CRGS - is it worth it

13

tl/dr: is Colchester Royal Grammar 6th form as good as it sounds?

So about a week ago I got a conditional offer from Colchester Royal Grammar School for 6th form, and they said that if I want to accept, I need to do so by the 8th March (tbh I'm not sure if that's like a binding agreement or if they're just checking I'm still interested).

Is it worth it though? I've heard lots of great things and a bunch of bad stuff too, but everyone does seem to agree that it's great in terms of the education itself. On the other hand, it's a pretty long journey, and the train would cost a fair bit, and then there's the dress code as well.

Plus I've had offers from three other schools, one of which is a bit less high achieving than CRGS (but is a lot more modern) and is still far away, and the other two are local (decent schools but nothing spectacular).

Basically is it worth it?

Reply 1

Rob Bellic

13

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

Rob Bellic

13

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

ua12345

13

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

Reply 4

Rob Bellic

13

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

Rob Bellic

13

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.

Reply 6

Rob Bellic

13

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

ua12345

13

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 1 year ago)

Reply 8

Rob Bellic

13

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

Rob Bellic

13

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

ua12345

13

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

Reply 11

Rob Bellic

13

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

Rob Bellic

13

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

ua12345

13

Original post

by Rob Bellic

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.

Ok thanks

Reply 14

username6534959

12

Original post

by Rob Bellic

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.

Thanks for everything you shared! I go for a tour in your sixth form tomorrow but it's already my first choice. No compulsory PE is such an advantage for me, in CCHSG you have to do it...

Reply 15

rainsfile

5

How did u find out that u got accepted? I feel like I fcked up my application 🥲🥲

Reply 16

ConfusedPenguin1

OP

13

Original post

by rainsfile

How did u find out that u got accepted? I feel like I fcked up my application 🥲🥲

When I got a place they sent me an email to let me know. Don't worry too much about your application - believe me, I felt the same way about mine. And remember, there are always other schools!

Reply 17

rainsfile

5

Original post

by ConfusedPenguin1

When I got a place they sent me an email to let me know. Don't worry too much about your application - believe me, I felt the same way about mine. And remember, there are always other schools!

When did you get your acceptance email? It’s 2nd Feb and I’ve still heard nothing 😭 I think it’s bc I added my yr10 mock grades into my application & they my grades then were horrific

Reply 18

ConfusedPenguin1

OP

13

Original post

by rainsfile

When did you get your acceptance email? It’s 2nd Feb and I’ve still heard nothing 😭 I think it’s bc I added my yr10 mock grades into my application & they my grades then were horrific

I got mine on the 16th Feb so no need to worry yet. My friends who didn't get in still got an email to let them know, so I don't think they'd just ghost you :smile:

Reply 19

username6534959

12

Original post

by rainsfile

When did you get your acceptance email? It’s 2nd Feb and I’ve still heard nothing 😭 I think it’s bc I added my yr10 mock grades into my application & they my grades then were horrific

I got meeting invitations on the 5th of February but they should be giving offers during the half term(at least this is how I understand it). As I been told by the head students the meeting is not an interview - just options discussion. In the end of the day, only the actual GCSE grades matter so even if we get offers there is no guarantee we will get accepted. But how did you add your Year 10 mock grades into the application? When I was filling it in there was no questions about predicted grades, this is what they ask your school to provide... I think you can try update them if you email the admissions department.

I also been to the KEGS in Chelmsford recently and found out you can get in with lower grades compared to CRGS so there are always other options. This thought calms me down a bit.😬

By the way, what subjects are you taking?

CRGS - is it worth it

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