When the RGS was founded in 1509, Henry VIII had only recently ascended the throne. Five hundred and seventeen years later, the school remains one of England's most distinguished independent boys' schools, combining Tudor heritage with contemporary innovation. Occupying a historic campus in central Guildford, the school spans from Nursery through Sixth Form with approximately 1,373 pupils. Academic results are exceptional; GCSE outcomes place the school in the elite tier (top 2% according to FindMySchool data), whilst A-level performance ranks 37th in England. In 2025, the school achieved 71% of GCSE grades at 8 or 9, with 36% of A-level grades at A* and a further 358 grades at A*/A. More than 230 students have secured Oxbridge places in the past decade, and the school ranks 8th among independent boys' schools in The Sunday Times Parent Power Report. Beyond examination success, the January 2025 ISI inspection awarded two exceptional distinctions: the school was recognised for both its commitment to inclusion and mutual respect, and for fostering intellectual curiosity and scholarly ambition. This is a school where academic rigour and wellbeing operate in genuine partnership.
Just beyond the gates onto High Street, the architecture speaks immediately. The historic Old Building dates to the school's Tudor foundation, sitting alongside grade-listed structures and purpose-built teaching spaces. There is a deliberate architectural conversation between centuries, and parents and pupils alike comment on the tangible sense of purpose that pervades the campus.
Dr Jon Cox, who has led the school since 2007, continues to teach weekly. His approach emphasises intellectual curiosity without sacrificing pastoral warmth. Values such as Inclusivity, Integrity and Respect, alongside Scholarship, Courage and Collaboration, are presented as visible in day‑to‑day life — not just in printed documents. The ISI inspection explicitly noted that pupils are taught to appreciate diversity and to value the strengths and potential in everyone, and that the school builds pupils' confidence and self-esteem in a culture where expressing perspectives and opinions is encouraged.
The ethos is notably free from the intensity that sometimes accompanies selective education. Yes, the school is academically ambitious. But the prevailing tone is one of intellectual excitement rather than pressure. Pupils describe genuine friendships across year groups and a community where kindness genuinely matters. The ISI report highlighted that tolerance, kindness and mutual respect pervade every aspect of school life, and that pupils develop social skills, confidence and self-esteem ensuring they are well prepared for life beyond the gates.
The 2025 GCSE cohort achieved results that place the school firmly among the highest-performing independent day schools in the country. 71% of all grades were 8 or 9 (the two highest marks). This performance sits in the elite tier, ranking 64th in England (FindMySchool ranking), with only the most selective independent schools achieving comparable breadth of top-grade outcomes. Within the local area, the school ranks 2nd among Surrey schools.
For context, the England average for grades 8-9 across all schools is 14%. The RGS figure of 71% reflects both the calibre of the cohort and the depth of teaching. Subject ranges include traditional humanities, sciences taught separately, and languages including Classical Greek.
A-level results demonstrate sustained excellence. In 2025, 36% of all grades awarded were A*, with a combined A*/A rate of 94%. The school ranks 37th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool data), placing it in the elite tier. Beyond the rankings, these figures indicate a student body genuinely engaged with depth of understanding rather than mere examination technique.
Broad subject choice is available, including Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Economics, Government & Politics, English Literature, Classical Greek, Latin, Ancient History, Modern Languages, Geography, Drama & Theatre, Art, Design & Technology, Music, Physical Education, and Religion & Philosophy. The school deliberately avoids narrow specialisation, encouraging students to maintain breadth alongside depth.
Twenty-one students secured places at Oxbridge in 2024, including 13 at Cambridge and 8 at Oxford. Over the past decade, more than 230 students have been named to Oxbridge colleges. In 2024, 81% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, reflecting the school's position as a pipeline to competitive higher education. Destinations extend across Russell Group universities including Imperial College, University College London, Durham, Edinburgh, and Bristol, alongside specialist institutions and international universities.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
93.04%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
86.32%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The school describes its philosophy as "Scholarship for All", rigorous academic work underpinned by genuine support for every pupil. The January 2025 ISI report confirmed that staff supplement deep subject knowledge with tailored professional development to deliver exciting lessons that challenge pupils. Teaching follows clear structures emphasising critical thinking and independent thought.
Class sizes remain below school-wide average in sixth form sets, enabling closer dialogue between teacher and student. The school's Independent Learning Assignment in Lower Sixth replaces the Extended Project Qualification, allowing pupils to pursue genuine research interests across disciplines.
Pastoral oversight is systematic. Tutor groups of 6-8 pupils receive both academic and personal mentoring. Regular assessments track both progress and wellbeing. The curriculum is designed to cultivate independence progressively; sixth formers have genuinely increased freedom of choice and movement compared to younger year groups.
Entry to the Sixth Form is selective, though not necessarily requiring stellar GCSE results alone. The school seeks evidence of intellectual engagement and a genuine appetite for independent learning. A-level entry requirements are subject-specific but generally require a grade 7 or above in relevant subjects at GCSE.
The 2024 leaver cohort saw 81% progress to university. Oxbridge success reflects both the calibre of the cohort and genuine institutional support for competitive applications. The school maintains strong relationships with leading universities, with alumni networks providing mentorship and guidance. Beyond Oxbridge, leavers regularly secure places at Imperial College, University College London, Edinburgh, Durham, and Bristol. A small percentage enter apprenticeships or employment directly.
The school offers comprehensive careers guidance, with dedicated staff supporting university applications from Year 12. Subject teachers advise on degree-level study, and the school hosts university representatives and alumni speakers throughout the year.
Total Offers
23
Offer Success Rate: 36.5%
Cambridge
15
Offers
Oxford
8
Offers
Over 70 clubs and societies operate across the school, coordinated through a dedicated Monday afternoon co-curricular programme supplemented by five field days annually for younger pupils, and trip opportunities from sailing expeditions to overseas volunteering placements.
The school's music provision is exceptional by any measure. Over 300 one-to-one music lessons occur weekly, covering singing and every major instrument. The Music Department has established an admirable reputation for both breadth and excellence. Multiple choirs and ensembles cater to all abilities, from the Cathedral Choir through to specialist ensembles. Regular performances occur in historic settings; concerts extend from intimate recitals in the Old Building courtyard to ambitious tours including performances at St Mark's Basilica in Venice. The recent concert calendar included the Spring Concerto Concert and regular musical assemblies. For non-specialists, the school runs a Swing Band and Jazz clubs, ensuring musical enjoyment is accessible to all rather than reserved for the elite few.
Drama is embedded throughout school life. Recent productions include Bugsy Malone, Les Misérables, The Little Shop of Horrors, Emil and the Detectives, and Oliver!. The school operates multiple performance spaces ranging from intimate rehearsal rooms to full theatrical venues, enabling productions to scale from small-cast experiments to ambitious full-school musicals. Joint productions with neighbouring girls' schools expand the talent pool and social dimension. The Drama Department offers LAMDA qualifications and professional workshops, alongside hands-on technical theatre training in lighting, sound, set construction and stage management.
The school's creative provision extends well beyond curriculum requirements. Dedicated art studios and design workshops provide bright, inspiring environments where students develop both foundational technique and artistic voice. Teachers are practising artists who work in their studio classrooms, allowing direct exposure to professional practice. The breadth of work, sculpture, woodwork, metalwork, mixed media, traditional painting, is displayed throughout the school's corridors, creating a living gallery. Annual exhibitions showcase student work to the wider community.
The school operates a comprehensive sports programme across multiple facilities. Cricket, rugby, football, tennis, athletics, rowing, badminton, and basketball feature prominently. The school's sports website (rgsgsport.co.uk) manages fixture lists and team selections. Cross-school partnerships, particularly with neighbouring girls' schools, provide increased competitive opportunity and broader social engagement. Field days allow all pupils to experience diverse physical activities beyond traditional school sports.
Beyond the formal co-curricular programme, societies cover academic interests, creative pursuits, and niche passions. The school's 2024/25 Societies Register documents offerings including debating, scientific societies, technology clubs, language groups, and special interest societies. The co-curriculum is deliberately structured to ensure something genuinely appeals to every pupil, irrespective of sporting or musical aptitude. ISI inspectors noted that an extensive range of co-curricular activities supports pupils in developing and pursuing their interests, fostering life skills and independence. Many activities explicitly involve collaboration with female peers from neighbouring schools, broadening social and intellectual experience ahead of sixth form co-education.
Field days are scheduled off-timetable, providing pupils with access to enrichment beyond the standard curriculum. Local and overseas trips are available, ranging from specialist sports tours to volunteering placements. These experiences deliberately position students outside their usual comfort zones, with the school's explicit philosophy being to develop a positive can-do attitude. Challenge is always offered with appropriate support, enabling pupils to achieve more than they might have imagined possible.
Fees are termly, with the following annual costs:
£5,430 (Reception) through to £7,107 (Years 5-6)
£8,790 per term (£26,370 per year)
Catering is an additional charge: £300 per term for Prep pupils and £362 per term for Senior pupils (compulsory for First and Second Form, optional thereafter).
The school introduced VAT on school fees, phased over three years (3% additional in January 2025, further 3% in September 2025 and September 2026).
The school explicitly commits to making education accessible regardless of family means. Financial assistance is available through both means-tested bursaries and merit-based scholarships. Scholarships (typically 5-10% fee remission) are available for academic achievement, music, drama, art, and sport. Bursaries are awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Prospective families should contact the school's admissions office to discuss individual circumstances; the school processes applications confidentially.
The acceptance deposit equates to 25% of the first term's fees. This is non-refundable until the pupil leaves the school unless the school withdraws the offer.
Fees data coming soon.
The school operates selective admissions at all stages: Nursery/Reception, Year 3 (Prep entry), Year 7 (Senior entry), and Year 12 (Sixth Form entry). Each stage involves assessment appropriate to age; older entry points require entrance examinations in core subjects and sometimes interviews.
Senior School applicants (Year 7) sit entrance exams in English, Mathematics, and Verbal Reasoning, followed by interview. The school receives several times more applications than places available, particularly for Year 7 entry. Registration for entrance exams typically occurs in Autumn, with examinations held in January for September entry.
Entry to the Sixth Form is conditional upon achieving specified grades at GCSE. Applicants typically require grade 7 or above in intended A-level subjects. The school welcomes external applicants and regularly takes sixth formers from state schools and other independent schools.
From September 2027, the school becomes fully co-educational through a phased rollout. Girls will enter RGS Prep (Nursery, Reception, Year 3) and the Sixth Form from September 2027, with Year 7 entry beginning from September 2028. This represents a significant strategic shift for a 517-year-old boys' school and reflects contemporary educational thinking around the benefits of co-education. Current boys at the school are unaffected; existing male pupils continue in single-sex settings until natural departure points.
Open days are scheduled throughout the year. The school website provides booking information and dates for prospective family visits. Virtual tours are available for distance enquiries.
The ISI report highlighted that pupils develop social skills, confidence and self-esteem, with the school building a culture explicitly centred on wellbeing as well as academic achievement. Tutor groups remain consistent throughout a pupil's time at the school, creating continuity of pastoral relationship. Form tutors know pupils well and oversee both academic progress and personal development.
The school operates comprehensive support systems. Counselling services are available to pupils experiencing emotional or personal difficulties. The school's approach to mental health is preventative as well as responsive. Sixth formers receive dedicated pastoral oversight during the intensive A-level period.
Behaviour expectations are high but clearly communicated. The school's behaviour policy emphasises restorative approaches and genuine accountability rather than punitive measures. Bullying is taken extremely seriously, with clear reporting procedures and swift intervention.
Senior School operates from 8:30am to 3:20pm on standard school days, with Monday afternoons dedicated to co-curricular activities. Sixth formers may have additional study periods and greater flexibility depending on timetable.
Prep School hours vary by year group but typically run from 8:40am to 3:15pm, with wraparound care available.
The school offers before and after-school care facilities. Breakfast club operates from 7:45am, and after-school care extends to 6:00pm. Holiday provision is available during main school holiday periods. Details specific to Nursery and Reception wraparound care are available on the school website.
The school is located on High Street in Guildford town centre, making it accessible by public transport. The town centre location provides good rail connections via Guildford Station, with bus routes serving the school. On-site parking is limited; the school recommends using town centre car parks for visitor parking. Walking routes from nearby residential areas are feasible for local families. RGS Prep occupies a separate campus on Maori Road, approximately one mile away.
The school operates across an architecturally distinctive campus combining historic Tudor buildings with modern teaching spaces. Purpose-built science laboratories, art studios, design technology workshops, and music practice rooms support specialist teaching. The school website provides virtual campus tours for prospective families interested in exploring facilities.
Academic selectivity is genuine. The school's entrance process is rigorous, and pupil cohorts are deliberately academically strong. Families should be prepared for an admission process involving formal examinations and interviews. Once admitted, pupils encounter peers who are all academically capable, which provides intellectual stimulation but also means that previous academic dominance at primary school may not continue.
The transition to co-education is phased. Whilst the school becomes fully co-educational from September 2027, current boys' cohorts remain single-sex until natural departure. Families should clarify their preferences regarding the timing and gender mix of their child's education when considering entry.
Fees are substantial and rising. Senior School tuition of £26,370 per year places the school in the premium tier of independent education. Whilst bursaries and scholarships exist, families without substantial means should carefully evaluate financial sustainability before committing. The school's phased VAT introduction adds incremental cost increases.
The school is fully day-based. There is no boarding provision. Families living at distance may face lengthy commuting. Guildford's town centre location is convenient for local Surrey families but less accessible for those living further afield.
The Royal Grammar School Guildford represents the finest of traditional independent day school education combined with contemporary thinking around wellbeing and inclusion. Five centuries of heritage create a genuine sense of community and institutional continuity. Academic outcomes are exceptional, not through hothouse intensity but through sustained teaching excellence and genuine scholarship. The recent ISI inspection's award of two Significant Strengths, for inclusion and intellectual curiosity, signals a school where academic ambition never comes at the expense of kindness and personal development.
The school is best suited to academically able boys from families able to sustain independent school fees, seeking a rigorous yet supportive education within a historic institution. Entry is selective and genuinely competitive. For families who secure places, the education represents exceptional value in terms of academic preparation, breadth of opportunity, and pastoral support. The imminent transition to co-education will reshape the school's identity from September 2027 onwards; current and prospective families should factor this significant change into their thinking about the school's medium-term direction.
The school uses FindMySchool rankings: GCSE results place the school 64th (FindMySchool ranking), and A-level results rank 37th in England (FindMySchool data). These rankings reflect genuinely elite academic performance by any measure.
Yes. The school was rated Excellent by the ISI in January 2025, with two Significant Strengths awarded for inclusion and mutual respect, and for fostering intellectual curiosity and scholarly ambition. GCSE results place the school in the elite tier in England (top 2%), with 71% of grades at 8 or 9. A-level performance is equally strong, with 94% of grades at A*/A. The school ranks 64th in England for GCSE and 37th for A-level (FindMySchool data). Twenty-one students secured Oxbridge places in 2024.
Senior School tuition is £8,790 per term (£26,370 per year) for First through Sixth Form. Prep fees vary by year group, ranging from £5,430 (Reception) to £7,107 (Years 5-6) per term. Catering is an additional charge. Means-tested bursaries and merit-based scholarships are available; families should contact the admissions office to discuss individual circumstances.
The school is academically selective at all entry points. Year 7 applicants sit entrance examinations in English, Mathematics, and Verbal Reasoning, followed by interview. The school receives multiple applications for every place available, particularly for Year 7 and Sixth Form entry. Sixth Form entry requires typically a grade 7 or above at GCSE in intended A-level subjects.
Over 70 clubs and societies operate, covering sports, music, drama, debate, STEM interests, and niche pursuits. Regular sports include cricket, rugby, football, tennis, athletics, rowing, badminton, and basketball. The school coordinates Monday afternoon co-curricular sessions and five field days annually. Trips extend from local activities to overseas placements. Joint activities with neighbouring girls' schools expand both competitive and social opportunity. The school website lists current societies and their meeting times.
Music is a defining strength. Over 300 one-to-one instrumental and vocal lessons occur weekly. Multiple choirs and ensembles cater to all abilities. The school runs a Swing Band and Jazz club for recreational musicians. Recent concerts have included performances at St Mark's Basilica, Venice. The Music Department offers regular recitals and concerts throughout the year. LAMDA qualifications are supported. Music is accessible to all pupils, not reserved for specialists.
From September 2027, the school becomes fully co-educational through phased rollout. Girls will enter Prep (Nursery, Reception, Year 3) and the Sixth Form from September 2027, with Year 7 entry beginning September 2028. Current boys remain in single-sex settings until natural departure. Families should clarify their preferences regarding timing and gender mix when considering entry.
Get in touch with the school directly
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.
