CRGS - is it worth it

Hi I'm a current Y12 at CRGS and the school is pretty good. We get some of the highest grades in the country and the A level predictions are usually pretty generous. What subjects are you planning on taking btw?

Reply 2

Oh, as an aside a Y13 I knew got into CRGS on GCSE results day. He didn't apply beforehand and just rang up the school with his results and they let him in.

Reply 3

Original post by Rob Bellic

Hi I'm a current Y12 at CRGS and the school is pretty good. We get some of the highest grades in the country and the A level predictions are usually pretty generous. What subjects are you planning on taking btw?

ll

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 4

I do maths, further maths, physics and comp sci so I don't really have much experience with the A levels you want to take. However, some of my friends take those subjects and they seem to be quite happy. Our school tends to be quite good at getting students into top unis for law and recently have got a few students into degree apprenticeships with some "magic circle" law firms.

I don't board although I do commute about 45mins - 1hr each way to school. Compared to the comprehensive I used to go to, I reckon the standard of teaching more than makes up for the time spent on commuting. If you do want to board, be aware the boarding fees aren't cheap, and that many of the boarders are from abroad (mostly Hong Kong). They are a nice bunch but don't really socialise with the rest of the year group.

Reply 5

For free periods you tend to get around 7 hours per week (including enrichment options). For the enrichment options (Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons for me) you get the choice between doing enrichment activities or going home early or staying in school and revising. The work load is going to be highly subjective and dependent on which subjects you do.

Although I would say most of the stress and pressure will be what you apply on yourself. Unlike at GCSE, the teachers in CRGS expect students to motivate themselves to work hard for A levels. This is good: you get to choose how much effort your want to put into your subjects. This is bad: If you don't have an internal drive/motivation to work hard you may really fall behind. However, if you do fall behind, the school will offer you support sessions and extra tuition, its just on you if you want take up their support.

(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 6

To answer your last question, its true the school did have some bad publicity a few years ago (2020 - 2022) regarding CRGS's track record on safeguarding. However its important to note many of the more alarming stories date as far back as 15 years ago. CRGS had a different headmaster, student body and mostly different teachers then. I was a student at the school through 2020 (when the press attention was at its worst) and I can positively say that the school really has transformed itself. The school's deputy management team and SLT teams have been reformed and some new teachers have been brought in. We have some really competent deputy head teachers now. I have had some friends who needed to speak with the mental health team, and they've had a good experience thus far.

I hope that answers all of your questions, if you have any more ill be happy to answer them :smile:

Reply 7

Original post by Rob Bellic

To answer your last question, its true the school did have some bad publicity a few years ago (2020 - 2022) regarding CRGS's track record on safeguarding. However its important to note many of the more alarming stories date as far back as 15 years ago. CRGS had a different headmaster, student body and mostly different teachers then. I was a student at the school through 2020 (when the press attention was at its worst) and I can positively say that the school really has transformed itself. The school's deputy management team and SLT teams have been reformed and some new teachers have been brought in. We have some really competent deputy head teachers now. I have had some friends who needed to speak with the mental health team, and they've had a good experience thus far.
I hope that answers all of your questions, if you have any more ill be happy to answer them :smile:

ll

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 8

Original post by ua12345

Ok thanks for your help - thats good to know about Law. I probably will board as I live quite far away. I was gonna ask - why does the school make you take 4 a levels ? - like what advantage does it give bc I thought it doesn't make a difference for uni applications.

Some unis do have reduced offers if you do four A levels (for example, if you had three A levels you may be given an A*A*A offer, but if you had four a levels they may give you a A*AAA offer instead )

Reply 9

Original post by ua12345

Ok thanks for your help - thats good to know about Law. I probably will board as I live quite far away. I was gonna ask - why does the school make you take 4 a levels ? - like what advantage does it give bc I thought it doesn't make a difference for uni applications.

I think the school also wants you to do 4 A levels because it would give you a wider breadth of education, and give you the ability to pivot to another career if you wanted to. If you really want to do 3 A levels you can drop one of the A level subjects after the Eoy 12 exams (this year the Eoy 12 exams were just after Easter.)

Reply 10

Original post by Rob Bellic

I think the school also wants you to do 4 A levels because it would give you a wider breadth of education, and give you the ability to pivot to another career if you wanted to. If you really want to do 3 A levels you can drop one of the A level subjects after the Eoy 12 exams (this year the Eoy 12 exams were just after Easter.)

ll

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 11

Original post by ua12345

I've got a few more questions about CRGS if you can answer them pls:
Do they do DofE at CRGS?
Is it worth revising now or making resources for some a levels?
is there any bad teachers or are all teachers decent ?
What are the people like at CRGS?, is there a lot of bullying or is it a generally nice environment?
Is doing sport compulsory or optional?
Do the school offer any work experience and how does it work?
Thanks

I know some people who did DofE but I don't know if they did it externally or with the school

You can start some preemptive revision, but it's not necessary. I only did a few hours a week during Summer Y11-Y12

The teachers are generally a mixed bag (like any other school). Some people think Grammar Schools are ultra strict or snobbish like private schools. This isn't true at CRGS. At 6thform here there is no uniform (Just wear business attire,) you're allowed to use your phone in the 6thform area and there's Fun Friday activities every lunch time ~ Usually Karaoke or a Quiz but sometimes theres live music.

Reply 12

Original post by ua12345

I've got a few more questions about CRGS if you can answer them pls:
Do they do DofE at CRGS?
Is it worth revising now or making resources for some a levels?
is there any bad teachers or are all teachers decent ?
What are the people like at CRGS?, is there a lot of bullying or is it a generally nice environment?
Is doing sport compulsory or optional?
Do the school offer any work experience and how does it work?
Thanks

Every Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon, you have to do an enrichment activity, this could be a sport or you could choose private study or work experience. If you want to do work experience the school won't really help you with this. You have to find it and apply for it yourself, although teachers will sign off on any referral forms if required.

Reply 13