Royal Masonic School for Girls A GSG School Review

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since 2017, Kevin Carson BA MPhil PGCE, previously co-interim head at the Grammar School at Leeds, and he has also been head of English and drama (and boarding tutor) at both Cheltenham College and Abingdon School. Plan A was to go into academia, but he switched to teaching when he realised he liked people as much as books. Still teaches English, and seemed disappointed we’d missed him in action on our tour of the school.

With his broad (by southern standards) Scouse accent and easy-going manner, he’s not what most people would picture as a head of a north London private girls’ school. But he’s proved a huge hit, not least because he and his wife Sarah have two daughters at the school, ‘so he sees things from a parent perspective too’. Parents say he is ‘inspiring for the girls’, ‘genuinely cares’ and is ‘very much on the ball when it comes to moving around resource to meet the school’s needs’ (most recently modernising classrooms and opening a new performing arts centre, plus some swanky new areas for sixth formers). Girls say he ’knows us all’ and is ‘very friendly’ but ‘will call behaviour out too if it’s needed’.

In his vast and very neat office (everything in this school is vast and very neat), he told us he’s worked hard on consolidating the school’s values and mission statement (former reduced from nine to six, the latter from a whole page to the three words, ‘Every pupil thrives’). Academics have also had the Carson treatment, with value added stronger than ever, plus more girls at the top end getting into Oxbridge.

Lives on site, plays weekly football, runs when he can and enjoys theatre and music festivals.

Entrance

A third of the year 7 places are scooped up by girls in the prep (automatic entry), leaving a further 75 which are fought over by approximately 210 girls – half from local preps (especially Maltman’s Green, Charlotte House and Orley Farm), the rest from state primaries. In the year we visited, girls came from 32 different schools.

More selective than it once was (but still not a patch on much of the local competition), girls do online tests in maths, English and reasoning, plus a creative writing exercise, group activity and group interview. School says it wants girls who are ‘committed to self-improvement and throwing themselves into all the school has to offer – you don’t just come here to do your classes’. Strong sibling policy, handy if younger ones aren’t as starry as big sister. A few additional places further up, most typically for year 9 boarders.

Around 15-20 join at sixth form when entry is dependent on extracurricular achievements and GCSE grades related to chosen A level subjects, eg 7 to study maths, 6 to study art etc.

Exit

Up to 20 per cent leave after GCSEs, mainly for local grammars, state schools and colleges. Ninety per cent of sixth formers to university – studying 40 different courses at 36 different universities in the year of we visited. Around 40 per cent to Russell Group. Nottingham, Durham and UCL all popular, as are environmentally related subjects. Two to Oxbridge in 2023 (it’s usually more). Degree apprenticeships popular (recently to Amazon and TK Maxx), plus a few to conservatoires every year. Growing numbers overseas – two in 2023, to Canada and the USA. Two medics in 2023. Exceptional careers advice, with lovely large modern offices that have plenty of room for the likes of external speakers from industry and careers cafés, as well as those key one-to-ones.

Latest results

In 2023, 56 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 47 per cent A*/A at A level (74 per cent A*-B). In 2019 (the last pre-pandemic results), 57 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 27 per cent A*/A (53 per cent A*-B).

Teaching and learning

Parents like the school’s ethos that ‘if you’re happy, you learn best’ and that they ‘value the whole person’. The relatively broad intake means the focus is on a girl doing ‘her best, not the best’, and ‘without undue pressure’, say parents. One told us, ‘There’s always a stretch element, including for the very bright girls’ and those with daughters of varying abilities are satisfied that ‘all are reaching their potential’. Small classes (20 max) also appreciated, and setting (in maths from year 7, English from year 8 and science from year 9) is commended too: ‘They moved my daughter down a maths set this year and took the time to explain why, which we’re fine with as it’s clear she’s working at the right pace.’ Teaching we saw was interactive and collaborative, with lots of questions and use of multimedia from teachers, as well as girls working cheerfully in pairs or small groups – ‘They’re very good at making even your least favourite subjects interesting,’ said one girl.

Languages are healthy, with French and Spanish taught in year 7 and the option to drop one in year 8 – or, conversely, add Latin or Mandarin. While not compulsory at GCSE, 80 per cent choose to do one. Just over half take triple science. Good spread of non-core subjects are selected for GCSE, which include less trad options such as iMedia. In sixth form, the eight options include the likes of sociology and creative arts, and there’s Leith’s Academy. Most start with four subjects, dropping to three unless they’re doing, eg further maths (two students in the year of our visit). Our tour guide couldn’t praise this approach enough, telling us she started with biology, maths, economics and politics and wound up taking politics, sociology and geography – ‘They really worked with me to hone my interests.’

Psychology and biology are currently the most popular A levels, but girls told us artsy subjects are equally valued and the school has no problem if you want to take eg both art and photography. Around 20 per cent complete their EPQ (double this number start it) and everyone does RMS Edge, picking two non-examined subjects each term from the likes of cooking and managing finances to the more highbrow history of art or feminism.

Learning support and SEN

So good that parents increasingly move their daughters with SEN from other schools where they’ve struggled with big classes or a more rigid learning environment. ‘We couldn’t believe how focused RMS was on supporting the individual child,’ said one such parent. Around 15 per cent are on the SEN register, eight with EHCPs – most have dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism, with support provided by the three SENCos (across senior and prep), who are line managed by the deputy head pastoral to ensure close links.

All girls are screened on entry, and all teachers get CPD, plus reminders when they take each class’s register, eg who needs to be sat at the front, who needs more visuals etc. One-to-ones also available (but cost extra), including for the undiagnosed. ‘My youngest couldn’t spell for toffee and they really helped her with that.’ Parents say school is ‘very flexible’ about girls dropping a GCSE if it’s felt it would take undue pressure off – and they will organise personalised timetables for girls with EBSA. An ed psych comes in for a day a week, plus an OT. LAMDA often recommended for speech and language skills. Touch typing classes available.

School works closely with organisations such as Ambitious about Autism, and we spoke to a pupil who was an autism ambassador who had supported a neurodiversity evening with pupils and parents. A parent who had set up a neurodiversity parent group told us she’d requested a more centrally located quiet area for when girls feel overwhelmed. ‘The school listened and has since started initiating more of their own things, including a quiet eating area in the dining room.’ Specialist EAL teaching for overseas pupils (again, costs extra).

The arts and extracurricular

‘The reason we chose the school,’ said one parent, ‘co-curricular is second to none and the girls are spoilt for choice.’ Mini-fairs showcase the variety and allow girls to talk to ‘market’ the 100+ clubs and societies, some of which are pupil-led. Astronomy, creative writing, Formula 1 and medsoc all popular – and one sixth former told us about a ‘Stop, drop and read’ initiative she’d driven across the school.

High standard of drama. ‘The productions are such a treat,’ said a parent. ‘They work them hard and it takes huge amounts of their personal time, but they love it and there’s something for everyone, including behind the scenes.’ We popped into a lunchtime club in which girls were making sustainable sets for their upcoming years 7-9 performance of the Little Mermaid (years 10-13 do a separate play). Drama GCSE always has two big sets, and there’s a large one for A level too. New performing arts facility includes drama studio, music areas and recording studio – as well as a dance studio, where we saw sixth formers running a a fusion dance club with younger girls during lunchtime. Some parents wish the school ran dance GCSE.

Superb music, with 300 girls learning an instrument or singing. Thriving orchestra, two choirs and masses of ensembles including jazz groups and rock bands. ‘It’s not all classical – you can do the fun stuff too,’ said a pupil, who pointed to the school’s global lens with Japanese and African instruments and music included. There’s a big termly formal concert, plus relaxed half-termly rush-hour concerts. Two sets do music GCSE, and six-ish girls take up A level.

The school boasts three art rooms, two textile studios and a photography studio, with ‘fantastic’ teachers who ‘really nurture the girls’ interests’. ‘A really safe haven to build your skills generally and plenty of girls spend their free time here,’ said one mother. We loved seeing one girl’s progression from a very basic year 7 portrait through to her mind-blowing sixth form piece – ‘We leave both on the wall so younger girls realise they can achieve that too,’ explained the teacher. Three GCSE options, which around 40 girls take up, and three at A level, which around 25 take up. Visiting artists run masterclasses; some parents would like to see art tours. DT popular.

Lack of trips overall is certainly not a criticism anyone could throw at the school – ‘if you can afford them,’ pointed out a parent (school says it’s teaming up with Merchant Taylors’ to keep prices down in future). Berlin, Ghana, Italy, America and Australia have recently featured – there’s even a water sports and yoga trip to France, and an annual ski trip.

DofE run at bronze and silver, with gold coming soon, joint with Merchant Taylors’. CCF externally run with other schools on the RMS site. Plenty of charitable works, with everyone voting on (usually local) causes to support, most recently the homeless.

Sport

Masses of sport, including at the elite level, though not a school where being in the A team is a must for social kudos. ‘Very inclusive,’ confirmed one parent, who had been ‘impressed by seeing all the year 10s loving their sport when we looked round the school’. More girls are in more teams, playing more fixtures, we also heard. Netball, cricket, hockey all popular – and increasingly football, although rugby has never quite taken off. Swimming and gymnastics do very well, and there’s squash, tennis, cross-country, adventure training, golf… you name it. Facilities outstanding – acres of playing fields, all-weather pitch, courts, sports hall, gym and squash courts among them.

Special mention must go to the ‘drill’ – a spectacle of pinafored girls with French braided hair performing synchronised swimming without the water (no wonder they’ve appeared on the telly). Places in the squad are highly sought after, with dozens volunteering even for the reserves.

Boarders

Three boarding houses, split by age, all centrally based. Around 40 per cent from overseas, representing 12 nationalities, but mostly Chinese; the rest are weekly or flexi and some girls stay for two fixed nights a week. ‘I’m trying it next week even though I live locally, I can’t wait,’ said one girl. Much improved integration with day girls in recent years, following proactive measures from the school including inviting day girls on boarding trips.

Dorms mainly singles and doubles, with varying levels of tidiness (including some damp towels screwed up on floors and lights left on – no different from home then!). Huge but cosy common rooms, plus kitchens where girls appear to make mainly noodles and toasties; all meals are taken in the main dining room. Smaller snug areas too. Masses going on all the time – there had been a pool party and pyjama making on the weekend before our visit. Lots of weekend outings too, eg bowling, cinema, London – and boarders can earn treats like takeaways with good behaviour. ‘Ah here’s my second mum,’ said one of our tour guides when we bumped into her houseparent – the bonds are clearly close. Ditto for the gappies, mostly from Australia, who are ‘like big sisters’.

‘You do get niggly issues, like broken radiators or leaks taking several days to get fixed,’ said a parent, ‘but overall she loves it.’ Parents also praise the ‘nice secure environment’ and ‘good amount of freedom, for example the opportunity to go into Rickmansworth’. Food ‘fine’, but ‘can be a bit samey’.

Ethos and heritage

Founded in 1788 to educate the children of masons who had fallen on hard times, the school went independent and opened its doors to all in 1978. The culture seems to have stuck, with no whiff of entitlement among the girls. Not a highly competitive atmosphere either. ‘The girls seem to have real respect for each other,’ said a parent.

The current 150-acre site, built in the 1930s, is the school’s fourth home. It’s worth checking out the aerial view online, with the rolling hills (including golf course) and smart red-brick, identikit buildings neatly surrounding two quadrangles – quite a spectacle and no eyesores. Inside, the school is being modernised and includes the longest teaching corridor in Britain (we actually had blisters at the end of it). Highlights include the sixth form centre with multiple contemporary spaces for studying and socialising, including the fabulous new Hive café and conference room where girls learn to chair meetings. The spectacular rotunda library must get a mention, one of the nicest we’ve seen, and the new performing arts centre.

There’s a feeling of calm throughout, with the possible exception of the immense dining room where acoustics can make chatter hard on the ears, but where the food is plentiful and delicious (we went for the extensive salad bar). At least nobody used the colossal (and surely deafening) dining room bell, but we loved hearing about the 90-year-old alumna who recently visited and rang it out of pure mischief.

Tidy blue uniform includes trouser option (though we didn’t spot any), with own shirt and jumper for sixth formers, although year 13s had been tasked with dressing up in whatever they’d dreamed of being when they were little on the day of our visit – we saw Cinderellas to tennis pros to rock stars.

Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline

We could only get superlatives out of the parents when it comes to wellbeing and mental health. ‘They really care.’ ‘They get the bigger picture – you don’t feel the pastoral emphasis is just there to drive the academics.’ Lots of work on life skills, wellbeing hubs and clubs and peer mentoring, and there’s a monitoring system for emotions, plus five visiting counsellors (one specifically for sixth form, another for boarding). ‘Whenever she’s had a wobble, they’ve been quick to sort it out,’ said one mother. Girls say all their teachers ‘get to know us’ and the school works with Girls on Board and has plenty of speakers in, recently about growing up online and drugs.

But it’s a big school and there’s lots to navigate, caution parents. A few told us their daughters had initially struggled with this, though settled in eventually.

On the whole, behaviour is excellent, which girls attribute to high expectations and good relationships with staff. We experienced none of the usual complaints about petty rules, although a few of the older girls would prefer not to have to lock their phones away. Four students have been asked to leave in the last seven years (all for repeat offences), and there are around eight suspensions a year. ‘They clamp down when needed,’ approved one mother.

A very inclusive environment, with plenty of notices about societies for LGBTQ+, African and Caribbean students and JSoc, and the school has two EDI leads, currently reviewing the curriculum – they’ve clearly already made headway in psychology and English where displays explore questions such as ‘Have audiences become too quick to condemn a joke as sexist?’ One of our tour guides had set up a cultural fair and had organised a talk at the prep school about periods. The school has a large multi-faith prayer room.

Pupils and parents

These girls are less sophisticated and streetwise than their peers at some of the other local schools, which parents love. Good ethnic diversity, reflective of the local area, with parents hailing from all walks of life from the well-heeled to hard-working, dual-income first-time buyers. Some expats and international parents (mainly of the boarders), but most from surrounding towns, with a few coming in from London. Excellent transport links includes school buses. Parents not massively social but there’s a PTA running all the usual events. School ‘very good at listening to feedback’, say parents, and we’ve rarely heard so many compliments for school comms which are ‘bespoke for your child’s year group and interests’.

Money matters

Capital expenditure is underpinned by an endowment set up by the Masons and the school is a tenant of the site. Scholarships (academic, all-rounder, art, drama, music and sport) in year 7 and at sixth form, worth up to 25 per cent off fees. Means-tested bursaries available. In line with its charitable ethos, school offers a growing number of assisted boarding places to disadvantaged children. Sibling and Forces discount.

The last word

A world away from local exam factories, RMS focuses on getting the best out of each girl without pressure and through teasing out and boosting their individual interests. The grounds and facilities are enough to take your breath away. Big and polished, yes, but caring and wholesome too.