Rugby School Overview

Located in Rugby, Warwickshire, the school is known as the birthplace of the sport of rugby and is where the first rules of the game were written down by three of its pupils. It was originally founded in 1567 and is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain. The co-educational school accepts both boys and girls ages 13-18 and has a mix of boarding and day pupils.

Members of the Rugby family flourish in a supportive and spiritually aware community, which challenges learners, develops resilience and encourages intellectual risk-taking. Essential to all that the school does is the fostering of academic excellence and the nurturing of individual talents: igniting the spark which stimulates a committed search for meaning, enabling students to develop a lifelong love of learning, while achieving outstanding results. The end result? Students are equipped with the tools to maximise their individual learning potential and reveal their own unique gifts.

Academic Matters

In the Lower School, the curriculum aims for a balance of a variety of subjects for pupils to follow before they begin their GCSEs. Students moving on to the next part of the Lower School have a wide range of GCSEs to choose from as well as IGCSEs in seven subjects. In the Sixth Form, students may choose either the traditional A levels or the new, more rigorous Cambridge Pre-U subjects. The focus at this level is on preparation for university through independent, scholarly work.

Rugby School Courses And Programmes

GCSE

Rugby offers a broad curriculum designed to give students a well-rounded education and strong academic foundation. By age 16, pupils are prepared to excel in their GCSEs, which include three separate sciences alongside a range of additional subjects.

A Level and IB

At Rugby, students can choose between A Levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB), each offering distinct academic paths. A Level students typically select three subjects—occasionally a fourth such as Further Mathematics—allowing for deep specialisation in areas of strength and interest. This focused approach has long been a hallmark of Rugby’s academic success.

Alternatively, the IB programme encourages both depth and breadth, combining rigorous subject study with cross-disciplinary thinking. Students engage with a wider range of subjects while developing analytical, research, and strategic skills that prepare them for global higher education pathways.

Rugby School Fees

Full boarding fees: £55,056 per annum (Inclusive VAT)

Rugby School Application Deadline

Entry: 13+

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

Entry: 16+ (Sixth Form)

– Before the September of Year 11

Rugby School Boarding And Pastoral Care

There are a variety of single-sex houses for boarders and a few for day students, but what they all have in common is a warm and family-oriented environment. Each house is unique but generally there are small dormitories and separate shared studies in the First Year, shared or single study bedrooms for the next two years, and single study bedrooms for the following year and for the Upper School. Each House is overseen by a resident Headmaster or Mistress and an Assistant Headmaster as well as Matrons, Tutors and other staff.

Rugby School Extracurricular Activities

The school prides itself on a long tradition of excellence in sport and variety of sports is available, ranging from traditional team and individual sports to Clay pigeon shooting, polo and golf. Music is also strong with many opportunities to join ensembles for both instruments and voice. The creative arts are also well-represented with a wide variety of music, drama and workshop events and performances as well as many opportunities for artists to display their work. Students can also participate in the Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Young Enterprise, and many students become highly involved in community service and charity work.

Rugby School Reviews

“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.”

Natalie

“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.”

Sheeja

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

Bill

Rugby School Contact Information

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

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