About our School
A leading independent school in Guildford
As a co-educational independent school in the heart of Guildford, we ask ourselves one question above all: what is best for our students? From the Prep School onwards, we foster academic boldness and encourage curiosity and creativity; an insistence on how to think, not what to think. That, more than anything, is at the heart of the RGS ethos, and it is why families across Guildford and Surrey choose us.
An education shaped by 500 years of heritage
Our 500-year tradition is a catapult for innovation and modern-mindedness. This heritage gives us the confidence to keep evolving, most recently in becoming co-educational from September 2027. Strong academic results, inspiring teachers, a collaborative culture and a genuinely broad co-curriculum combine to make RGS one of the best schools in Guildford and beyond for ambitious, grounded young people.
Key Facts
Founded: 1509, at the bequest of Robert Beckingham
Ages: From 3 to 18 across our Nursery, Prep, Senior and Sixth Form.
One school, two sites just minutes apart: RGS Senior on the High Street (GU1 3BB) and RGS Prep on Maori Road (GU1 2EL).
Inspection: ISI inspection January 2025 awarded the school with two significant strengths, one of only a handful of schools in the country to achieve this.
Pupils: 1312.
Co-education: Welcoming girls from September 2027 in Nursery, Reception, Year 3 and Sixth Form, with Year 7 from September 2028.
Values: inclusivity, scholarship, integrity, respect, courage and collaboration.
Whatever stage your child is at, there is a natural home for them at RGS. Discover our Nursery & Reception for children aged 3 to 5, our Prep School for ages 3 to 11, our Senior School for ages 11 to 18, and our Sixth Form for ages 16 to 18; each one part of a single, connected and forward-looking independent school in Surrey.
Our 500-year tradition and heritage, impressive as it is, is nothing if not a catapult for innovation and modern-mindedness. In this forward thinking climate, attitudes and passions are formed that suit the future. To foster these fully, we have all the facilities you would expect from a school of our nature, and many more that are unexpected
Our strong academic performance is the result of many factors:
- We have inspiring, passionate teachers;
- Our collaborative culture is central to fostering a supportive, positive mindset throughout all aspects of school life;
- The breadth of our activities – sports of all kinds, art, drama, music promote success in academic performance by developing the confidence to try many things and work hard.
What is achieved in our school happens in the midst of a thriving town. Students take part in many joint activities with the local girls’ schools. We learn to think for ourselves, express ourselves and navigate.
This is how our students grow, and you, the parents, can watch the truly remarkable transformation – students developing into extraordinary young people.
FAQs - Find out more about RGS Guildford
Tell me about the Royal Grammar School Guildford?
Royal Grammar School Guildford, known as RGS or RGS Guildford, is an independent day school in Guildford, Surrey, educating children aged 3 to 18 across Nursery, Prep, Senior and Sixth Form. It is one of the best-known schools in Guildford, with a history stretching back over 500 years.
Is RGS Guildford a grammar school?
RGS Guildford is an independent, fee-paying day school that has carried the name Royal Grammar School Guildford for over 500 years. The School was set up in 1509 after Robert Beckingham, a Freeman of the City of London, left a bequest in his will to establish a free school in the historic town of Guildford. While some families searching for grammar schools in Guildford may mean selective state schools, the RGS is an independent school rather than a state grammar. It remains one of the most highly regarded of the historic grammar schools in Guildford, across Surrey and nationally.
How does RGS compare with other grammar schools in Surrey?
Among families looking at Surrey grammar schools, RGS is consistently named alongside the best grammar schools in Surrey for academic achievement, although it is independent rather than state-funded. Whether you are weighing up grammar schools in Surrey or a Grammar School Surrey families admire, RGS offers academic challenge with exceptional breadth.
Where is RGS Guildford located?
RGS has two sites located a short walk away from one another in Guildford: RGS Prep on Maori Road (GU1 2EL) and RGS Senior on the High Street (GU1 3BB). This central location makes it convenient for families across Guildford and Surrey looking at the leading schools in Guildford for children of all ages.
What are the School's values?
RGS is a kind, inclusive community whose values are Inclusivity, Scholarship, Integrity, Respect, Courage and Collaboration. With consistently strong academic results and a huge co-curricular programme including a wide variety of clubs and societies, it is regarded as one of the best schools in Guildford.
Is RGS Guildford becoming co-educational?
Yes. RGS is becoming fully co-educational, with girls welcomed into both RGS Prep and RGS Senior through phased entry from September 2027. From September 2027 girls will be welcomed alongside boys into Nursery, Reception, Year 3 and Year 12 with girls joining Year 7 from September 2028. This makes RGS one of the newest co-ed independent schools in Surrey, offering girls the same opportunities boys have enjoyed for centuries: academic enrichment and challenge, diverse co-curricular experience and outstanding pastoral care.
