Issuu

THIRD FORM BEGINNERS’

WELCOME

FROM THE HEADMASTER

Welcome to Reigate Grammar School.

I am delighted that you are joining our community as a new Reigatian. You will very soon make new friends, feel looked after by teachers and know that the older students are on your side.

You will meet students in your year group and in other year groups in the course of your daily learning as well as in House activities and at other events. You are embarking on an RGS adventure and I promise you we will look after you every step of the way. I wish you a happy and successful time at Reigate Grammar School.

Mr Shaun Fenton Headmaster

FROM THE HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

Welcome to the Upper School at RGS. I am really looking forward to getting to know you and I hope you enjoy your time here in the Upper School.

This booklet will help you find your way around the school and give you an idea of what we have to offer. At first, it may seem large and unfamiliar, but I know you will find everyone friendly and helpful, so please do not hesitate to ask if you are stuck.

Please read this booklet carefully and ask your parents to read it too so that you know what to expect, what to bring and above all, how to get the most out of your RGS experience. If there is anything that we can do please do come and find either Mr Rivers or me and we will always be happy to help.

Mr Rob Verdon Head of Upper School

STARTING AT RGS

March 2026

Your Journey Begins

When you accept your offer to join RGS!

June 2026

Meet RGS Teachers

They will visit you at your current school to get to know you.

June 2026

Parents’ Information Evening

An opportunity for your parents to meet your tutor, key staff and fellow parents.

June 2026

Nearly New Uniform Sale Run by the Parents & Friends Association (PFA).

26 June 2026

Enrichment Day

You will spend the day with your new year group taking part in a number of activities.

3 September 2026

Induction Morning

Before the rest of the school begins, you will be invited to an induction morning, where you’ll receive your new device, meet your buddy, enjoy brunch and take part in a fun orienteering game.

3 SEPTEMBER

INDUCTION MORNING FOR THIRD FORM (YEAR 9)

Where do I go?

Come to the playground by 9:00am where you will be greeted by Mr Rivers and Mr Verdon. If your parents bring you by car, on the first day they can drive into the playground to drop you off. You will spend the day getting to know your form friends, your form tutor and settling into your new life at RGS before the rest of the students return to school.

Who will I meet?

You will meet many people, but the most important people you will meet are your Form Tutor, Head of Third Form, Mr Rivers and Head of Upper School, Mr Verdon.

Where do I meet my parents after school?

On induction morning parents are invited to come and collect you from the playground at11:50am.

What should I wear?

Your full school uniform – be proud of it! Make sure everything you bring to school has your name on it. You are responsible for your belongings — your bag, your games kit, your pencil case, your watch and your books. Of course, you should respect other people’s belongings too.

What do I bring?

We recommend a recognisable, named backpack containing:

• Pencil case (with writing pens in blue/black, green, red and purple, pencil, rubber, ruler, colouring pencils, glue stick and a small pair of safety scissors)

• Casio FX-85GTCW calculator

• Geometry set

• Padlock for your locker with two keys or a combination code. (Please make sure the loop is 40 to 60mm long so it will be sure to fit. One key is for you and the other is to keep at home.)

A morning snack will be provided, so you do not need to bring any food with you. You don’t need to bring your games kit on this day.

THIRD FORM AT RGS

4 September First Day at RGS

7 September Sports & Clubs start

2 October Enrichment Day

Watch last year’s Christmas fun here

3 September Induction Morning

4 September Admissions Ceremony

Watch all the videos in this booklet here:

7 September Games

Competitions

2026

June Learning to Learn June HartsFest

Reading at RGS

Reading is good for your academic development and good for your mental health! From the time you arrive at RGS you are expected to be reading regularly, widely and independently. It is crucial for your academic development that you read books that are challenging for you in content, language and expression. Students who establish strong reading habits will find that it will have a hugely positive effect on their final grades and not just in English, but in all subjects. Reading is also another tool in your mental health toolkit – diving into books can provide a brilliant moment of calm in your day.

STUDENT LIFE

What lessons will I have?

You will be given your timetable on induction morning. You will be taught different subjects by different teachers. Not all your lessons will take place in the same room but you will soon learn where you need to be for each lesson. The timetable runs from Monday to Friday and is repeated each week. There are seven periods (lessons) each day.

Morning

8:35am Registration

8:40am Assembly/Form Period

9:00am Period 1

9:45am Period 2

10:30am Break

10:55am Period 3

11:40am Period 4

12:25pm Period 5

1:10pm Lunch

Afternoon

2:15pm Registration*

2:20pm Period 6

3:05pm Period 7 3:50pm Finish

*Please go to your Period 6 classroom

The Upper School curriculum

The Upper School curriculum is designed to provide a broad and balanced knowledge base, but also to challenge and inspire you. You will study six core subjects and four option subjects.

Electives Programme

The RGS electives programme enriches students’ school experience, providing an opportunity to try something new or develop skills in an area in which they are already interested or are curious.

During Electives sessions, you will also enjoy personal development lessons, workshops and presentations in PSHEE and Careers.

Activities in the programme range from crafting and creation to wellbeing and outreach, the latter of which sees students assist organisations in the local community, offering a helping hand and gaining valuable life skills. Enrichment activities such as those on offer under the programme have been proven by the Department of Education to enhance students’ cognition and approach to academic study.

Third and Fourth Form sessions run weekly with each elective consisting of five double lessons per

half term. Students are able to choose from a wide range of options.

The RGS Electives booklet provides an idea of the range of options on offer. Once finalised, you will be invited to access an updated programme for the coming academic year.

Courses will be allocated once online registration is complete. As some courses have a limit on the numbers of students that can participate, we will do our utmost to ensure that we can fulfil requests as the year progresses. You will also have the opportunity to update your choices throughout the year.

For more information please contact Mrs Ramsden, RGS’s Head of Electives via vlr@reigategrammar. org.

STUDENT LIFE

Where do I go?

When you are not in lessons or assembly, your form room is your home and main base. Near your form room you will have a locker in which to store your books. At break times you can play in the playground or use the library to complete some work or go to one of the many clubs and activities taking place.

What do I wear?

Your full school uniform – be proud of it! Make sure everything you bring to school has your name on it. You are responsible for your belongingsyour bag, your games kit, your pencil case, your watch and your books. Of course, you should respect other people’s belongings too.

Mobile Phones

You do not need a mobile phone at RGS. Your parents may choose to let you bring a phone with you because of your travel arrangements. You will not be allowed to use it during the school day and it must be switched off and out of sight. If you need to contact your parents, we will help you to do this. You should not have a smart watch either and you may not listen to ear buds/ear phones, unless this has been specially agreed.

Assemblies

Each week you will attend assemblies; these will be a mix of Church assembly in St Mary’s Church, House assemblies and an assembly with your year group. On those days when you do not have assembly you will spend time with your Form Tutor.

What do I bring to the first Games session?

Your Games session will be every Monday afternoon. PE lessons will be at different times throughout the week depending on which form you are in. There is no need to wear specialist equipment to PE lessons. On days when students have PE or Games they should come to school in kit including the RGS tracksuit bottoms and their RGS blast fleece. All kit must be RGS branded and labelled.

Girls: Games/hockey polo shirt (school design), blast fleece top and leggings or tracksuit (school design), games skort, blue and white games socks, sport specific trainers or hockey astros, gum shield and shin pads.

Boys: One reversible rugby shirt (school design), navy blue shorts (school design), blue and white games socks, blast fleece games top and bottoms (school design), rugby boots (or trainers) and gum shield.

What is the Homework Planner?

You will be given a Homework Planner where you can write down any homework which is set. It is also useful for jotting down other reminders. Your parents will need to sign your planner at the end of each week to show that they have checked it. Your Form Tutor will check and sign it regularly, so complete it carefully. All homework is also set on Microsoft Teams, so this is a great place to check what you have been asked to complete.

Homework

You will have a full homework timetable and you will have up to three pieces of homework every day.

It is very important that you write every piece of homework in your Homework Planner and do the homework on the night that it is set. That way, you will keep on top of your homework schedule. If you are finding homework hard to manage, please speak to your form tutor who can help you.

Rewards & Consequences

Rewards:

If you do well at school you may receive Honours which are awarded for a number of reasons: a good piece of work, putting in extra effort, being polite. There are lots of other opportunities to celebrate success at RGS and we always want to hear about your achievements.

Consequences:

If you make a mistake, teachers will talk to you about this and sometimes they might give you a behaviour point to record that something has gone wrong and you have been spoken to about it e.g. repeated lateness to lessons, not handing in your homework, stopping someone from learning etc. For bigger mistakes, you may get a different consequence but teachers will always want to try to understand what went wrong and why you made the choice you did.

WHO IS WHO?

Mr Verdon Head of Upper School

Mrs Post

Assistant Head of Third Form

Mr Rivers Head of Third Form

Miss Arthur Senior Deputy Head

Ms Sheridan

Assistant Head of Third Form

Mrs Briggs Bursar

Mrs Hall Librarian

Mr Pruvost Head of Outdoor Education

Rev Jackson Chaplain

Mrs Harvey School Nurse

Mrs Hollister School Office

Mrs Shaylor School Office

Mr Browning Director of Sport

Mrs Smith School Counsellor

Mrs Burns Director of Art

Miss Korzinek Director of Performing Arts

Mrs Papadopoulou Pastoral Support

Mrs Bardell-Roberts Head of Learning Support

HOUSES

Everyone at RGS is in one of four Houses: Bird, Cranston, Hodgson or Williamson. Each House meets weekly, alternating between House assemblies and House Families. Throughout the year there are interHouse competitions and challenges, including the House Sports Day in the summer term.

Mr O’Donnell Head of Williamson House

Ms Cottam Head of Hodgson House

WILLIAMSON

HODGSON

Mrs Hillsdon Head of Bird House

Mr Skarratts Head of Cranston House

BIRD

CRANSTON

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I...?

...feel ill while I’m at school?

Tell your teacher and they will direct you to the Wellbeing Centre. If you feel ill during break, tell a friend or go to the Wellbeing Centre. If you are unwell your parents will be contacted, do not contact your parents yourself.

... arrive at school late?

If it is before 8:50am, you should go to your form, if it is after 8:50am you need to go to the Studio Café. If it is after 9:00am, you must go to the Wellbeing Centre and register there with the school office or Pastoral Team.

... can’t find a lesson?

Try to stick together with people from your form but if you do get lost, look at your timetable and your map or ask somebody. If you still can’t find where you are supposed to be don’t worry! Go to the porters’ desk next to the main entrance or the school office in the Wellbeing Centre and they will help you find your classroom.

... need to leave during the school day?

If you need to leave school during the day, your parents should submit an absence request through My School Portal in advance.

When you leave the school, you must go to the school office to sign out. If you return during the school day you must sign back in.

... need to buy food?

On induction morning you will need to scan your fingerprint so you can use the biometric payment system in the dining hall. This can be topped up through the RGS Parent Online Payment system. Food can be purchased at break and lunchtime.

... am upset?

If you are upset about anything during the school day you should see your form tutor, Mr Rivers, Mr Verdon or you can go straight to the Wellbeing Centre. These members of staff are always there to listen to you, no matter how big or how small the problem.

... need to stay after lessons have finished?

Although school finishes at 3:50pm you may stay on the premises until 5:45pm and, unless you are in a supervised club, you should go to the library. The library is a good place to visit after school has finished or during break and lunchtime. You can use the library for doing homework as well as for borrowing a wide range of books. The library is open and staffed until 5:45pm each day. Students should be collected by 6:00pm. Between 5:45pm and 6:00pm students should wait in the main foyer.

... have been absent from school?

If you are ill or for some unexpected reason cannot attend school, your parents should report your absence through My School Portal.

You can go on to Teams and see if the work is posted there, and teachers may also help you catch up with work. You can send your teachers a message on Teams if you need their help with catching up, no matter how big or how small the problem.

What if I have a problem at school?

If you have any problem, are feeling unwell or upset, please go to the Wellbeing Centre. You are not the only new person in the Third Form – there are lots of new students in the school. You will soon find your way around, get to know people and make friends.

If you get lost, you can ask an adult or an older student to help. If you feel worried, angry or upset by something be sure to speak to your Form Tutor, Mr Rivers, Mr Verdon or any teacher you feel happy to talk to. We will help you as much as we can.

You can go to the Wellbeing Centre: this is where the school office and pastoral team are based and there will always be someone there who can help you or answer any question you might have. The Snug, a calm space for some time out, can also be found in the Wellbeing Centre. This is also where Learning Support, the School Counsellor and School Chaplain are based. When you get home, talk with your parents about your day and let them know if any issues have arisen for you. If they want to, they can contact your Form Tutor, Mr Rivers or Mr Verdon by calling or emailing the school.

GET INVOLVED

Life at RGS is not all about academic work, and you are encouraged to make the most of the vast range of opportunities available to you. The RGS Extra Curricular Programme is the heartbeat of the school and we hope that you get involved in whichever club or activity appeals. It is never too late to try something new, and staff are always keen to hear from students about starting up new clubs and ventures.

There are many clubs on offer, both at lunchtime and after school. There will be a clubs fayre in the first week where you can find out about all the clubs and activities. Try out the different clubs and see what you like, whether they are sports clubs or something else. There will be no homework for the first three weeks so that you have time to try out different clubs, so make the most of this opportunity.

RGS: Beyond the Classroom

GET INVOLVED

RGS

Sport

The RGS Sports department delivers a programme that promotes excellence through sport for all and creates good people through sport. We are extremely proud to provide opportunities for excellence and lifelong participation, through a student-centred approach, within a varied sporting programme.

Find out more by downloading the booklet and following the action:

RGS Sport Booklet

Vision for Sport video 

reigategrammarsport on Instagram

RGS Music

Music plays a vital part in life at RGS. The Music department values all students with an interest in music, whatever their experience and whatever style of music they enjoy.

Instrumental and vocal lessons

RGS Music lessons are a fantastic opportunity to develop your talent, learn something new and have fun! With numerous instrumental ensembles and choirs, concerts and overseas trips, there is always something on and opportunities to develop and perform. Lessons are offered on all orchestral instruments as well as piano, organ, singing, drums, saxophone, acoustic guitar and electric guitar. Lesson duration is usually 30 minutes. Applications for lessons can be made via the link below.

RGS Saturday Music College

Places are available for violin, cello, double bass, singing, guitar, clarinet, sax, piano as well as choir, string ensemble and wind ensemble on the Saturday mornings during term time in the RGS Music department. There are regular concert opportunities and visiting masterclass experts. Register via the Saturday Music College link below.

Contact Mrs Smith, Performing Arts Manager via kes@reigategrammar.org for details.

RGS Music Booklet

Music at RGS video 

Music Lessons Application Form

Saturday Music College rgs_performingarts on Instagram

Watch all the videos in this booklet here:

RGS Drama

Extra-curricular drama is a great strength of RGS, with a busy programme of annual theatre events.

There are usually three or four major productions each year in addition to evening showings, competitions, performances of examination pieces and visiting shows.

There are strong links with the Music department with musicals staged regularly. Productions in the last few years have included: The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, Shakespeare in Love, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Dare to Be a Reigatian and RGS in the West End at the Ambassadors Theatre in London.

Find out more by downloading the booklet and following the action:

rgs_performingarts

RGS Drama Booklet

on Instagram 

Drama at RGS video 

RGS PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION

Welcome to the RGS community! When you join RGS, your parents automatically become part of the PFA (Parents & Friends Association), a wonderful network of parents, carers and friends of the school who come together to support, celebrate and enhance life at RGS.

We organise a range of events throughout the school year. Some for fun, others to raise funds, and all to bring the community together.

The PFA is run by a committee of volunteers from the parent body and we always welcome new faces and fresh ideas. Becoming involved with the PFA is a great way to meet other parents from all year groups and to feel part of the school community.

Parents can provide support by:

• Attending events to meet other parents and have fun

• Joining the committee

• Volunteering to help run events

PFA events for parents

Nearly New Sale

Curry and Quiz Night

SEPTEMBER Nearly New Sale

OCTOBER New Parents’ Party

NOVEMBER Christmas Fair

DECEMBER Christmas Tree sale

RGS FOUNDATION

The RGS Foundation warmly welcomes you to the Reigatian Community

As a new student at Reigate Grammar School, we are delighted to welcome your parents into our vibrant Reigatian community — a network of former students, current and former parents and staff, governors, and members of the wider community, including our charity and business partners and friends of the school. We hope they will feel at home and enjoy getting connected, with so many ways to get involved.

Unlock the Power of the Reigatian Hub our online platform bringing together a global community of Reigatians

Parents can join the Reigatian Hub and become part of a thriving global community. Reconnect with former classmates and teammates, join a club, and explore our online archives and memory bank. Stay up to date with campaigns, news and events, browse the gallery, or enjoy our online publications.

Through the Professionals Hub, access mentoring, career advice, work experience and job opportunities across a wide range of industries — all within a network rich in knowledge, expertise and shared history. As you progress through the Sixth Form, you can benefit from work experience, career insights and university guidance, and even take on a leadership role as an RGS Foundation Ambassador, helping to shape events and lead fundraising initiatives.

Join the Reigatian Hub

Where the Reigatian Community Comes Together Reigatian Hub Events

From recent leavers returning for a Graduation Brunch to milestone reunions at 10 years, 40 years, and our Gold and Silver celebrations, we welcome former students back at every stage of life. For those keen to stay connected, we host regular Reigatian Hub gatherings in London, regionally and locally, so there is always something to enjoy.

From exclusive member dinners (get in touch to find out more) and overseas meet-ups to unique experiences — from the edgy Leake Street Tunnels to elegant balls at De Vere Connaught Rooms, dinners in New York, golf days and Giving Days — our events bring the community together in meaningful and memorable ways.

We host a wide variety of events for every part of our community. Explore the Reigatian Hub to see what’s coming up — and don’t miss out.