FROM THE HEADMASTER
When I reflect on my own teachers at school, I still can only recall them as Mr, Mrs or Miss. I am not even convinced that as a student I thought teachers had first names. Indeed, fiction seems to reinforce this stereotype, unsurprisingly Mr Chips is always just plain old Mr Chips; the same applies on screen – in the iconic Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso’s teacher and mentor is simply Mr Miyagi. Where literature does venture to provide first names, they are deliciously eccentric. The Harry Potter series, for example, provides names of its staff as diverse as Albus, Horace or Rubeus for male colleagues, Minerva, Pomona or Dolores for female colleagues. I admit the RGS is all the poorer for the lack of such names in our current staff room! Likewise, historically students struggled to ever imagine a teacher wearing anything other than business attire or having a life outside the school buildings! Despite this being the 21st century and, rightly, schools being far more relaxed and humane communities, elements of these clichés still ring true today for many students in their perception of teachers.
In a community such as ours, however, the teaching staff are only one aspect of what makes us tick as an institution, and I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the unsung heroes of the RGS. The support staff at the RGS are as numerous as the teaching staff. In a community of well over 1,000 individuals, the classroom teachers are only one element. The administration teams, the catering, the estates, the finance, the groundstaff, the ICT, the medical, the teaching support are all the heartbeat, the lifeblood of the RGS: adhering to the same phenomenal levels of professionalism, abiding by exactly the same values, embedding the same culture and ethos. Our support staff provide the seamless foundations which allow the students to learn, flourish and develop; they work all year round and their commitment and dedication are unquestionable. Our inspection earlier in the year rightly acknowledged the strength of the culture of mutual respect between students and staff at the RGS, and this applies to support and teaching staff alike.
And so as we approach the business end of this academic year, in this edition of The Bulletin I would like to formally express my genuine and heartfelt gratitude to all the staff of the RGS who embody and exemplify the ethos and zeitgeist of the RGS: passionate about what they do, passionate about education, and passionate about the welfare of our students. However, although we will always put the students first, do not expect us on any account to reveal our first names!
Support staff provide the seamless foundations which allow the students to learn, flourish and develop. “ ”
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Sports Cancellations
With rain forecast in the coming days, please check social media before travelling to fixtures this weekend. Details of cancellations and changes of arrangements are posted within minutes of the decision being made at the relevant sports ground. The same information is posted on Facebook, Instagram and X.
A281 Road Closure
Due to road works and possible extensions of the road closure currently in place on the A281 in Shalford please check your route and allow extra time for your journey to sports fixtures at Bradstone Brook this weekend.
Monday 9 May
School Examination Week starts for students in the First to Fourth Forms.
Development Week starts for the Lower Sixth Form.
Friday 20 May
Sports Day at Guildford Spectrum.
LATEST NEWS
BIOLOGY
Our Fourth Form students took part in the UK Biology Challenge, a prestigious national competition with 42,000 entries this year; it encourages young people to explore and deepen their interest in the natural world. The challenge involved two 25-minute online quizzes packed with thought-provoking multiple-choice questions, drawing on both school-taught material and wider biological knowledge. Our students demonstrated a strong understanding of biological concepts, with 37 achieving Gold, 41 Silver, and 45 Bronze; in total, 83% of our cohort gained a medal.
CHARITY
PHYSICS
Over 13,000 students nationwide entered the Junior Physics Challenge, 22 of whom were Fourth Form students. The competition encourages students to engage in an assortment of physics problems and ideas without the pressure of it being a real test or something they need to prepare for. RGS students impressed, securing 14 Gold, 6 Silver and 2 Bronze awards; of particular note was Cameron Sibbald, earning a Gold despite being only in the Second Form.
Lower Sixth Form students Eddie Banks, Ben Dinenage, Finn Heath, George Hewlett, and Inigo Schybergson completed a physical challenge as part of the latest RGS Pilgrim’s Challenge 2025. Between them, they lifted 500 tonnes through various exercises and in various locations, over the course of five days over half term break, raising over £1,100 for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care charity
SPORTS NEWS
CRICKET
In the final block fixture before half term, the senior teams pit their wits against Winchester College, while the juniors played fixtures against Trinity School Croydon. The three Under 15 teams again impressed, securing victories across the board, including an emphatic 155-run victory for the C team. In the juniors, the four Under 13 teams also had an unblemished record as they achieved four excellent victories, including an 8-wicket win for the D team.
FOOTBALL
Etienne Victor from our Second Form has successfully completed trials at Southampton FC and has now signed on to be a part of their Academy. This is an impressive achievement and we wish him all the very best of luck.
= Designated Safeguarding Lead
= Deputy DSLs
Mr JW Pressley Senior Master
Miss JL McAllister PA to the Headmaster
Mr MRF Royds Head of Upper School
Mr JDN Lythgoe Head of Lower Sixth Form
Mrs JSR Thorpe Deputy Head
Mr AC Dodd Head of Fifth Form
Mr M Bailey Head of Third Form
Mr MF Baggs Head of Lower School
Mr NW Gough Assistant Head Pastoral (DSL)
Mr I Wilkes Head of First Form
Mr JC Witts Head of Middle School
Mrs SL Kidgell PA to Senior Deputy Head & Heads of Year
Miss GE Spencer Head of Second Form
Mr AU Woodman Senior Deputy Head