library, Jemima’s mother said: “Reigate Grammar School is a wonderful school, I cannot fault it. To get to where we are today… I’m overwhelmed.”

Jemima added: “I’m very lucky to be here because I’m a Harrison scholar. When my friends and I finally knew our results, and two of us confirmed that we are both off to Nottingham to study medicine, I’ve had the biggest hug I’ve ever had!”

R E I G AT E G R A M M A R S C H O O L

LEAVERS’ DESTINATIONS AND CAREERS

BEST-EVER SET OF UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS: 95% HOLDING RUSSELL GROUP, OXBRIDGE OR MEDICAL SCHOOL OFFERS 100% success rate for Oxbridge applicants Flawless BTEC results: 100% Starred Distinction University places successfully confirmed in UK, Europe and USA

POPULAR UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS

POPULAR UNIVERSITY COURSES

BATH

BIO-CHEMISTRY

BRISTOL

BIOLOGY

CAMBRIDGE

COMPUTER SCIENCE

DURHAM

ECONOMICS

EDINBURGH

ENGINEERING

EUROPEAN OR AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

HISTORY

EXETER

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

IMPERIAL COLLEGE, LONDON

LANGUAGES

LEEDS

LAW

NEWCASTLE

MEDICINE

NOTTINGHAM

PHYSICS

OXFORD

PPE

Reigate Grammar School 2019 alumnae also leave us to pursue vocational studies in Veterinary Science, Dentistry, Contemporary Music, Art and Superyacht cadetship.

CAREERS Every member of the Fifth Form and their parents have a meeting with a senior member of staff to discuss their individual progress, A Level choices, university and career options. Careers and Higher Education ‘profiling’ is available, including interviews from external experts, for our Fifth Form and Sixth Form students.

Students from Second Form upwards are invited to lunchtime Beyond the Classroom talks and careers evenings throughout the year, all featuring external experts in their field. Last year featured Law, Engineering and Digital Careers; this year Accounting and Finance, Alternatives to University, and Art and Design Careers.

Careers/UCAS lessons are provided in the Sixth Form, as well as a Q&A with an expert in university admissions. Former students come in to take questions from Lower Sixth Form students about their chosen paths. A dedicated member of staff advises on alternatives to university, applications overseas and interview preparation and another specialises in Oxbridge applications.

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THE RGS PROFESSIONALS NETWORK The RGS Professionals Network group is run by the RGS Foundation Office, in partnership with the Careers Department, to help RGS students with their career choices whilst they are at school and beyond, and to encourage networking between Reigatians.

RGS PROFESSIONALS GROUP The primary purpose of RGS Professionals is to foster meaningful friendship and network support. It supports the school by providing a pool of experienced professionals willing to provide guidance and potential job contact opportunities to students. The group also has regular events which provide the platform to meet and network with new and existing friends and colleagues.

With over 1600 members, the group offers a vital source of advice, encouragement, mentorship and in some cases work experience and potential job opportunities.

Recent events have included: Digital Transformation at The Shard hosted by Jellyfish, a hospitality event at leading London restaurant Inamo and a fascinating evening at the global law firm, BCLP, entitled ‘The Diversity Dilemma’.

We invite you to join our group on LinkedIn. Simply search:

 Reigate Grammar School Professionals

UNIVERSITY LINKS 300+ Reigatians currently studying at university are available to provide details about their course and university to RGS Sixth Form students. Including valuable tips on the ‘inside track’ of university life, courses and a depth of knowledge that reaches far beyond universities’ official brochures and websites.

In addition, each summer, Reigatians return from university to RGS for a UCAS Day, organised by the Careers Department. This provides the opportunity for Lower Sixth Form RGS students to ask questions about their experience of university, their course and their recommendations for a successful UCAS application and transition to university.

OVERSEAS NETWORK The Reigatian Community spreads far and wide. From New York to New Zealand, we have ambassadors around the globe that are very happy to help. They can offer advice, be a point of contact or even provide job opportunities for recent RGS leavers that are taking a gap year or moving abroad.

As part of the RGS Professionals Group, parents and former students also provide invaluable support through participation in the school’s annual Careers Convention and the popular lunchtime careers speakers programme which runs throughout the year.

Please contact us if you think we may be able to help: foundation@reigategrammar.org

 The Foundation Office was a huge help in connecting me with relevant RGS Professionals… it should be everyone’s starting point when it comes to networking, seeking introductions and advice.

A recent RGS Professionals Event at the Award Winning Inamo Restaurant, Covent Garden

Matt Taylor (’15)

R E I G AT E G R A M M A R S C H O O L

ACADEMIC MATTERS (Extract from The Good Schools Guide review, June 2019) “Not a hothouse, but academic” is the general consensus, with current head credited with ramping up results, chiefly via the pastoral route and oodles of extra academic support (known as learning pathways) where required. Expect best feet to be put forward and pips squeaked – all, however, without imposing undue stress, say parents, with the relaxed students we saw clearly not feeling the strain (and we visited during exam season).

 Priorities one, two and three for this selective school are pastoral care and this – coupled with fabulous teaching, students’ almost uniquely acute awareness of their own approach to learning and a heavy dose of extra-curricular – makes for happy kids and great results.

The Good Schools Guide

The emphasis in years 7 and 8 is on finding subjects that inspire, then choosing favourites for the extended three-year GCSE programme, which gets the thumbs up from students and parents alike. One student told us she “couldn’t imagine cramming it into the usual two years” while a parent said, “it helps keep the joy of the subject alive because there’s no mad race to prepare for the exam”.

Unrelated modular programmes (digital photography, 20th century civil rights, Mandarin, yoga and Mediterranean cooking just a flavour of what’s on offer) keep breadth – “a great education is about far more than a fist full of qualifications”.

Mandarin, French, German, Spanish and Latin on offer from year 7 – students pick three, and can add Japanese, Italian and Greek from year 8, with a view to doing one for GCSE (not compulsory).

Sixth Form seen as bridge between school and uni, with seminar-like learning.

Most do three A Levels – 23 to pick from with less traditional options including psychology (“a real growth area”), computer science, Mandarin and politics.

All do the Henry Smith Studies Project (a home-grown independent research project), which around half convert to an EPQ (examples include sustainability, construction and criminal profiling of couple killers).

Has introduced High Performance Learning: “an innovative, world-class education profile that helps students become enterprising learners, advanced performers and global citizens”. And it’s not just behind-the-scenes, inset day speak – students drop acronyms and jargon such as ‘HPL’, ‘metalearning’ and ‘growth mindset’ into their conversation; they even reeled off examples – collaborative learning, focusing on effort not achievement etc.

Priorities one, two and three for this selective school are pastoral care and this – coupled with fabulous teaching, students’ almost uniquely acute awareness of their own approach to learning and a heavy dose of extra-curricular – makes for happy kids and great results.

Transformational head can take much of the credit, say parents; we agree. “They build the school around the child, not the other way round,” summed up one.

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BEYOND THE GRADES

WELLBEING wellbeing noun: the state of feeling healthy and happy.

TIMES EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT (TES) WINNER - Independent School of the Year for Pastoral Care Reigate Grammar School was shortlisted for more awards than any other schools in the 2019 TES Independent Schools Awards: •

Wellbeing initiative of the year

•

Independent-state school partnership award

•

Strategic education initiative of the year

•

Senior school of the year

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PARENT MAGAZINE WINNER - Independent School of the Year for Community Outreach Over 1000 local state school children benefit from our school partnership and community programmes, as part of which we host events, share our sports facilities, run workshops and camps, and invite young audiences to our plays and productions.

Our students engaged in over 5000 hours of volunteering just last year, raising tens of thousands of pounds, and our staff teach and help as governors at local schools.

Approximately 170 local children at RGS are on means-tested bursaries, many of which are large bursaries (up to 100% of fees plus meals, travel, uniform allowances and grants for school trips).

UK SOCIAL MOBILITY AWARDS 2019 FINALIST - School/College of the Year category RGS has been shortlisted in the prestigious UK Social Mobility Awards for its achievement in opening up its world-class education to children from all backgrounds. The Awards celebrate and recognise the forward-thinking organisations developing initiatives to promote social mobility.

RGS is working towards needs blind admissions, whereby places are awarded solely on the basis of ability, without applicants’ financial circumstances being taken into account.

Winners announced at a gala event in London in October 2019.

Reigate Grammar School’s groundbreaking Wellbeing Programme was recognised as the best in the country at the 2019 Times Education Supplement (TES) Independent School Awards.

The judges were impressed by RGS’s whole-school approach to wellbeing for staff and students, based upon a belief that happy and healthy children go on to become high achievers.

The school’s focus on relationships rather than rules enables RGS students to achieve far beyond expectations while exploring and understanding their own physical and mental health and wellbeing during their years at the school.

RGS wants every student to have an emotional toolkit to help them take on the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.

Each student has a personalised support network of form tutors, mentors and buddies. There is a Wellbeing Centre where students can take time out, Mindfulness forms part of the curriculum, and a dedicated Wellbeing Festival features external speakers, exercise and nutrition advice and volunteering and fundraising activities.

“Wellbeing is at the core of everything we do at Reigate Grammar School.

Children need to feel valued and understood, secure amongst friends and looked after by adults.”

Shaun Fenton, Headmaster “Priorities one, two and three for this selective school are pastoral care… ” The Good Schools Guide, 2019

Reigate Grammar School, Reigate Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0QS 01737 222231 admissions@reigategrammar.org

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