Rugby School Guide: Reviews Rankings, Fees and More

Rugby School, located in Rugby, Warwickshire, England, is one of the oldest and most prestigious independent schools in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1567, the school has a rich history and has been influential in the development of the British educational system. It is perhaps best known for being the birthplace of rugby football, a sport that was allegedly conceived when a student, William Webb Ellis, picked up the ball and ran with it during a game of football in 1823. The school continues to be a leader in shaping well-rounded individuals who excel in various walks of life.

Rugby School Guide

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Table of Contents

Summary Of School

  • Type of school: Co-educational
  • Age range: 13-18
  • Pupils: 817
  • Boarders: 80%
  • Fees: £13,970 termly
  • 2023 A Level Results: 68% A*/A
  • 2023 GCSE Results: 83% 9-7

Overview

Rugby School is considered as one of the pioneer public schools in England as it was founded in 1567. The origin of the school dates back to 1823, when a young man created the rugby game around the School Close, which the school was soon named after. The main motto of Rugby is ‘The Whole Person is the Whole Point’. In Rugby, pupils practice the 3R’s of the school: restlessness, reflection and rootedness. The 3Rs bring out the unity between the staff and students as well as their desire to improve and develop. 

Rugby is well-known for its extensive history and traditions. The school is also renowned for being the leading school in England due to its first-class education standards. Students at Rugby are genuinely creative and innovative in various aspects, especially when it comes to academic matters. Pupils often excel both at academics and extracurricular activities, ensuring them a great future and prospects for adult life.

Rugby School Courses / Programs

GCSE

Rugby provides a wide range of subjects that helps students get the best educational experience. This helps them ace their GCSE courses at the age of 16. Pupils are expected to take up three separate sciences at GCSE along with other additional subjects. 

Extended Projects

Extended Project is a new qualification that Rugby School pioneered nationally. This qualification allows pupils to lean more towards research-based projects in different subjects. Extended Project is equivalent with A Levels with grades from A* to E. Students will take part in seminar discussions. The theme of these discussions are picked from science, ethics and philosophy. Pupils then choose a research question which is then developed into a thesis under the guidance of a research supervisor. At the end of every course, students are required to present their research to a panel. Today, Rugby offers this qualification using the Perspectives model.

Sixth Form

Sixth Formers at Rugby have a dedicated facility all to themselves. Subjects taught include Economics, Business Studies, Politics, Physical Ed and Philosophy. 

A Level

Out of 26 subjects, students are supposed to choose only three subjects only with the exception of Further Mathematics as a fourth subject. This method has been practised in Rugby for many years and has proven to help students develop specialized skills and knowledge.

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

In Rugby, IB promotes academic depth and breadth for students. IB develops a strong understanding of the academic syllabus, promotes cross-disciplinary thinking along with a diverse range of academic and strategic skills.

Rugby School Results

Rugby School’s latest published results are out! In 2023, 68% of students scored A*/A at the A Levels and 83% scored 9-7 at GCSEs.

Rugby School Entry Requirements

Entry Points 

Requirement(s)

13+

According to the school your child is currently at, the requirements are different

  • Verbal reasoning test from previous school
  • Assessment and interview 
  • Pass the Common Entrance exam (at least 55%)

or

  • Meet entrance requirements in English and Maths

16+

  • Achieve required grades at GCSE/equivalent foreign examinations
    • Three 7 grades and above, three 6 grades and above
  • Entrance test and interviews 

International Applicants

Assessment process is the same as UK applicants

  • UK guardian required for child
  • UKiset report

Arnold Foundation

A programme set up by Rugby for talented pupils. Arnold Foundation was created to make a boarding education possible for talented students who do not have the means to brush up on their talents. 

Year 9

  • Apply before the September of child’s Year 9
  • Pass entrance tests(English and Mathematics) and interview  

Year 12

  • Apply before the September of child’s Year 12
  • Pass sixth form entrance exam and interviews

Rugby School Application Deadline

Entry points

Application

13+

Before mid-October and April of child’s Year 7 

16+ (Sixth Form)

Before the Septemberof Year 11

Rugby School Fees 2023/24

The following are Rugby School’s termly fees for the academic year of 2023/2024.

Day pupil

£9,630

Boarder

£15,330

*Registration Fee

£250 (Non-refundable)

* **Entrance deposit

£1,250

Overseas deposit

One term’s fees 

* Except for Foundation or Arnold Foundation Awards applicants

** Paid 18 months before entry into school

Rugby School Reviews

Natalie Wiltshire
5/5

Very proud to have been a part of Rugby School as a parent for the last 7 years, the whole of Rugby School life has allowed my sons to flourish – academically, as sportsmen, on the stage and musically. They have made friends for life and have become a part of a ‘family’ that will support them long after I am gone – thank you Rugby School – staff, pupils and parents.

Sheeja Haines
5/5

One of the best things we did for our son is sending him to Rugby School. Today is his last day at school! He is leaving with a lot of fond memories, good qualities, friends, skills and an offer to do his degree at Oxford University. It’s been worth every single day at the school, and I’m sure our son will continue to excel in every walk of life, in the future too. The Whole Person, the Whole Point! They mean it at Rugby School.

Lesley Reed Byrne
5/5

Two of my children had the time of their lives there, growing in confidence and self esteem whilst having opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

Bill Paul
5/5

“Recommend it for the school spirit and the wealth of different activities that pupils can be involved in to stretch their imaginations and knowledge.”

Temitope Faleti
5/5

“I love this school because the choirs absolutely rock, including the chapel choir. I keep listening to their performances and think that they are no different from Blue Coat’s choir. It is a fantastic idea to have a choir which also serves the whole community.”

Rugby School Accommodation

There are 15 houses in total – 8 for male boarders and 7 for female students. Each house consists of a maximum of 60 students. Students take their meals at their respective houses, thus creating a strong bond between housemates and their respective housemistress/housemaster. The staff provides a 24 hour care towards boarders which gives them the feel of family.

For each house, a deputy matron along with 5 tutors are assigned to assist and support pupils academically. A weekly tutorial period has been allocated into the timetable. This session involves career advice, skills development, personal coaching and personal social health and economic education. Besides that, appropriate topics such as eating disorders and drugs are also touched on during these sessions. 

Boarding houses

Boys:

  • Cotton
  • Kilbracken
  • Michell
  • School Field
  • School House
  • Sheriff
  • Whitelaw

Girls:

  • Bradley
  • Dean
  • Griffin
  • Rupert Brooke
  • Tudor
  • Stanley (Sixth form only)

Rugby School Student Services And Extra-Curricular Activities

Community Action

Sixth form students are required to get involved in some form of community service. In Rugby, students can choose their desired form of community service from a wide range of programmes. Activities such as visiting local primary schools and nursing homes, supporting local cub packs and assisting in local charity shops are just one of the few popular choices that students at Rugby like to commit to. 

Sports

Rugby focuses on coaching students in three aspects: performance, competition and participation. Activities are arranged to suit a range of talents and needs of the students. Sports at Rugby are majorly centred around 5 sports which are rugby, hockey, netball, cricket and tennis. In order to encourage and recognize sports talents, Rugby awards a number of Sports Scholarships to students who qualify.  

Music

The music department at Rugby is famous for its environment which is friendly, energetic, stimulating and inspiring. Many pupils graduate from Rugby to further their studies in Music, some gaining Oxbridge or other Music Conservatoire places. 

Creative Arts

Famous for its Arts Festival that is held annually, staff and students work together to organize and execute various music, drama and workshop events. This helps students to showcase their talents in different aspects, be it in the artistic side or the management side. Plays and musicals produced by students themselves are normally the highlight of the three-day event.

Rugby School Contact Information

  • Official Website: https://www.rugbyschool.co.uk/
  • Location: Rugby School, Lawrence Sheriff Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22 5EH
  • Email address: [email protected]
  • Phone: +44 (0) 1788 556 216

Apply For Rugby School

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