RGS or DCGS?

Eleven Plus (11+) in Buckinghamshire (Bucks)

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svg123
Posts: 250
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 1:34 pm

RGS or DCGS?

Post by svg123 »

I am not sure if this topic has been discussed before.
We are slightly confused between the above two schools.
We went for the open evening of RGS this weekend and DCGS last year (will visit again next week). We like both the schools.
I am sure we have parents in this forum with DS in both the schools. Can they pls share their thoughts and why they chose one over the other (if they had option to choose between them).

Many thanks in advance.
andyb
Posts: 645
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:27 am
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: RGS or DCGS?

Post by andyb »

Our choice was between RGS & John Hampden so DCGS didn't enter the equation, but maybe my thoughts will help. We chose RGS for DS1 (Y9) and will do so again for DS2. The school just felt "right" and we think it will suit both boys. We have found the care and dedication of the staff to go beyond the call of duty on many occasions and nothing seems too much trouble. I think academically RGS and DCGS are very similar so it boils down to a gut feeling when you visit the schools - bearing in mind that open evenings are really just a marketing tool :wink: . Which one did your DS prefer - after all it's the next 7 years of his life! Have you seen the schools on a normal day when the boys are around - seeing the way the staff and boys interact, behaviour at class changeover/lunchtime/break? Does one of the schools have a subject/sport/activity that your DS is really keen on? Which one is easiest to get to?

Good luck with making your decision.
Y
Posts: 463
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:49 pm

Re: RGS or DCGS?

Post by Y »

There are differences in the languages offered. At RGS, all boys do Latin/classical civilisation and French in Year 7. All boys continue with French until the end of Year 11, but in Year 8, they can express a preference (I think most get their preference) for Latin, classical civilisation (no language in this option), Spanish or German. Also, at the end of Year 8, beginning of Year 9, classical Greek is offered as a lunch time club, and a number of boys take this on to GCSE or even A level at the school. The classics department is particularly good, and as best I can tell, the general standard of language teaching is also high.

At John Hampden, I think the allocation to languages in Year 7 may be random. There's no real Latin (think there may be a 'club'), but I think they offer the standard set of modern languages.

Don't know anything about DCGS.

If languages are important to your DS, you may wish to check this out.
Rob Clark
Posts: 1298
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:59 pm

Re: RGS or DCGS?

Post by Rob Clark »

Languages at DCGS: all boys do French and either Spanish or German initially. At GCSE they are expected to do 1 MFL, a second one is an option along with history, geography, RE, music, art, graphics, electronics, PE (I think that’s it), of which they choose 3. They don’t offer Latin, though some of DS’s friends are taking it extra-curricularly. All boys do triple science as that’s the school’s specialism. The maths results in particular are phenomenal.

There is very little to choose between the schools, they are both excellent, and DS’s friends at RGS all seem to like it, as do their parents. Just one point though – I would have thought it highly unlikely that you can choose between them, wouldn’t you be in catchment for either one or the other? If you do have a choice, I agree with Andy and would go with your gut feeling.
svg123
Posts: 250
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 1:34 pm

Re: RGS or DCGS?

Post by svg123 »

Thanks all. I know catchment comes first but that doesn't stop one from placing school in actual preference order. Last year all got into RGS and DCGS had a bigger catchment.
I will wait for other parents to share their experience too.
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: RGS or DCGS?

Post by Guest55 »

Last year was somewhat unique - fewer boys in south Bucks possibly? Lots of people assuming they wouldn't get places?

Please don't rely on this pattern repeating itself .....
Rob Clark
Posts: 1298
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:59 pm

Re: RGS or DCGS?

Post by Rob Clark »

svg, you may not want to say exactly where you live, but if you did I think Sally-Anne or one of the other mods might be able to give you a pretty good idea of your chances of getting into your first-choice school as data about distances at which boys were accepted over the past few years is available. As Guest55 says last year was atypical. HTH
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: RGS or DCGS?

Post by Sally-Anne »

The past allocation profiles are here: http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/school ... n-profiles" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have to say though that with the changes to catchment areas (and the address evidence rules for DCGS) in recent years, I really wouldn't like to call any of the boys schools in South Bucks for this coming year based on past allocations. All you can do is put the schools in your real order of preference and hope for the best.
bear
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:38 am

Re: RGS or DCGS?

Post by bear »

hi
our son has just started Yr 7 in DCGS and so fa we have nothing but good things to say about the school. They have been tremendous in helping everyone settle in very very quickly and it feels as if our son has been here for many months. The teachers seem very approachable. We only went to see DCGS and we were allocated a place out of catchment this year and are very happy.
mannic
Posts: 10
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:24 am

Re: RGS or DCGS?

Post by mannic »

Just on the language point at JHGS. My DS is in year 7 and has Spanish, French and German on his timetable.
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